Come together: Rebirth

[Tycoon]

Manhattan, NY — Clandestine Intelligence

Gavin grabbed his keys and his wallet excitedly, dropping his phone into his pocket. He started to rush out of the office, but stopped himself at the door. There were two things he’d almost forgotten. One, to save all his progress on his computer and put it to sleep. And second, to grab the revolver out of his desk. He took care of the computer work first. Then he unlocked the top left drawer and carefully lifted the .38 special, tucked into its leather ankle holster, out of his desk. He propped his foot up on his chair and strapped the little six-shooter Colt Detective Special to his ankle.

Can’t be too careful, these days.

He knew Delilah could take care of herself. Probably both of them, really, but he didn’t want to be relegated to hiding behind a lamppost while she did all the work, and he was only human, so this was the best tool available him for self defense. He dropped the hem of his slacks back down to conceal the heat and practically skipped to the elevator. His assistant Peter asked if he was going to have lunch with Delilah again.

“Do you have my office bugged?”

Peter: No, you always have that goofy smile on your face when you’re going to see her. Be cool dude, damn.

Gavin chuckled as he boarded the lift. Just a few more minutes and he was breathing the fresh air, and trying to indeed ‘be cool’. As usual, he was struggling, because she was stunning and he was utterly defenseless to her charm. She was worried that he was busy, but he shook his head emphatically.

Delilah: “I could just leave this for you if you are.”

He gave her his most sincere pleading gaze.

“Please don’t make me go back to work…”

He replied, before smiling at her winsomely. She handed over the wings, and his stomach grumbled hopefully. Then she expressed some surprise, that a straight-laced finance man like himself might choose hot wings over salad.

“Straight-laced? Straight! Laced?!”

He exclaimed in his British accent.

“I’ll have you know, I fancy myself a bit of a bad boy. That’s it. You’re going for a ride on my motorbike. I’m going to buy you a helmet, and a leather jacket, and some pants with pads and a pair of riding boots and I’m going to take you for a ride. We’ll see how straight-laced you think I am after that.”

He replied, but there was humor in his tone. She took a hold of his free hand with hers, suggesting that they find a bench in the park to enjoy their lunch. He felt like a million bucks. Did everybody SEE that? She was holding his hand. Publicly. He wondered what his mum would think. He liked to believe she’d be thrilled. Then he came back down to earth a bit, realizing that Delilah might have gotten the wings for herself, thinking he would opt for the salad. And then she politely offered him a choice, but he’d surprised her.

“Hold up a minute, did YOU have designs on the hot wings? Oh this just won’t do. We could settle this dispute with a game of darts, if you like.”

He suggested, smiling innocently at her as they headed into the South end of Central Park.

 

[Viper]

NYC- Central Park

“Hold up a minute, did YOU have designs on the hot wings? Oh this just won’t do. We could settle this dispute with a game of darts, if you like.”

He suggested, smiling innocently at her as they headed into the South end of Central Park.

:: And as they walked, they had no idea they were being watched::

<< freeze frame of Delilah and Gavin.>>

<< ZOOM away from them, and swing around to see a view of...>>

:: Jessica Marcus, aka Viper ::

:: It was assumed by members of the Six that she was dead. But here she was, Alive and in the flesh, the ORIGINAL Queen of Mystech stands out in the open, with people passing by her, totally unaware of who she is ::

:: and even if they did know who she was, it wouldn't matter, for everyone she laid eyes on was either her PREY, a potential SLAVE, or worse, a TEST SUBJECT.::

This man is of no consequence.

:: She thought, as she observed Gavin with her true QUARRY, Delilah Trelevan ::

:: If she wanted to, she could attack them now, cut him down, over power her, and carry her off. but where would be the fun in that?::

:: No. Now was not the time, for Delilah was not the only one being hunted.::

:: In addition to her quarry, Jessica Marcus has other plans she has put in place...::

<<FLASH!>>

Haleigh asked if there was anything unusual going on in the city. Running the Nefaria branch of the mafia, Adriana had her pulse on the organized crime in the city. If there was any kind of ripple, she’d know of it. Right now it was just business as usual,

:: Like the shadowed tendrils of the entity that Jessica was once the CROWN JEWEL of, Viper was a Crime Lord in her own right, but something all together different, having connections, channels, influence around the WORLD.::

:: She could move in the shadows, with such a pervasive influence, that the people carrying out her orders didn't even know they were serving HER. OR she could move about in plain sight, yet not seen. as is the case now, with her standing amongst the moving, and unsuspecting populace, as her intense, emerald green eyes stare down Delilah and Gavin.::

the Trucks will be arriving at the specificed spots soon....ready to deploy the chemical agent

<<FLASH!>>

<< Chemical trucks move through the city, arriving to their destinations at different points. nothing appears out of the ordinary because every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed, and the right people have cooperated (or been coerced) into making things happen. This chemical agent was actually a VIRUS, a recent one created and refined by Viper, who has total control over ALL viruses that originated from Mystech, as well as other viruses, toxins and poisons>>

All is moving according to plan, and my "eyes" will follow this light bright rabbit where ever she may go. Now to zero in on my other target

:: and with that, she disappears into Central Park::

 

[Brenthon]

NYC - The Parthenon

<< Amanda's sky blue eyes widened with urgency as they stared into Beto's deep brown, almost black eyes>>

"Well. Since WE were allowed to hear Firebird's call, perhaps the house that she and Morgan Victoria are in will KNOW this, and grant us entry."

<< Beto knew that Amanda was a powerful sorceress. Not only was she at the TOP of the Winding Way, but he had sensed something about her, even as she confided him the visions, the DREAMS she had of wearing eldritch armor and wielding the SOUL SWORD, that would allow her to find a way past the formidable barriers that surrounded this house of magick.>>

<< Amanda hoped that not only her power, but the many lessons she'd learned from her mother about "making a way when there IS NO WAY" would help her and Beto on what was clearly the next step of their journey.>>

"It appears our itinerary has changed again, and not a moment too soon."

"Yes, I feel almost compelled to."

<< He said with his thick old hungarian accent as he turned his attention back to the city, reaching out to The Shadowed Path, trying to find the closest and most direct route. >>

"I can get us there in no time at all."

Amanda: "We should get going."

"And may the flames of faltine guide our way, gadje."

<< He grabbed her by the hand as the two of them dissippated in a black silk like shadow cluster, before reappearing right in front of The Sanctum Sanctorum, stepping out of the shadow of a lightpost as he eyed the manor up and down with intrigue. The magick here was beyond strong, at a level he can only ever remember experiencing one, but who? He could not remember. But he knew the magick. It was a mana, among many, that he possessed. From the moment they arrived the house told him that they were to be tested. And despite the connection he was feeling, this would be Amanda's gambit. Curiously, he also smelled sickness from across the city. Something like a plague, a disease. But that was not his concern. The city was filled with disease. He turned his dark and shadowy stare at Amanda. >>

"I got us here, Jimaine. You get us in."

<< He smirked, knowing she was about to say she wouldn't have needed his help to get here. She would be correct, but he enjoyed ruffling her feathers. A bit of anger could focus the sorceress, at least, that was what he had observed of her in their time together. That and when she felt the cause was just. Beto was decidedly less moralistic than Amanda, but it was a quality in her that he enjoyed. That a person of his blood could at least attempt to be a paragon of virtue. >>

"I move at your word, chiovanni..."

 

[Prophet]

Honeymoon to Backwell

He knew they had to go home, and he wouldn't have been mad if she said know, but Cameron wanted one last peaceful meal between them before they headed back. Mostly because you kind of had to force Haleigh into eating otherwise she didn't. Because she didn't really need to. But Cameron was on a mission to turn his wife into as big of a food slut as he was. There was a reason there were so many restaurants at The Parthenon. They ate almost in silence, only a bit of talk about the agenda and what they both needed to accomplish. Cameron explained that he felt that since Haleigh had been the one to "hear" the message, she should first make contact with Blaze alone. He had a feeling this was more of a sister thing than an end of the world kind of thing. She agreed.

Cameron also had some business to attend to. He had been working on something personal in the aftermath of Malice's death, and he was long overdue for an appearance at work. The benefit of their new bond was that they didn't need to physically be there with each other for a second. They were always with each other now. And it helped that his wife was also a mutlfunctional machine. They were able to carry on any number of conversations while also speaking to those in front of them in the present. And through training, and Haleigh's biological connection to Malice, he found that she was capable of telepathic feats. At least in the sense that she now was able to share memories, ideas, pictures and information with him at ease. Even physically apart, they were a force to be reckoned with.

After breakfast, they appeared at Hellfire in front of Adriana as a small bit of back and forth happened as Adriana filled Haleigh in. Cameron thoroughly enjoyed Adriana. She was smart, sexy, deadly and he enjoyed her sense of humor. He should have been surprised that his wife had inquired about a kitten, but he wasn't. He gave his wife a smirk.

"The amount of cats you've used to gain favor is getting a bit out of hand, Hales."

He laughed loudly.

"But are you supposed to not use something that has a 100% success rate?"

He bridged the small gap between them, grabbed her arm and kissed her softly on the lips.

"You know where I'll be, vice versa all that. Let's hope this is an easy day at the office..."

Cameron turned on his heels and walked down the hall, to the room that contained his office as he took an uncomfortable seat. He didn't really need an office, he'd gotten Hellfire Trading Company on autopilot quickly. But he liked being the boss. When he was a young CEO, his office was always kind of his favorite place. He felt smart and powerful. He wasn't necessarily feeling like that right now. Immediately upon arriving to New York, his powers got the best of him and did their best to sync up with The Six again. The psychic feedback he had received felt less than hopeful. He hated what Morgan was putting herself through, and he was a bit mad at Blaze for locking her up like that. He could have helped. He could have tried to psychically help her heal from this. But he was to close to Nicolas' death. Blaze wouldn't allow it. He couldn't even FEEL his sister right now. He hated how much she isolated herself at times. Even though she was only a doorway away from him, something about her constantly being on that island gave him concern. He had once felt like Aerie was his family home. Now it felt tainted, by Nicolas' death and Alison's self imposed exile.

He even found himself hesitant to reach out to Delilah, though he had maintained eyes on her. Her life had been suprisinginly normal. It felt like she was finally starting to trust herself again, and heal from a lot of the trauma of the last few years. But he also felt conflicted. Delilah hated things being kept from her. So he couldn't not say anything. And he had learned over the years that she would accept his intrustions in her mind if it was important. He leaned back in his chair.

[to Delilah]: "Oh he's proper fit, De...Nice...."

Cameron smirked as he could see both Delilah and Gabe finding a nice place to eat some lunch that Delilah had brought them. It was positively sweet. So he didn't want to stay for long.

[to Delilah]: "Sorry to interrupt. Checking in. Back in the city. Haleigh got an unsettling message from Blaze so she's going to investigate. Don't want to mess up your date mojo, but maybe just keep a more careful eye on your surroundings than normal, just in case Blaze's message means trouble. I'm tying up some business in the city, and I kind of need to tell you something that I'd prefer to do in person....So drinks tonight? Your pick of place, I don't know what's cool in New York right now. Love you and can't wait to see you, as long as you want to see me, love. Kisses."

After he left his little bit of psychic voicemail, he moved into the powder room of his office, a place that kept a standby on suits and other outfits he might need to sport as White King. One thing he DID enjoy about Hellfire were the tailoring services. He began to pick out a white casual business suit and paired it with a pair of all white $5000 trainers, because he wasn't a normal king, he was a cool king. And if he was going to be White King, he was at least going to bleed the wardrobe budget as dry as he could. Satisfied, he moved through the powder room and to the back of his closet at Hellfire where he opened an enchanted door that would move him from Hellfire on Blackwell to his office floors on The Parthenon. Opening the door one of the conference rooms, he greeted those inside with a smile.

"And how are my girls? Miss me?"

 

[Magik]

"And may the flames of faltine guide our way, gadje."

<< He grabbed her by the hand as the two of them dissippated in a black silk like shadow cluster, before reappearing right in front of The Sanctum Sanctorum, stepping out of the shadow of a lightpost as he eyed the manor up and down with intrigue. The magick here was beyond strong, at a level he can only ever remember experiencing one, but who? He could not remember. But he knew the magick. It was a mana, among many, that he possessed. From the moment they arrived the house told him that they were to be tested. And despite the connection he was feeling, this would be Amanda's gambit. Curiously, he also smelled sickness from across the city. Something like a plague, a disease. But that was not his concern. The city was filled with disease. He turned his dark and shadowy stare at Amanda. >>

"I got us here, Jimaine. You get us in."

<< He smirked, knowing she was about to say she wouldn't have needed his help to get here>>

HMPH!

<< Amanda rolled her sky blue eyes as she too smirked, knowing Beto was ribbing her a bit. They both knew what she could do, but they were in this TOGETHER, that's what mattered most.>>

<< Between the two of them, There was a mix of anticipation, even some excitement, as well as intrigue. But once they arrived right in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, there was also a seriousness that settled over both of them as they stood together, staring at the large structure.>>

By the dark moon...

<< Amanda said softly as she stepped forward.>>

This magick is as strong as any I'VE ever felt!

<< Truth be told, it was BEYOND anything she'd felt, and she suddenly wished she had her MOTHER'S confidence, as well as her record of accomplishment as the Immortal Witch Queen, who herself was once Sorceress Supreme. The POWER of the dark magick that formed the hefty BARRIERS around the Sanctum Sanctorum washed over Amanda like WAVES from the ocean.>>

<< She lifted her gloved hand midway, and as she CAREFULLY reached out to "touch" the magicks in front of her and Beto, the dark magick that powered the BARRIER around the Sanctum Sanctorum began to glow, shifting from VIOLET to SKY BLUE. There was a ripple effect that emanated from the spot where Amanda "touched" as she withdrew her gloved hand, trying to "read" the magick.>>

Steady, girl....

<< She thinks to herself>>

You're no lowly stage magician! You saved the London Hellfire Mansion from the N'garai invasion, You just confronted the INTERLOPER [Talisman] not too long ago...and now you've heard the Firebird's call. Beto confirmed this has something to do with BOTH of us.

<< All the lessons, teachings, admonishings, everything that Margali Szardos had given to her daughter, had lead her to this place, and inside those doors a mystery, a DESTINY awaits....for both her AND Beto>>

"I move at your word, chiovanni..."

We shall move together, Rom baro

<< She takes a breath, lifting her gloved hands, which are now surrounded by glowing blue tao mandalas , Sher prepares to utter an incatation, one taught to her by her mother, identifying herself as a fellow magick user, and that she and her companion are there to give AID to the Firebird AND the mistress of this Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Before Amanda/Jimaine can began to speak, a truly startling BLAST of thunder explodes all around her and Beto, followed by the HOWL of the infamous Mistral Winds themselves. >>

<< Suddenly, the double doors of the main entrance BURST OPEN, and Amanda Sefton gasps as she is SNATCHED off her feet by the OVERWHELMING FORCE of a VORTEX>>

BETO!?

<< Chimes sound off....similar to those associated with Spellbinder, but in a different note/tone as Amanda cries out with utter shock and distress as she is not only swept off her feet, but now turned upside down>>

HELP ME!

<< Beto's insctincts and actions were almost as one! Despite having been suitably startled and shaken himself, he had IMMEDIATELY grabbed hold of Amanda/Jimaine's arm to try to pull her back and anchor, but HE TOO was caught up in the IRRESISTABLE FORCE of the VORTEX!>>

<< Amanda and Beto's screams can be heard briefly before they are swallowed up in the mistral winds, and the vortex, and ALL SIGHT of both the witch and the gypsy king are LOST as they are pulled in, and the double doors SLAM SHUT.>>


<< Amanda Sefton, and Beto, have been PULLED IN to the Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

 

[Trifecta]

The Parthenon Hotel - NYC

From inside one of The Parthenon's top level conference rooms, The Three-In-One sat, each appearing to do something different physically. Sarah was going over a stack of papers in front of her. These had to do with Cameron King's business, and she didn't trust the cloud. Across from Sarah, her identical sister Sophie clicked about on a laptop. She was compiling a list of psi sensitives her and her sisters had come across since Cameron had put them to work. Across from Sophie, was their other identical sister Sydney, who was mindlessly scrolling through her phone, switching through apps with ease. The room was filled only with the low buzz of music Sydney was broadcasting into the room with her phone. To look at the girls, one would think they were bored models. In the girl's minds however, they were busy at work.

They were a bonifide psychic hivemind. While they each retained their own consciousness and sense of self, they had access to a connection that linked them and let them link other people with ease. Before, they had been The Five in One, but a terrible accident had reduced their number to three.

[Inside The Trifecta]

Sarah: "Did you feel that? Cameron and Haleigh are back in New York."

Sydney: "Of course we felt it, you idiot. Hivemind, hello!"

Sophie: "If Sarah's an idiot, it stands to good reason that we are, as well. So enough insults. If Cameron is in town, he's likely to be headed here soon."

Sarah: "That was a short honeymoon. They just got married!"

Sydney: "Yeah, and they're both so hot. Like if I was as hot as the two of them, I'd just fuck all the time. I wouldn't be clocking in to a job, well...not for a regular job. A bl-"

Sophie: "We've suffered enough living through your slut phase, Syd. Focus."

Sophie was the strongest sister, the one who kind of ran things in The Trifecta. When they were linked like this, Sophie took the driver seat. She had been like that ever since they were little girls. Though they hadn't been little girls for long. They were clones, or so Cameron and Haleigh had told them. An experiment from a failed government gone wrong. It was real to them though. They had lived through it. And there were things they had gone through that not even a telepath like Cameron King could figure out. They were created to be strong. And Sophie always reminded her sisters of that.

Sarah: "They dropped a lot of knowledge on us before they left, but I think we're processing it just fine. I've been making sure that the edits to Cameron's will and holdings have been adjusted. I actually love it, I think I could see myself being a lawyer.'

Sarah was the good one. A little timid, but she always had the best of intentions, and more often than not, despite both Sarah and Sydney's grey moral compasses, Sarah often was able to convince them to do the right thing. She had been the one to convince her sisters not to kill Cameron and Haleigh once they found them.

Sydney: "I mean, they got us our own identities and an apartment downtown. I'm pretty sure those two could fake a law degree. Just ask 'em for it."

Sydney was the painful rebel. She went along with things for the most part, but she known more often than not to get the girls in trouble with her antics. However, she was also the one that "watch" and when the scales were balanced against them, Sydney would take hold of the trifecta and unleash her "PUNISHMENT."

Sophie: "We've been keeping contact with Cameron's choices for his team. I think we've got a good mix, however there is an addition I think we should consider, one he won't necessarily like, but--"

Sydney: "Rae needs to be a part of this council. Ever since we got here, I swear all she does is worry that Cameron is going to destroy the world. I'd say there's gotta be some kind of reason why."

Sarah: "She could very well be a balance for him. Keep him from going too far. Because the last time he went too far..."

Sophie: "Our sisters died. Yes we remember, Sarah. They were victims of war. If something like this happens again, we have to protect people like us."

Sydney: "I think we can trust him. He seems so happy now. Happy people don't murder people."

Sarah: "I don't think it works like that, Syd."

Sophie: "Incoming."

They clicked back into their physical bodies the second that Cameron entered the room.

[Reality]

Cameron: "And how are my girls?"

The girls actually felt happy to see him. Initially they had been hunting him. Wanting revenge for what his war with some crazy blonde bitch had done to their other two sisters. But they made a compelling argument. Cameron apologized and offered them an opportunity at life. They had identities created. They'd been given a home and the chance to live life for themselves. So they worked for him. Because he seemed to want to try and atone for the damage he had done. If they couldn't save their sisters, they wanted to help those they could.

[in unison] "Hello, Mr. King."

Sydney: "Cutting the honeymoon short because you missed us? I gotta say, Cam. That really...it just touches my heart."

"Knock it off, Sydney."

Sophie: "Ignore my sister...she's a self proclaimed idiot. Would you like to see what we've been working on while you've been enjoying the company of your...wife? Congratulations by the way."

[unison] "Congratulations."

Sarah: "How is Haleigh, by the way?"

 

[Prophet]

NYC - Parthenon Conference Room

Trifecta: "Hello, Mr. King."

Cameron cracked a smile. He had fallen in love with these girls instantly. They were in fact, clones that had been developed in the dark corners of a corrupt government in South America. Five identicals girls, a psychic switchboard. A weapon that could be used to destroy the intelligence world. It was a brilliant fucking idea, but as governments often forgot when they tried to control mutants, mutants always had the upper hand. Always had more of a chance to survive than others. These girls were proof of that. They attacked their captors, escaped and immediately set out on his trail. They couldn't have physically been older than twenty two years old, but in terms of power, when the girls linked together, they were a force that Cameron would have been stupid and foolish to deny. They were able to convince the girls to cease fire, and they'd worked for him ever since. They had been invaluable in allowing Cameron to maintain his focus on his wife, and share the burden of the required energy it took to keep an eye on things stateside, continue to use his abilities at his leisure, and keep eyes on his loved ones. And he was also a man on a mission.

"I love it when you do that."

The White King remarked upon hearing the girls speak in unison. They were so creepy and attractive. He believed there was not a door they couldn't open with their combined efforts.

Sydney: "Cutting the honeymoon short because you missed us? I gotta say, Cam. That really..it just touches my heart."

Sydney was like the daughter he never had, despite there only beween a twelve or thirteen year gap between them physically. She was such an antoganist, said anything for shock value, but she loved her sisters and would kill for them. He had a special fondness for Sydney, and for all her social problems, she kept a damn good eye on things. She knew what to look for.

Sophie: "Ignore my sister...she's a self proclaimed idiot. Would you like to see what we'eve been working on while you've been enjoying the company of your...wife? Congratulations by the way."

He had a bit of a rougher dynamic with Sophie. She reminded Cameron a lot of Vivica. Hyper effective, razor focused. But she was taking on too much of the job, letting it become her. Cameron had made the mistake of letting Vivica fall into that, he wouldn't do the same for Sophie.

"All in good time, my dear. Are you settling in well?"

Sarah: "Yes, Sir. That apartment you got us is just...fabulous."

Sydney: "It's alright. The towels suck ass though, you really gotta look into some better towels."

Cameron laughed before his face became a bit more pensive.

"I'll look into the towels, but honestly. It can't be like this everytime I see you. I did something really foolish. Something that cost a lot of people their lives, their powers. Anything I've done for you is not enough..."

[pausing for a moment]

"You may be employed by me, but in a lot of different more important ways, we are peers. You don't need to blow smoke up my ass. The whole point of this is has been to give all three of you the chance to live whatever the life you want to live. You wanna quit tomorrow? Go for it. But also, don't stay because you feel indebted to me. You truly owe me nothing."

Cameron moved to the opposite end of the conference room table, doing his best to get the visions his wife had sent him earlier out of his head and focused on why he came there in the first place.

"That being said, I think we do a hell of a lot of good work together. Speaking of, why don't we start with some good news? I hear most of our invitations to join my council have been graciously accepted. I think we've found almost all the telepaths we'll need, I think we need to start working on our mystical connections. I want people with access to more than just the astral plane."

Sophie: "Way ahead of you...Originally, I was going to sugarcoat this, but you told me not to bullshit you. We think you need Rae Reynolds on this council."

Sydney: "She is worried about you. And all of that may be bullshit, after what you've shown us that she can do in the places you're trying to protect, she's a hell of a choice. That and she's like quite possibly the coolest old lady i've ever met."

Sarah: "You said yourself you came back from your journey on the astral plane stronger than ever. You were worried. We felt it. It's the same reason you don't like magick..."

Sophie: "Power like ours...can corrupt. She deserves a seat at the table. The only reason you'd keep her from your council is because you are afraid she might be right about you. And that is only just further cominfirmation to us that we will need her help if you stand any chance at thwarting a return from Malice..."

Cameron sat there a bit stunned. The Trifecta was assimilating itself very easily into his life. Their bloody escape from capture had left them a bit emotionally stunted, but it was a benefit. They could see things logically from many different vantage points at the same time.

"Jesus christ, send her an invitation. But can we stop talkinga bout me like i'm some ticking time bomb?"

He shot a gesture at Sydney to shut her mouth before she could retort.

"Not really looking for your humor right now, Syd."

From the corner of his eye he felt something strange. He found his mind glued to the window in the corner of the boardroom. Slowly, but surely his gaze fixated on a SPARROW outside of the window, zipping around with hummingbird like speed, attempting to poke the window with it's beak.

"No fucking way....it can't be?"

This was a message meant only for him. A message he hadn't gotten in over a decade, but it was clear. She wanted to see him. Cameron turned his gaze back to the girls.

"I hear what you say, and I've scanned your "work" mentally the second I got here. You're doing a great job. However, we need to keep an eye out. My wife just got a message from Blaze. Some sort of magickal cry for help from Hecate. We can't see into the Sanctum, but if shit was really going down, my sister would alert me. Still, I want to make sure we keep a close eye on The Six as well as The Birds of Prey. Anything suspicious I want to know about."

Sophie: "Yes, Mr. King. We're on it."

"I have someone I need to meet. I'll check in on you again before I leave. Keep up the good work."

Trifecta: [in unison] "See you later, Mr. King."

Cameron smirked as he headed towards the door. He had a little sparrow to follow.

 

[Black Widow]

Blackwell’s Island — Hellfire

They strategized over breakfast, and though Haleigh wasn’t particularly happy to be having to return home in the middle of their honeymoon, she did enjoy the last few minutes of their vacation together. She took them to Blackwell’s Island first. It was the site of Hellfire now, the grounds completely renovated to their needs. Manhattan was just across the river, maybe a mile away, but the only way to reach this island was by helicopter or boat, unless you had a movement power. There were River and Air patrols conducted through joint effort of the both surviving courts, and the isolated nature of the Island made it quite easy to defend from threats of any kind. It was a stronghold in and of itself, a few hundred acres in size, though still much smaller than Manhattan.

Haleigh found her Bishop in the entrance hall of the mansion. She asked about Heidi first, and was not surprised to hear the water elemental had fled. Then she wondered aloud where AJ was, and Adriana told her that it was a full moon. Haleigh nodded knowingly. It was all good and well. Adriana seemed to be doing a fine job by herself. Haleigh asked about Perle, which seemed to catch Adriana off guard.

Adriana: “Oh your cat?”

“MY cat?”

Haleigh asked incredulously. She wasn’t a cat person, and how had this creature that Gia saved come to be known as Haleigh’s cat? Adriana suggested she’d inherited it from Diana. Haleigh shook her head, but Adriana just said ‘whatever’ and launched into an explanation of the cat’s status quo. It wasn’t good, Savage’s pack agitating the cat. Perle had a collar, gifted by Lord Ravena, which protected her from harm. Still, it didn’t sit right with Haleigh that the cat would be stressed out and harassed by wild animals following their instincts. She had been thinking of giving the cat to Morgan, anyway. Current events confirmed her plan. Cameron teased her a bit about giving cats away, though even he acknowledged the 100% success rate of her tactic. Haleigh shrugged at that.

“At this point I should breed them. Do you think Delilah would forgive me if I gave her one? Nah. She’d train it to scratch my eyes out. Maybe I should give Alexia a kitten. Hmm, no, our goddaughter should have a puppy. Dogs are way more fun for kids. We’ll get her one of the big protective ones.”

She mused, and then Cameron gave her a soft kiss before heading to his own office.

Adriana: “I’m surprised you two aren’t running back to your honeymoon, I really didn’t want to disturb you with the Heidi thing. She just would NOT relent.”

“It’s not just that. I got a call from one of my sisters, too, needing the kind of help that can’t wait.”

Adriana: “Ugh, sisters, such a pain. And you have so MANY. You should kill them, trust me. I’ll help, if you like.”

Haleigh gave an amused smirk at the suggestion. She’d never even consider it, and if Adriana actually knew about the power of Haleigh’s sisters, the Bishop wouldn’t have so casually offered to help kill them. Haleigh told her thanks, but no, she’d handle it. Then she went to get the cat. If it was in her office, it was hiding out, because she didn’t detect it. She reached into a cabinet for a can of tuna, and popped the container open with her mind. She curled back the sharp edges and set the tuna on her desk, sitting down in her chair and waiting for Perle to come to her.

As she waited, she reached out on the cellular network to locate her various family members. She hadn’t really heard from any of them since Nic’s demise. Nobody was really in a talking mood, or at least they didn’t want to talk to the person who’d murdered Nicolas and ripped their whole ‘family’ apart. Haleigh couldn’t really blame them. It was to be expected. She found Delilah’s cell in Central Park, quite near to Gavin Greeley’s. Were they an official thing now? If so, that was good. Gavin was easily a better man for Delilah than Maxim, even if he was a flatscan, but that was Delilah’s type. Anyway Gavin wouldn’t break her heart by sleeping with her would-be best friend, and he wasn’t generally an asshole besides. So if they were together now, Haleigh was happy for them. Maybe Delilah had gotten time to heal as well. Maybe there was a chance she didn’t still hate Haleigh, if she could take a macro look at how much better off she was without Max. All they had to do was get Alexia back to Delilah, and then she could be happy again and not a bitter bitch.

There was light at the end of the tunnel for Delilah, which was not something that could be said for the others. Blaze and Morgan’s tracking devices cellphones were at the Sanctum. Their cell history showed that they had spent the vast majority of the last several months there. In fact, only Blaze had left the place, and even then only occasionally. Morgan had become something of a shut-in, which was so unlike her that it gave Haleigh a great deal of concern. This was probably the crux of the issue Blaze was asking Hecate for help with, but without going to the Sanctum to check it out, there’d be no way to know for sure.

Haleigh then searched for Ava’s cell. As she did so, she fiddled with her wedding rings, rotating them on her finger with her thumb. They’d been so spur of the moment, in Vegas. They’d come from a vending machine in a casino, and were not of very high quality. They were perfectly marketed for drunk gamblers, attractive in their spontaneous availability and easily obtainable with just few hundred dollar’s casino winnings. Lab-grown diamonds set in silver bands. Marginal cuts, mid-grade clarity, but fairly decent color and carat.

What flaws they had very easily fixed by Haleigh herself. As an earth elemental, metals and carbons yielded easily to her will. She could microscopically shave the diamonds, until they were symmetrically and ideally cut. She could press them, repairing cavities and scratches until the stones were flawless. And she could change silver to platinum, and polish the diamonds and their settings until they sparkled and shone. They were now quite a bit more valuable than their origin might suggest. Haleigh had done this for both hers and her husband’s ring. It hadn’t taken more than a few seconds and she hadn’t even broken a sweat. They were eye-catching, and every now and then when things were quiet, she took the time to appreciate them, both for the plain beauty of their sparkle, and for the symbolism. She was not a sentimental woman, but the rings meant something to her.

The cat was purring in her lap, chowing down on the tuna. Haleigh pet it gently as she waited for it to finish eating. Then she scooped it up, carefully supporting it with her arm as she stood from her chair. She took a deep breath to brace herself for whatever she was about to face, and appeared in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

 

[Seer]

NYC- the Sanctum Sanctorum

<< Black Widow arrives, with Perle, in front of the mysterious structure that Morgan called the Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

<< She remembers what USED to be here. ILLUSTRA, the crown jewel of Morgan Victoria's fashion empire>>

<< She LIVED there, with Morgan, Blaze, Alison, Cameron, Delilah, Ava, NICOLAS, and her one-time fiancé, Zach Armani.>>

<< She lived there, fought, argued, loved, all the things a human would do.>>

<< She remembers when Illustra FELL.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< the crowds were gone...but something ELSE was there....from the window where Alison stood in the alcove, the view was blocked by a massive object...the beady eye of a SENTINEL peering through the small window and as Harbinger gasps, she immediately teleblinks Tinkerbell away as the massive HAND of the sentinel SMASHES through the window, the WALL as it intends to EXTRACT her. the sound and IMPACT rocks Illustra.>>

<< More memories of the fall of Illustra>>

<<FLASH!>>

:: the force of the Sentinel rocked Illustra. but Alison knew this was the heralding of the END of this building. two more Sentinels landed and were now surrounding the building.::

:: as Persephone and MorningStar came to Harbinger's aid, Persephone caused temporary obstruction of the Sentinel's one sensor while MorningStar severed it's fingers with a laser blast.::

They will be able to adjust....its one of their hallmarks!

:: Black Widow initiated emergency evacuation procedures for her Clandestine Inc soldiers and staff, all of which escaped via underground express tunnels, she then began to destroy all files protaining to the Six that were housed in Illustra, destroying even the layout of the technology in the building. The animals were evacuated as well.::

We'll engage them OUTSIDE...but only long enough for Spellbinder to return. Then we're OUT of here.

:: in her mind and her heart, Alison barely had time to "appreciate" this final moment within Illustra. the building, all the memories, the emotions ...everything connected to this once technological and social gem was now being destroyed.::

:: with emergency evacuation procedures completed, assets shunted elsewhere....the four women themselves were now outside watching as the three Sentinels continued to slam through the building at various points. it was only a matter of moments before Illustra collapsed.::

THIS is what the people YOU were so worried about think of US, Delilah. Our home...our sanctuary DESTROYED.. Morgan's life as a super model is OVER...Illustra Inc...is FINISHED.

<< The fall of Illustra was perhaps one of the worst consequences of The Six, and their allies being OUTED by Bishop, aka Maxim, star crossed lover of Delilah Trelevan, and father of infant mutant Alexia Morgana.>>

<< another memory for Haleigh>>

<< FLASH!>>

Back at Illustra

<< Morgan and Alycia arrive ...but to Morgan's shock...the building itself is nearly on the verge of COLLAPSE and they quickly regroup ouside, finding the rest of the team nearby...>>

ILLUSTRA!!!

<< Morgan cried out...>>

my home...my whole life....they're TAKING it from me...

<< Morgan couldnt help but to stare, almost transfixed by the sentinels as they smashed through Illustra....>>

Alycia...take cover. I may not be able to save Illustra...but I'll be damned if these robots are going to get through this without sustaining damage of their own!

<< The Sentinels weakened the structure of Illustra and left it battered and teetering on the edge of collapse. as they determined none of their targets were inside the structure, they proceeded to scan the immediate area.>>

<< Illustra- the building that once was the beacon of fashion and style throughout the east coast, america and among the many focal points of fashion around the world, was now nothing more than another casualty of the anti mutant/meta human sentinment which was now seemingly fully endorsed by the government. all the work, the investment, the emotions, memories that made this place so much more than merely a building were now beginning to seem distant as the shocking, tragic scene unfolded before the women of the Six.>>

<< the building began to creak and groan...the metal straining , electrical fires and other disruptions bursting out from various areas and smoke churning around the highest levels of the building. finally as the Sentinels concluded the threat of mutants in Illustra had been dealt with, the building seemed to take its cue and toppled, slowly to the side before collapsing down. Harbinger manifests a force dome around the women of the six, as the cloud of dust, debris and force sweeps for them...and then encompasses them. the force of Illustra's fall rocks the ground around them as street lights shatter, building and car alarms begin to sound off and all visual around the women is obscured for what seems like EVER. Harbinger's force dome holds steady but pieces of the building fly at it quickl and slam into it, deflecting whilding and causing more than a few flinches from the team along with Alycia. Illustra was finished...destroyed very publicly to match the now very public OUTRAGE of the Six hiding in plain sight.>>

<< while within the force dome, Morgan indicates her plan to her team mates. destroy these sentinels as they have destroyed Illustra and send a message that while they may be down..they WONT give up without a fight!>>

<< as the chaos of Illustra's fall rains down and sweeps around them, the women continue to hold their position. after moments of chaos, the cloud of dust begins to dissipate. Persephone further sweeps it away with winds and now the women are all cloaked by Spellbinder, with Alycia hidden and further protected by a small force field created by Alison.>>

<< the sentinels have destroyed their home. they must leave for the sake of their lives..but they wont go without RESPONDING to this act.>>

<< Their lives were over. Their lives were just beginning. Forever changed. Haleigh remembered the exile on the Isle of Aerie. The Crosstime Caper [where she would first meet FIREBIRD], Returning to the world, moving to Melrose Place, The nightmare of Barbas, Sharon and Alycia becoming Amazons, she remembered everything....up till the BLUE MOON, perhaps the most devastating and consequential event the Six had faced since the Inferno, the red moon, master mold, the battle against Shockwave/Blackout, and the fall of Illustra...and Haleigh Davidoff, through no fault of her own, had been ABSENT. That was a source of regret for the Hybrid, and the aftermath of the Blue Moon was still being felt by Delilah, Alison, Blaze, & Morgan most of all to this day.>>

<< While the Blue Moon represented a huge gap for Haleigh, she knew all too well what happened AFTER she returned, up till the present.>>

<< This was the first time she would see Morgan and Blaze, her SISTERS, since Nicolas' loss. The fact that Blaze had CUT EVERYONE OFF from access to Morgan was a bad sign. They all knew how Foxfire had been protective of Morgan, and FIREBIRD was that, and MORE, and Firebird had the POWER to make SURE her boundaries were ENFORCED, if necessary. Prophet, who loved Firebird, had often remarked that her ultra-protective nature, where Morgan was concerned, was due to the experiences, and trauma she had survived in her native timeline. Of them all, only Nicolas and Cameron had really taken the time to UNDERSTAND what drove Firebird, and how the experiences of her timeline had influenced/informed her behavior in mainstream. While the other mainstream Six members had been so eager, and HAPPY to embrace Firebird, (due to Foxfire having been lost when the Six were outed & Illustra fell) Haleigh had been reluctant to allow herself to become too attached to Firebird when she first met her in the "Escape from New York" timeline, she reasoned it was better not to set herself up for the discomfort of the "goodbye" that would come once their mission was complete.>>

<< Haleigh didn't imagine that Firebird would eventually show up HERE on Mainstream Earth, nor would she imagine that Harbinger and Rampage would discover that on a genetic level, Firebird was actually more "in synch" with mainstream Spellbinder than Foxfire had been, and most of all...Haleigh never imagined that Firebird would actually be her SISTER.>>

<< When THAT truth bomb dropped, Blaze was willing to accept Haleigh without any hesitation, a move that surprised some, and ANGERED others, but that acceptance was overshadowed by the shock, pain, and ANGER over the betrayal that came as Haleigh announced her decision to leave the Six, and go to Malice and the Hellfire club. Blaze joined several others in trying to convince Haleigh to stay, but the effort was in vain.>>

<< And with that fateful decision on Haleigh's part, events were set in motion. Events that would lead her to this very moment, as she now stood outside the Sanctum Sanctorum >>

<< Haleigh was no magick user, but even she could sense SOMETHING about this place. The barriers around this structure were incredibly powerful, and she knew not to simply try and walk past/through them. She had missed what happened to Beto and Amanda Sefton when THEY arrived earlier. In fact, Haleigh wouldn't even know they were already inside.>>

<< As the hybrid held on to Perle, and began trying to figure out how she could safely gain access, the Sanctum would answer that question for her, the legendary Mistral WInds "HOWLED", sweeping around her, and BLAST of thunder rocks her where she stands. The double doors BURST open, and Haleigh Davidoff, aka Black Widow (along with little Perle) is snatched up by an irresistable force, and PULLED into the sanctum, the double doors SLAMMING shut behind her. No one else was getting in, and SHE wasn't getting out.>>

INSIDE the Sanctum Sanctorum
<< Haleigh's entry was decided less physically jarring than that of Amanda and Beto's, probably because of the presence of Perle, a true innocent, AND the fact that Perle was wearing a most beautiful collar that had been enchanted by Lord Ravena. That meant the collar was imbued with some powerful magick, magick that ultimately traced back to the source of all magick.>>

<< Once she was pulled inside? DARKNESS. Immobilizing DARKNESS.>>

<< As Haleigh's abilities attempted to compensate, she would soon began getting visual sensory input. The next moment she opens her eyes, THIS is the first thing she sees all around her . she see's spirits and apparitions moving up and down the stairs at various orientations, and she hears strange sounds. Perle is quite nervous.>>

<< How QUICKLY, or even IF Haleigh can adjust to the environment she in, and her perception of it, will depend ENTIRELY on her personal relationship to magick. Does she BELIEVE in it? The hybrid has seen things that some storytellers wouldn't be able to come up with. She's consorted with witches, sorcerers, goddesses, fought demons, traveled across the mind bending expanse of an eldritch dimension known as Limbo (aka The Otherplace). >>

<< She KNOWS who's dwelling this is. That's one of the reasons why she's here, and she's never been one to scare easily, so she wisely decides to remain exactly where she is, giving herself MORE time to adjust, and let ALL her senses readjust, knowing that she's in a house of MAGICK.>>

<< With each blink, breath, and every other function she begins to see/perceive things more and more "normally". the bizarre M.C. Escher-ian scape she first saw begins to blur, and eventually shifts, with Haleigh finding herself officially in the foyer.>>

Another memory...

<< FLASH!>>

With everything that's happened...

<< Morgan knew that Haleigh was aware of what happened during the Blue Moon. Haleigh would no doubt remember that Morgan could see/view ANYWHERE in time and space via the magick lens known as the "scrying glass", so it wasn't like the hybrid would have to "update" Morgan on much AND there was no need for either of them to pretend like there wasn't a HUGE "black hole" that had formed in the Six's heart following the events of the Blue Moon.>>

...and with what may be coming...I feel that I can no longer remain away from Earth...from the Six.

BUT I'm not here to resume a leadership role.

I can't....I won't.

You are best suited to lead this team in this time that we are in and with Cameron present, you'll have his support, and mine as well, two additional founding members.

<< THAT was a shocking thing for Haleigh to hear, and it spoke to something deeper.>>

BEFORE I can even properly "RETURN" to the Six...there are a few personal matters I need to tie up on my end.

I've been watching everything...and all the signs are pointing to the Six returning to New York City.

I always knew in my heart that we'd be back here one day, it just seems that it's come far sooner than I could have imagined.

I have to do something with Melrose Place, and then I have to prepare my own living accommodation

<< Haleigh's reaction about that was to be expected, why WOULDN'T Morgan live HERE at the Parthenon? But Morgan shook her head>>

No.

It's not an option for me, Haleigh.

But I WILL show you my plans for living arrangements. You were actually the first person I wanted to reveal them to, so we could work out a few strategic links and arrangements.

<< The hybrid could see that there was no convincing the witch to reconsider, and she knew the news of Morgan's refusing to live in the Parthenon with the others wouldn't be received well by many in the group.>>

<< Haleigh REMEMBERS the very first time Morgan mentioned the idea of the Sanctum Sanctorum. How it would be built on the land that Illustra once stood on. How it was meant to be Spellbinder's seat of POWER on earth, and a physical "house" for an extension of LIMBO to Earth.>>

<< At some point, Morgan and Haleigh had even discussed contracts for CI to handle some of the structural/security specifications.>>

<< Haleigh would REMEMBER how HAPPY Morgan was about this project and what this place would mean to her. She remembered Morgan CONFIDING in Haleigh that when she had her "House warming", she would reveal to everyone that she and Nicolas were officially ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED. Nicolas, Morgan's lover, her champion, had become her fiancé . Haleigh KNEW they were destined for each other. She'd even seen their beautiful, biracial, violet eyed daughter, Victoria King, in an alternate timeline. >>

<< And now Nicolas King, Morgan's soulmate, was dead.>>

<< Haleigh would steady herself, as she took in a much clearer visual perception of her surroundings. She may not have had the BEST personal relationship with magick, but she believed in it. After everything she'd seen and experienced up to this point? She was no fool.>>

<< The Sanctum Sanctorum is a three-story Victorian-style brownstone townhouse built in the French Baroque architecture design with a Mansard roof. Due to its mystical nature, the exact dimensions of the Sanctum Sanctorum are variable allowing the building to seem more spacious on the interior. >>

<< While there was no longer a COMPLETE absence of light, it was still dark in the interior. Haleigh cautiously takes a few steps forward, and one of the first things that catches her eye is a staircase . She ALSO sees, along one of the walls, several LARGE, BEAUTIFUL portraits of: Spellbinder, Shadow Weaver & Firebird. each woman looks so elegant, with the color associated with their mana/power signature figuring into the background of the portrait. There's no portrait for Haleigh though. She's a sister too. Shouldn't she be up there with Spellbinder and Firebird? >>

<< All around Haleigh, there's sounds...whispers, faint ECHOES of voices. Her own power allows her to better analyze the audio input, allowing her to detect the vocal patterns of Morgan, Blaze, and Nicolas, but these aren't CURRENT vocalizations she's hearing...they're echoes from the past, being carried around the mysterious brownstone townhouse by currents of air. She would hear just bits and pieces of dialogue, never a full sentence.>>

<< And then>>


Blaze/Firebird: HALEIGH? IS THAT YOU??

Blaze/Firebird: I KNEW YOU'D COME! HURRY! THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE! MORGAN NEEDS HELP!

<< Hurry where??>>

Blaze/Firebird: UP THE STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR! HURRY, HALEIGH!

<< The Fire Elemental SOUNDS like herself, as she urgent calls for Haleigh to come up the stairs to the 2nd floor. Why should Haleigh be suspicious? Was she on edge in this house of magick? if she were, the house itself might....TEST her, but how would SHE know that?>>

<< A small table MOVES. Sliding RIGHT OVER to Haleigh. There's a comfortable kitty carrier on it. Somehow the hybrid knows that for Perle's safety, she needs to put the kitten inside the carrier and leave her on the table, for now, as Blaze urgently calls for Haleigh to come up the stairs>>

BLAZE/Firebird: UP the stairs to the second floor, Haleigh!

<< The hybrid begins to make her way, wondering why Blaze hasn't revealed herself yet. Perhaps she doesn't want to leave Morgan's side just now? But as the hybrid moves...she notices the portraits of Spellbinder, Shadow Weaver, and Firebird...they're WATCHING her- and they ALL have grim, DISAPPROVING looks on their faces, FOLLOWING her with their eyes! Those violet eyes. Those apple green eyes. Those sapphire blue eyes. The portraits are...STARING at her!? >>


<< And now, she can hear, in those whispers flowing through the air, the faint echo of a man's scream and the sound of a woman crying and wailing in agony.>>

Blaze/Firebird: HALEIGH!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WHY ARENT YOU COMING TO HELP MORGAN?

<< more screams flow through the air currents, as Haleigh presses on up that large flight of stairs until..

Malice: PLEASE. you can't even help YOURSELF, you naughty, TREACHEROUS little girl!

<< POW!>>

<< Diana, aka MALICE makes the scene, IMMEDIATELY blocking Haleigh from reaching the top of the stairs, and SLAMMING her diamond fist into Haleigh's face, using her strength (50 ton range) to send Haleigh crashing/falling down the stairs. It happened so fast, Haleigh had no time to brace herself, and the fall down the stairs was brutal. The STAIRS....it seems that they keep GOING. Far more going DOWN than there were going UP!>>

<< A lesser person would have been battered unconscious, or had their neck broken from this deadly fall, but Haleigh is more substantial than most.>>

<< Still, this is one ROUGH fall, as Haleigh tumbles, and tumbles down the stairs, until she finally lands/SLAMS down on the floor, but she's no longer in the Sanctum Sanctorum. She's in the CATACOMBS network of the Hellfire Mansion, as it was when MALICE was the White Queen.>>

<< It looks as it did when Malice was at the height of her power, having recently added Haleigh and Lord Ravena to her court.>>

<< Haleigh now finds herself in the command center of the catacombs, where the queens would have access to a vast surveillance network and information hub allowing them to see all over the world. >>

<< Everything is functioning as it once did, but there's NO ONE present. The stations that belong White, Red, and Black Queens are vacant, as are the support stations where other members of any given court might sit.>>

<< As Haleigh collects herself, she sees images playing across ALL the large screens at the Queens stations. She sees

<< FLASH!>>

<< Karen Victoria. Shadow Weaver. In her classic "flying suit", running for her life, through Horror Hall, in the underground Citadel, and she was being pursued by THE SUPER SOLIDER>>

<<Haleigh would remember, Karen had came to RESCUE her and Delilah from the clutches of Malice that night. This was in the aftermath of Morgan's "death" , and Shockwave's betrayal/subsequent transformation into Blackout. >>

<< Haleigh never saw the battle that took place between Shadow Weaver and the Super Soldier. HER memory of it was that Shadow Weaver had distracted the creature, and lead him AWAY from Haleigh and Delilah, allowing them to recover after she'd freed them.>>

<< but apparently now, she was getting the ultimate play back across the large floating monitors of the Queens stations in the Hellfire Catacombs.>>

<< Haleigh had no choice but to watch as the doctor faced off against the ultimate killing machine, a creature who had once been a young man Haleigh knew and LOVED.>>

<<FLASH!>>

Shaking his arms and shrugging off the remainder of the debris the winds had broke off from the hall, the Super Soldier lifted his fist up to his shadowed face, and finally uncurled it to reveal the strands of hair he had held onto throughout his tumult, a reminder of Karen’s scent.

So with her scent in his nose, and hunger in his blood red eyes, the lumbering creature continued to stalk his prey. His steady pace echoing through the now silent hall, until the sound systems warped, courtesy of Black Widow, as they began their battle with Blackout further down the hall he was leaving. His pace slowly picked up, and soon he was racing down the halls, following Karen’s scent as the Citadel continued to feel the affects of all of the Six’s battles.

Sound systems blared and screeched, lights flickered and sparked, all creating an even more terrifying vision of the Super Soldier as he finally crashed through the entrance into the hanger area. He was bathed in an array of thickening shadows and electric blue shimmers as the lights continued to flicker. Within the hanger everything was silent, and yet the Super Soldier KNEW Karen was there. Although her cloaking spell had hid her well, even against his super-human senses.

<<Haleigh watches As THE SHAPE pursued Shadow Weaver into the hangar, the witch cast a cloaking spell to hide herself from him, but he continued to STALK her, with her scent in his nose. The chase touched all the points in the "Final Girl vs the monster" trope of a slasher film, but Karen was no ingenue, nor was she weak. She IS, after all, the mother of this world's Sorceress Supreme!>>

<< Karen eventually reveals herself and attacks, using her skills, and her wisdom. The battle becomes more desperate, with the Citadel itself buckling under the stress of the conflict here, as well as Black Widow, MorningStar, Guardian, and Foxfire's fight with Malice and Blackout elsewhere in Horror Hall.>>

<< Haleigh remembers when she and her crew ESCAPED the Citadel as it reached critical mass. She ALSO remembers the profound REGRET she felt when she realized she had ACCIDENTALLY left Shadow Weaver behind. She didn't know what happened to the woman who had risked her own life to rescue them, but NOW she was seeing for herself!>>

<<FLASH>>

the Super Soldier reached out and moved to SNATCH Karen up by her stomach in his humongous grip, forcefully pulling her along into the middle of the hanger area where he landed after the bulk of the explosion ended. Squeezing her as he did so and hoping to at least break a rib or two during their scuffle.

OH!!!

<< Karen screams as she is snatched up. For a moment its almost like being on a roller coaster as he jumps with "hulk" like width and precision. the impact JARS the doctor as she shuts her eyes..her face contorting with pain as they slammed to the ground.>>

<< as the super soldier began to squeeze her in his grip...the doctor cried out with pain as her head fell back and she shut her eyes again...gritting her teeth. she felt a spasm in her chest area...her RIBS...>>

I ...can't take much more of this. The others....I hope they..

<< Shadow Weaver ESCAPES the Shape's DEATH GRIP. It's now or never, as she ignites one of the DARKEST spells in the darkhold>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< the doctor held up her hands, being carefull to take shallowed breaths so as not to aggrevate the pain in her chest area....feeling so tired, and so achey, she knew that this battle was at its climax and it was time for her to do ALL that she could to destroy this creature...or die trying.>>

Power of shadow, take shape!
look like a vicious dark star!
seek out, this wretched creature
and DESTROY HIM in all ways!


<< save the soft sounds of battle from horror hall inthe distance, the dark hangar remained silent for a moment...as thunder began to rumble and crack. a ray of black light beamed down between Karen and the Super Soldier....it glowed ominously as the shape of the Demon Storm, began to form...this MASSIVE , muscular, horned demon with wings, glowing white eyes and fangs roard into view, surrounded by the wide black ray of light. The area around the demon began to warp and bend the light...highlighting its EXTREME height (easily dwarfing the super soldier) as the winds began to howl and blow.. Karen's hair and the remainder of her cape began to blow back in the wind as she stretched her arms forward>>

power of shadow....DESTROY HIM!!

<< her voice echoed and seemed to roll like thunder as she directed the Demon Storm to attack the Super Soldier. This spell summons a most ancient evil. a demon that will consume its foe on ALL levels (mental, physical and spiritual) leaving NO trace...and as the power of the spell began to close in on the super soldier..the very GROUND that the magick traved across began to crack and cave in...>>

<< Haleigh knew what Karen was capable of. She'd seen the witch go "dark" in the "Shadows and Skulls" timeline, AND she saw her fight Set TOOTH AND NAIL to stop him from taking her daughter. Something she also remembered, was Karen adopting the same code identity, Shadow Weaver, in mainstream, during her fight with Set, the same name she wore as the Hellfire Club's Black Queenin the "Shadows and Skulls" timeline.>>

<< So Haleigh saw that Karen DID destroy the Super Soldier....but it came at a high cost.>>

<<FLASH!>>

it is beginning to cause unforseen problems in the evironment around them as the ceiling high above begins to tremble violently and the area encompassed by the black beam of light is now imploded, sending MASSIVE debris crashing down all around the doctor and causing the pressure of the entire hangar to SHIFT. She may destroy him, but she HERSELF may not LIVE to tell about it. >>

<< the view of the battle shifted....and as Karen seemed to seal the fate of the super soldier, from the eye of the demon storm, a TERRIFYING sight is beheld as MASSIVE piece of metal debris is hurled by the super soldier in one last attempt to strike down the doctor. the massive piece of hagged metal SLAMS into the doctor full on and she is smacked down to the ground so fast...and so hard. the sound is SICKENING. ::

:: the super soldier is eradicated, destroyed from within and without on a physical, mental and spiritual level by the power of shadow spell and the ceiling of the hangar begins to collapse from the forces from the spell.....huge chunks crashing down all around the now unconscious and BADLY HURT doctor who is now laying on her back, her head turned to the side...not moving...blood dripping from a large rip in her flying suit about her chest area...and blood on her face as well::

<< THIS is what became of Dr. Victoria when she was accidentally left behind by Haleigh and the surviving members of the six.>>

<< But as the hybrid stood in the command center of the Hellfire Club's catacombs, STILL alone, she was shown MORE.>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< Black Widow sees how RAMPAGE was drawn to the Six, by ORORO>>

<< The Immortal Weather Witch found him, out of all other possible mutants in the world at that time, and recruited him to RESCUE the badly injured Shadow Weaver from the clutches of Malice!>>
<<FLASH!>>

Surprise

:: Rampage THOUGHT he had all his bases covered as he delayed the approaching troops above ground butsomething else was wrong.::



:: BEFORE Rampage could even LEAVE the outside of the Citadle, which was MILES below ground, He found himself feeling "lost" and "disoriented". It was as if he couldnt figure out HOW to get out of the hangar. EVERYTHING seemed more large, more immense. there was a FEELING of dread sweeping over him as a soft, icy, feminine laugh could be heard through the faintest shifts in the air...the slightest echos of any sound::


:: He had the doctor now sure enough. But getting OUT with her, ALIVE would be quite another task all together::


:: lights GLARED into view all around him, painfully illuminating the area::

Malice: well well, look what we have here! a handsome, and powerfull young mutant STEALING "property"[Doctor Victoria] of MysTech?

didn't your MOTHER ever teach you manners? it's not POLITE to take what doesn't BELONG to you!


:: a woman in white soon appeared, head to toe in Versace. She wore a low cut, front lace up white leather corsett along with white "panty" shorts, white thigh high, high heeled boots and white "opera" length gloves. her white cape rounded out the costume along with a white leather choker with a decent sized blue/white diamond in the center of the choker. the woman, although older than Nicolas, had a body that would put some women HALF her age to shame and she reeked of glamor and evil::

:: her hair, blonde and bone straight, parted down the middle hung just at her shoulders and framed her elegant face as her sapphire blue eyes glared at the mutant::

I don't know just who you think you are, If you think you're LEAVING here...ALIVE with the doctor, then you're sadly mistaken. Handsome as you are...I'd hate to have to mangle your pretty face, so why don't you put her down, and leave now.

<< Haleigh watches as Nicolas is confronted by Malice, and engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse as Malice pursues Rampage throughout the citadel. This was his first time meeting Malice, and he did not yet know SHE was responsible for the death of his father. He fights Malice off at every turn, while keeping Dr. Victoria safe. The two telepaths exchange deadly attacks , and while Nicolas has the advantage of physical strength that outclasses even Malice's, MALICE, as a telepath, is WITHOUT PEER. He is brave and resourceful, and he eventually manages to escape Malice, with Dr. Victoria, to the the surface, where Ororo quickly evacuates them both to the safety of her Garden Oasis in Limbo>>


<<NOW Haleigh's own memories start to figure in to this apparent...history lesson, as this is near the time when she, and the surviving members of the Six, aided by Ororo, and DARKCHILDE herself , succeed in RESCUING Spellbinder from the Siege Perilous, AND gaining a new member in the form of Persephone, the goddess, and refugee from the MoE timeline. BUT Persephone was not the ONLY new member the Six gained during this time....>>

<<FLASH!>>

Nicolas is greeted by the site of four very beautiful women standing before him, one of them holding a fifth. It is clear to him that the one held by Guardian is in fact Morgan Victoria and the others are the members of the Six, as he remembered them from the visions Ororo showed him, with a new woman with whom he was not familiar.

As he quickly studied the women before him, he used his TK to examine Spellbinder and found her to be intact in body, her apparently magical shielding prevented easy access to determine any effect on her mind. However, he wished to help in any way he could so he stepped forward.

"I am glad you have returned safely. I am Nicolas, Ororo brought me here to help. Here, allow me."

He attempted to gently lift Spellbinder from Guardian so he could put her on the bed to rest...

<< This was Haleigh's FIRST introduction to Nicolas. He had been instrumental in saving Shadow Weaver from Malice, and he gently assisted Guardian with placing the newly rescued Morgan Victoria in a bed so that she could rest, and be cared for by Ororo.>>

<< ALL the visuals on the floating monitors in the Catacombs command center go WHITE, with ear piercing alert ringing out in the air to get Haleigh's attention.>>

<< the sound of high heels walking across the stone floor can be heard, getting closer and closer, until...>>

 

[Malice]

Sanctum Sanctorum- Family Reunion

:: the sound of the white high heeled boots clicking along the stone floor gets closer and closer to where Haleigh is until...DIANA makes the scene.>>

:: she slowly strides out into full view, in diamond form, standing before her daughter, Haleigh Davidoff, with the three large floating monitors from the queens stations behind her, giving her that WHITE background, as only THE WHITE QUEEN deserves.::

:: She stares at Haleigh. Seconds might as well be an HOUR. Finally, she slowly shakes her head, sucking her teeth with disapproval::

He [Nicolas] did SO MUCH for you, ALL of you. He Saved your precious Shadow Weaver, he stood by you time and time again...and look how you repaid him.

<< the large, floating, monitors behind Diana FLASH and soon, raw, horrific images of Nicolas King's bloody dead body are seen. His eyes are STILL open, STILL frozen in shock, pain and fear>>

Rampage: Whyyyyy....Haleigh.....why did you killll meeeee??

<< It was his voice, the voice of a mortally wounded, dying man, a man BETRAYED>>

YOU did this to him, daughter. YOU murdered YOUR OWN SISTER'S SOUL MATE, YOUR TEAMMATE, and THEN?

::another one of the monitors flashes, revealing Haleigh being intimate with Cameron King on Minerva's Aerie MERE HOURS LATER.::

You do what you do best. DESTROY LIVES, only REALLY CARING to seek out your own satisfaction. Didn't you do this Morgan too, during the original Set caper? Her life was in danger, and all you cared about was getting your back blown out by HER SOUL MATE.

:: Malice giggles:: and you ACTUALLY THOUGHT you would have some kind of...RELATIONSHIP with Nicolas after that?

:: The look of amusement on Malice' face fades, and she stares at Haleigh like a SHARK closing in on its prey::

You're NO BETTER than your FATHER.

:: Finally, she looks away, as she slowly paces back and forth in front of the 3 large floating monitors::

:: She turns again to face her daughter, and she smirks, as the images FLASH/SHIFT again REPLYING Nicolas writhing on the floor, where he fell after Haleigh had STABBED him with the Soul Sword. He twitches, coughs up blood, gurgles...and struggles as he drowns in his own blood::

Poor Nicolas. He trusted you with his LIFE, and you TOOK IT, and then, without another thought, you FUCKED that little PRETENDER (Cameron King) , because that's all you really care about.

:: Smirking as she "ponders" it all for a moment, and then laughs softly , looking at Haleigh with her intense electric blue eyes ::

<< Haleigh had seen, FELT her mother's eyes before. She remembered the CHILLING sensation she felt in her mind, her physical skull...and here she was, FEELING it now. But how could that be, if Malice was DEAD?>>

Ohhh you ACTUALLY thought i was :: pretending to choke herself and letting her tongue hang out of her mouth for a second:: DEAD? You REALLY thought THAT ....PRETENDER :: Cameron:: could kill ME?!

And....oh this one is REALLY cute...you thought HE could PROTECT YOU FROM ME!?

:: laughing heartily....Malice is suddenly BEHIND Haleigh, grabbing her daughter and spinning her around...::

WRONG AGAIN, my foolish daughter.

:: BACK HANDING her with her diamond hand, sending her crashing into a nearby command console::

I am YOUR MOTHER, and you will NEVER be safe from me.

You thought I couldn't come back!?

:: Yanking Haleigh by her hair with such force, the hybrid's throat is exposed as her head is forced back. Diana's COLD aura washes over Haleigh, as her mother now speaks directly into her ear, and her MIND::

Oh yes, I CAN. And I will CONTROL YOU till the DAY.

:: Malice releases Haleigh's hair, roughly shoving her forward::

YOU.

:: suddenly shifting positions again, now in front of her again, but suddenly LOOMING over her at a much taller height than she originally was::

DIE.

:: And now, having firmly established her presence, Diana stands with her hands on her hips::

<< Haleigh's senses were either completely failing her, or her secret fear was finally realized. Malice, the White Queen, stood before her. >>

<< Was this whole thing a TRAP? Had Malice disguised herself as "Blaze" with that distress call? Haleigh had come to the Sanctum Sanctorum, but NOW she was in the Hellfire Catacombs, everything was as real as it had ever been, including DIANA.>>


<< Diana's last word to Haleigh, "DIE", echoes and reverberates in and around Haleigh's ears and mind.>>

 

[Seer]

NYC- Sanctum Sanctorum (maybe?)

<<Diana's last word to Haleigh, "DIE", rings in her ears, and her MIND...as the Hellfire Catacombs command center shifts and gives way to>>

The Underground Lab on Sheena Island

<< All of the areas in the underground lab on Sheena Island are as they were at the height of their operations. Haleigh can see, hear, FEEL the power of the fully operational facility, and she once again finds herself in the NERVE/COMMAND CENTER of the structure, the place where she had witnessed Diana access her psionic diamond box- something the White Queen ONLY did when she was in complete solitude.>>

<< Haleigh finds Diana seated in front of the central control panel and floating monitor. Diana's back is to Haleigh, at first, and there are images broadcasting the central floating monitor. Images of Spellbinder. Harbinger. Prophet. Firebird. Rampage. MorningStar. Persephone. >>

<< The images start out looking beautiful and pleasant, but as they cycle, the faces become darker, battle worn, and eventually, Nicolas King's face clearly shows that he's DEAD. Spellbinder's face shows her to be sick and in a COMA. Firebird's face is tear streaked and worn. We see a 3 way/split view>>


Diana: Behold, Scion. You're latest accomplishment. A life destroyed. A heart broken. A spirit broken. A family left grief stricken. And you are galavanting around the world, as if nothing has happened.

Diana: You are NOTHING, if not consistent! Leaving a path of destruction EVERYWHERE you go, and To HELL with everyone, as long you and your PRETENDER can find your way back to each other. Isn't that right, Scion?

<< Diana slowly turns in her seat to face Haleigh, sitting there, with her long legs crossed.>>

Diana: Do you remember the last time we were here together?

-----------------------------------
<< MEANWHILE>>

STILL INSIDE the Sanctum Sanctorum

<< BETO is PULLED IN to the Sanctum Sanctorum, and immobilized by complete darkness. He lost hold, sight and even FEELING of Jimaine Szardos, aka Amanda Sefton>>

<< But unlike Haleigh, Beto's relationship to magick runs DEEP and PERSONAL and so, his adjustment does not take as long as her's. Neither he, nor Haleigh are aware of each other at this point. They are in the same space (so to speak) but they are WORLDS apart.>>

<< When BETO's eyes finally begin to see, along with the rest of his senses, he is greeted by the sight of the interior of the Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

<< It is dimly lit, and he hears the faintest whispers and echoes carried through the air currents inside this mysterious place. he hears tones, voices, female voices. He begins to RECOGNIZE them>>

<< Persephone. Alessandra. Darkchilde.>>

<< And on one of the walls in the area where he now stands, he sees a beautiful portrait of HER >>

<< the whispers become more distinct, with one tone/voice growing more clear and distinct as she answers the question secretly in his mind>>

Voice: I am.....I am...the Darkchilde.

Her Voice: I AM the Darkchilde

<< the space around him shifts, and he now finds himself in THE SUMMIT of Limbo (the place to which the Sanctum Sanctorum is actually an extension of>>

<< This massive, gothic castle, carved into the very massive mountain itself, is the seat of Darkchilde's power.>>

<< How many times had he been here before. How many VERSIONS of this place had he seen since he'd been LOST in Limbo's time stream?>>

<< Always searching, sometimes getting so close, but NEVER finding HER, not since that cataclysmic battle that saw the the Masters of Evil fighting against the vengeful, ORIGINAL Dire Wraiths of legend>>

<< But now, impossible as it might seem, he's HERE.>>

<< The Mistral Winds whistle and howl, and eldritch chimes play in in those winds>>

 

[Darkchilde]

The Otherplace

<< a mystic symbol shines and bursts into view, as a stepping disc snaps open at a vertical angle and out steps...>>

Welcome home, my darling BRENTHON.

<<DARKCHILDE>>

<< But she was not as he remembered. After the decimation of MoE, Darkchilde had evolved, transcending her human form to become a being of pure dark magick. The form is feminine, w/ flowing "hair" but no visible face, no clothes, just the personification of dark magick, making her close to HECATE than to the human she once was. >>

<< As far as Hecate's trinity went- Darkchilde occupied the position of the CRONE, the wisest and MOST POWERFUL of the three forms/manifestations of the trinity.>>

Yes, I AM she. I AM your Darkchilde.

<< She senses his bewilderment>>


Does my current form displease you?

You were not present when I evolved to this form, but this change was necessary.

<< Only Guardian, Black Widow, Foxfire, and Persephone had see Darkchilde in this form during the timestream caper in Limbo>>

They're gone, Brenthon.

They're all gone. Alessandra, Titania, Morpheus, Sati, Betrayal, Devious, ALL of them. even Ororo fell.

<< Referring to the Masters of Evil, and Ororo, as she appeared in their timeline>>

But I saved Persephone from the slow death that awaited her in Limbo by casting her into the form of a statue.

Oh, that's right...

She was FREED by interlopers who were seeking to aid MY crosstime alternate, the Spellbinder.

<< Confirmation that this was indeed THE Darkchilde of the MoE timeline, the one who not only aided the survivors of the Six in rescuing Spellbinder, but also....>>

I made them take Persephone with them, so that she would have another chance at life. There was nothing for her Limbo, just as there is nothing for YOU in Limbo. THAT'S why I came to YOU.

This Spellbinder and I....we are two sides of the same coin and there is one other...who remained hidden for so long...until RECENTLY.

YOU found her, BRENTHON.

<< an image of Jimaine Szardos, aka Amanda Sefton appears between them>>

As ALWAYS, my beloved Evil Incarnate, you have done well.

Because of you, Hecate's trinity, her will, her LEGACY will not only endure, but it will now FLOURISH, and it is only RIGHT that YOU be able to reap the rewards of your success.

You CAN'T come back to me.

I no longer dwell where you remember, where you expect.

I am STILL the mistress of Limbo, the gateway to ALL times and places, but like Hecate herself, I am no longer bound to the mortal/physical coil.

You will stay HERE, in the time that you currently are.

You will bear witness to AMANDA SEFTON embracing her TRUE DESTINY, to become MAGIK, and occupy the "Maiden" position in the Trinity (with Darkchilde being the "Crone", and Spellbinder being the "Mother"), but she will leave YOU and this timeline soon after, for she and Spellbinder CANNOT exist in the same timeline. NONE of (the three of) US can be in the same place at the same time...that was something Hecate ordained so that the trinity would NEVER be so vulnerable to destruction as it was when She herself (the crone), Demeter (the mother), & Artemis (the Maiden) made the Trinity of the Moon in Persephone's ORIGINAL timeline.

Do you understand, Brenthon?

<< She draws near to him>>

*CLANG!*

<< And she changes her form, to appear more like how HE would remember her, but with a "modern" twist to reflect that the changes within were more than skin deep.>>

<< She then reaches out to him, placing her hand on the side of his face, and gently caressing it, as she had done all those years ago when she first summoned him, and with her touch comes a cooling, soothing, COMFORTING sensation, and her MAGICKS restore his mind, and his MEMORIES>>

My darling Brenthon, do not doubt. Do not try to tell yourself otherwise.

I am here before you. The Sanctum Sanctorum deemed you WORTHY of an EXPERIENCE rather than a TEST, because of your relationship and REVERENCE for MAGICK, Because of who you are to ME, and ultimately, who you are to the the Trinity.

It was YOU, Brenthon, who saved Spellbinder from the energy creature, Black, when he attempted to eliminate ALL THREE PARTS of the Trinity.

<< FLASH!>>

<< Taken from events in the Masters of Evil Cross Time Caper>>

<< Images of Brenthon, when he first arrived in Spellbinder's timeline, MANY MOONS ago, he entered Spellbinder's apartment at the top of Illustra, only to be confronted by the sorceress, who was QUITE ANGRY by his intrusion. She prepared to attack him, when she herself was attacked by Black. She dodged his initial pass, only to be caught by the 2nd, more deadly one, and knocked to the floor. It happened SO FAST.>>

<< Black was now standing over her, and Tinker, her beloved siamese, and enchanted familiar, and he was about to detonate a NEGA-BOMB of dark energy. The bomb wouldn't have just obliterated her, it would have completely ERASED Spellbinder, and utterly destroyed Illustra.>>

<< With only SECONDS to act, Brenthon DIVES for Spellbinder (and Tinker) , and evacuates all three of them just SECONDS before Black can attack!>>

You are as important to us as ORORO, the Immortal Weather Witch, and Guardian of the Dark Trinity, and you shall wonder no more. you shall suffer NO MORE.

Just as I have ensured Persephone would have a new life, I shall now do the same for you.

 

[MorningStar]

Manhattan, NY — Central Park

Delilah joked that Gavin didn't exactly make the choice one would expect from someone with his job description.

Gavin: “Straight-laced? Straight! Laced?!”

She giggled at the face he was making and his incredulous tone, and tried to conceal it by covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

Gavin: “I’ll have you know, I fancy myself a bit of a bad boy. That’s it. You’re going for a ride on my motorbike. I’m going to buy you a helmet, and a leather jacket, and some pants with pads and a pair of riding boots and I’m going to take you for a ride. We’ll see how straight-laced you think I am after that.”

"Maybe you could start with not calling it a motorbike. It conjures images of teenage pizza delivery boys."

She'd seen Gavin's motorcycle, and it was impressive and not motorbike-ish at all, but she couldn't help but laugh at the idea of the six foot tall man in front of her on a moped. She slipped her hand into his and they started walking towards the park to find a place to sit and eat.

Gavin: “Hold up a minute, did YOU have designs on the hot wings? Oh this just won’t do. We could settle this dispute with a game of darts, if you like.”

She raised her eyebrows at him playfully.

"Oh, so you can CHEAT again? I don't think so."

Delilah grinned, then held up the hand holding the handled bag with the salad in it.

"This happens to be the best Caesar salad in all of Manhattan, and I am perfectly content to eat it. Do you think I would bring you something I didn't want to eat myself?"

She scoffed good-naturedly, but then her tone became more serious.

"I suppose I should have called before I just showed up, though. Or asked you what you wanted to eat. I just thought a surprise would be more fun. I really did try to pick something you would like, I promise."

She looked over at him from the side of her eye, trying to see if he thought she'd overstepped. They had been dating for six months - in some ways it was a long time and in others no time at all. She was happy taking things slow but...sometimes she thought maybe she was making more of things than they were.

"How about that one?"

She spied a free bench in the shade, and indicated it with her head.

Cameron: [to Delilah]: "Oh he's proper fit, Dee...Nice...."

[thinking, in a sing song voice] Not a good time Cam...

Cameron: [to Delilah] "Sorry to interrupt. Checking in. Back in the city. Haleigh got an unsettling message from Blaze so she's going to investigate. Don't want to mess up your date mojo, but maybe just keep a more careful eye on your surroundings than normal, just in case Blaze's message means trouble. I'm tying up some business in the city, and I kind of need to tell you something that I'd prefer to do in person....So drinks tonight? Your pick of place, I don't know what's cool in New York right now. Love you and can't wait to see you, as long as you want to see me, love. Kisses."

[thinking] If you don't get out of my head right now, you'll never have drinks with anyone ever again. I'll see you at Jac's on Bond at 7. Welcome back.

Delilah's brow furrowed. So bow Haleigh and Blaze were besties? It was like they had their very own bitch convention. She was confident if Morgan took a turn for the worse Karen would tell her, but Cameron's news made doubt creep in. Could something really be wrong? Blaze would let Morgan die before she told Delilah a damn thing...

She realized she'd been lost in her own thoughts and moved her hand to Gavin's arm with a smile and gave it a little squeeze.

"I'm sorry, I was miles away there for a second."

 

[Brenthon]

NYC - The Sanctum Sanctorum

<< It wasn't often that Beto was caught off guard, but he soon found himself into the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum, separated from Amanda. Magick permeated through every corner of the house. Right in front of him even. He knew he was both alone and not alone. He knew entry to this place would not be easy. >>

"Persephone."

<< He remembered the name but he could not place it. But the sound of the name alone sent something through him. Recognition wasn't something he came by easily these days. >>

"Alessandra."

<< He heard another name, this one being sung to him over and over. A siren's call. >>

"Darkchilde."

<< His eyes immediately were drawn to a portrait in front of him as a wave of chaotic energy seemed to envelop him. It felt like his mind was on fire, trying to remember and being held from it. Each time he tried to touch the memories that were hidden from him, he felt a painful burn in his brain. >>

I AM the Darkchilde

<< The space around him began to shift. Something told him that once he was quite comfortable with that happening. But when his focus adjusted and he found himself at The SUMMIT of Limbo, his mind seared as he gritted through the pain, letting out a mighty roar as he attempted to get a hold of himself. He knew this place well. It had been his prison for a length of time that was incalculable. He had escaped. Tried to protect his mind from what he had gone through. He had done this to himself. But every second and every piece of the landscape he began to survey, he remembered. Deadly battles, endless suffering, his darkest moments of existence. He had experienced here, countless times over. >>

<< A stepping disc manifested in front of him. A set of senses he didn't realize he had began to activate. The shape and composition of a stepping disc could tell you certain things about where it might go. In Limbo, they were everywhere, almost as if they grew from the wild. He had used his divination skills to be able to "read" Stepping Discs for information about where their disc would take the passenger. It had taken many, many years. And THIS stepping disc, was one with which he was intimately familiar. It was one of HERS. >>

Darkchilde: "Yes, I AM she. I AM your Darkchilde. Does my current form displease you? You were not present when I evolved to this form, but this change was necessary."

<< Brenthon was not a man of emotion. But he was caught off guard by the beauty of the image in front of him. A being of true dark magick in it's most wild and potent form. He could have seen no other future for Darkchilde than this. Her life was about power, and to see her become that which she most coveted was a beautiful experience. His mind was still playing tricks on him. He knew her, he felt a deep love for her. A kinship and bond the likes of which he had not felt in his mortal body for quite some time. She was an answer, he just didn't know to what question. >>

"You look...beautiful."

Darkchilde: "They're gone, Brenthon. They're all gone. Alessandra. Titania. Morpheus. Sati. Betrayal. Devious. ALL of them. Even Ororo fell."

<< Every name and word she spoke began to awake a new memory and sense of himself, but it was fragmented. They were his brothers and sisters in war. And they were dead. >>

"Ororo."

<< The name sent chills up and down his spine as his mind was flooded with many images. The white haired witch across from him on The Summit, battling for a little girl's soul. He saw them work together, with Brenthon becoming sort of a Ranger for Limbo. He even felt the taste of her lips on his more than a few times. So many interactions. So many storried hidden from him. They were coming back. >>

Darkchilde: "But I saved Persephone from the slow death that awaited her in Limbo by casting her into the form of a statue. Oh that's right, She was FREED by interlopers who were seeking to aid MY crosstime alternate."

<< Persephone. Goddess of The Underworld. They had been friends, but often at odds. Competitive with one another. But he loved her deeply. >>

"I never stopped looking for you, Darkchilde. Every disc I went through, every hell I escaped, it was to find you."

Darkchilde: "I made them take Persephone with them, so that she would have another chance at life. There was nothing for her in Limbo, just as there is nothing for YOU in Limbo. THAT'S why I came to you...."

"There may be nothing for me here, but I have left parts of myself scattered through time and space in this realm. It is as much a part of me as it is for YOU."

<< Brenthon looked around him, reaching out his hand as he tapped into magicks he had not used in a very long time. Closing his eyes, he began to focus on vibration, frequency. Part of surviving Limbo was to cut out the noise, and if you knew what you were looking for, if you'd been there long enough, you could survive. >>

<< VOOM! >>

<< A wild stepping disc moved through the air from behind Darkchilde before arriving at it's destination, several feet in front of Brenthon's now outcast hand. He wanted to believe that this was Darkchilde, but he trusted nobody in Limbo. He needed to show that when it came to this realm, he was no neophyte. He'd more than earned his citizenship. Darkchilde curiously continued after an impressed smirk. >>

Darkchilde: "This Spellbinder and I...we are two sides of the same coin and there is one other...who remained hidden for so long...until RECENTLY. YOU found her, BRENTHON."

<< Amanda's visage appeared in between of them. It was beginning to make sense. Jimaine had a similar energy to Darkchilde, there was a similarity in their magickal signature. And the fact that they both had visions of blonde violet eyed sorceressses with soul swords, it led him to believe she was connected to something he had a very intimate connection to. >>

Darkchilde: "As ALWAYS, my beloved Evil Incarnate, you have done well."

"I cannot take credit for that. It was Jimaine Szardos that found ME. I've been lost a long time."

Darkchilde: "Because of you, Hecate's trinity, her will, her LEGACY will not only endure, but it will now FLOURISH, and it is only RIGHT that YOU be able to reap the rewards of your success."

"Why is she so important to you?"

Darkchilde: "You CAN'T come back to me. I no longer dwell where you remember, where you expect. I am STILL the mistress of Limbo, the gateway to ALL times and places, but like Hecate herself, I am no longer bound to the mortal/physical coil. You will stay HERE, in the time that you currently are."

"There's nothing FOR me here, Darkchilde."

<< he gritted his teeth and growled, his thick accent booming against the landscape. >>

Darkchilde: "You will bear witness to AMANDA SEFTON embracing her TRUE DESTINY, to become MAGIK, and occupy the "Maiden" position in the Trinity. But she will leave YOU and this timeline soon after, for she and Spellbinder CANNOT exist in the same timeline. NONE of US can be in the same place at the same time. That was something Hecate ordained so that the trinity would NEVER be so vulnerable to destruction as it was when she herself, Demeter and Artemis made the Trinity of the Moon in Persephone's ORIGINAL timeline. Do you understand, Brenthon?"

"I'm trying. But I do not."

Darkchilde: "My darling Brenthon, do not doubt. Do not try to tell yourself otherwise. I am here before you. The Sanctum Sanctorum deemed you WORTHY of an EXPERIENCE rather than a TEST, because of your relationship and REVERANCE for MAGICK, because of who you are to ME, and ultimately, who you are to The Trinity. It was YOU, Brenthon, who saved Spellbinder from the energy creature, Black, when he attempted to eliminate ALL THREE PARTS of the Trinity. You are as important to us as ORORO, the Immortal Weather Witch, and Guardian of the Dark Trinity, and you shall wonder no more. You shall suffer NO MORE. Just as I have ensured Persephone would have a new life, I shall now do the same for you."

<< It came back to him in one fell swoop as she placed her hands on the side of his face. Everything came back to him. She had come to him when he had lost everything. A babe in the woods and took him to her dimension, gave him power, entrusted him as a general in her war. He was her wrath incarnate. There was no living thing he would not have killed in her name. He had fallen into Limbo, lost for years. In that time he had seen and done many things. Tears began to well up in his eyes for but a moment as Brenthon firmly got a hold of himself. It was real. All of his nightmares. All of his feelings. They were real. He could feel himself fully for the first time. What happened to him, where he went, how he had gotten to where he was now, it was all there. All of the parts of him he had separated in himself had come back. He was strong again. >>

"I have spent so much of my life in Limbo. So much so that the mortal world no longer makes sense. Here I understand who I am, what I have done, why I have done it. But now? There is nothing. I don't need a new life, Darkchilde. I need a new PURPOSE. A new CAUSE. I cannot spend the rest of my endless days shackled to the conventions of these mortals. I am Evil Incarnate. I am a man of FIRE and WRATH. I am to be aimed at something you want destroyed. I will only accept a new life if it is one that I do not have to hide who I am. I have just found myself whole again, I will not fracture myself again willingly. But I am willing to entertain the idea because of Persephone. Would I be joining her?"

 

[Sparrow]

The Cloisters, New York City

Elena sat on a low wall between two stone columns, her body forming an s shape as she looked out into the garden beyond her. Her hair was loose, and she wore a white sleeveless dress. She was waiting in one of the arcades which looked out on the atrium at The Cloisters. She took a deep breath of the fresh air. It really was beautiful here. In some ways, this place reminded her of Colima, of home, the old stone and the green, growing things.

She felt rather than heard him approach. There could be no mistake. No other felt the way he did, like a hand slipping into a perfectly fitted glove. She was silent for a moment, though she knew he was near, that he had seen her. This was not how she had imagined seeing him again. But then again, maybe it was.

She stood slowly, still not turning her her head towards him, smoothing down her dress carefully.

You remembered our signal, amado.

She hadn't been sure he would, or that he would come. There had been a lot of changes in his life since the last time they were together.

Finally, she turned and looked at him. Walked slowly towards him. Put her hands on his chest, smoothed his shirt.

You've been a busy boy.

She smiled up at him.

And then she slapped his face as hard as she could, augmenting the force and the pain with her powers. Her face was no longer smiling.

"Maldito bastardo! Pinche cabron! What the hell do you think you've been doing Cameron?!"

The Spanish lilt came out in her voice despite her perfect English.

"You think you can just do whatever you please all over the Astral Plane! Tu puta madre!"

She threw up her hands.

"Jesus, Cameron, I taught you better than this!"

 

[Darkchilde]

NYC- The Sanctum Sanctorum (Limbo/The Otherplace)

"Why is she so important to you?"

<< DC looked upon Brenthon, and smiled a bit.>>

I am Hecate's seed, her daughter. So is the Spellbinder. So is Jimaine Szardos. we three are unique facets of the same being, born in prophecy at the dawn of the first red moon. It is because of her that WE EXIST.

In Persephone's original timeline, Hecate lived, along side her fellow Moon goddesses- Demeter (the mother) , and Artemis (the maiden) She occupied the position of the Crone, as she was the wisest, and the most powerful. Hecate enjoyed a highly favored position among the Olympians, because she SAVED them from their mad, murderous father, Cronus.

She is the SOURCE of magick, and The Trinity of the Moon served multiple functions in the grand scheme of the cosmos, but it was forever destroyed when Persephone, under the influence of Hades, brutally murdered her mother (Demeter), shattering the bond of the trinity AND weakening Hecate's power and position on Olympus.

That was one of SEVERAL acts of betrayal and abuse that Hecate had endured, which lead to her casting the curse of the Red Moon. She wanted revenge, and she wanted EVERYONE to suffer, and she made that possible through the Red Moon, BUT even in the heat of her rage, she knew there would have to be an end, and so, she planted the seeds of a NEW trinity that would exist in across multiverse. Myself, the crone; Spellbinder the mother, & Jimaine....or as she identifies herself - Amanda, the maiden.

Through US, Hecate's legacy as the Goddess of Witchcraft continues, and through US the magick that permeates the Multiverse flows as it was meant to.

<< Brenthon would remember, from the days of the Masters of Evil, that multiple comparisons had been drawn between the personality and temperament of Darkchilde, and Hecate. Even Ororo had referenced Hecate more than once. The only person among the Masters of Evil who truly understood the significance of this, was Persephone, who KNEW Hecate, lived with her in the halls of Mt. Olympus, and was even her BEST FRIEND...until HADES.>>

There is more, but not from me. You WILL find out very soon.

<<DC nods with certainty, for she knew what...or rather WHOM was coming to the Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

"There's nothing FOR me here, Darkchilde."

<< he gritted his teeth and growled, his thick accent booming against the landscape. >>

You're wrong. You haven't even BEEN here long enough to know what...or WHOM is for you.

<< and soon, DC used her magicks to restore Brenthon's memories of self- past, present, and parallel.

<< It came back to him in one fell swoop as she placed her hands on the side of his face. Everything came back to him. She had come to him when he had lost everything. A babe in the woods and took him to her dimension, gave him power, entrusted him as a general in her war. He was her wrath incarnate. There was no living thing he would not have killed in her name. He had fallen into Limbo, lost for years. In that time he had seen and done many things. Tears began to well up in his eyes for but a moment as Brenthon firmly got a hold of himself. It was real. All of his nightmares. All of his feelings. They were real. He could feel himself fully for the first time. What happened to him, where he went, how he had gotten to where he was now, it was all there. All of the parts of him he had separated in himself had come back. He was strong again. >>

"I have spent so much of my life in Limbo. So much so that the mortal world no longer makes sense. Here I understand who I am, what I have done, why I have done it. But now? There is nothing. I don't need a new life, Darkchilde. I need a new PURPOSE. A new CAUSE. I cannot spend the rest of my endless days shackled to the conventions of these mortals. I am Evil Incarnate. I am a man of FIRE and WRATH. I am to be aimed at something you want destroyed. I will only accept a new life if it is one that I do not have to hide who I am. I have just found myself whole again, I will not fracture myself again willingly. But I am willing to entertain the idea because of Persephone. Would I be joining her?"

You are not the Immortal Weather Witch, Ororo. You were not meant to completely transcend your HUMANITY the way she did. That is the part you are missing.

I found you when you needed new life once before, and I am here before you now, as you need that once again.

Everyone has their place in this celestial design, and there is no shame in being rooted on the EARTH.

I began there, so did Ororo, so do the other two in Hecate's trinity.

At any rate, it's not WHAT, but rather WHO needs you here.

You ARE favored by Hecate, even though you never knew it, and your connection with Jimaine Szardos represents another significant step forward in your NECESSARY transition into this timeline.

As I told you, you WILL bear witness to the dawn of her destiny, as MAGIK, but even when she lives you, your work will not be complete.

The Spellbinder suffers. Her heart, her very SOUL are broken following a loss that has altered her destiny's course (something that will be spoken on in more detail by Hecate) and she is UNCOMFORTABLY close to letting go of this mortal coil before her destiny is fulfilled. That CANNOT happen, Brenthon. You saved her once before. You will be present to help her now, only NOT in the way you might think.

And there is another, a beautiful witch with midnight blue hair, and bewitching colbalt blue eyes.

She is a powerful telekinetic, precognitive witch who occupies an important role in this dimension as the Keeper of Time.

I met her, once before, when they traveled across Limbo's timestream, seeking to save The Spellbinder. She is special, and she needs to REMEMBER her place, and her POWER.

Now, she grieves, she hurts, she is suffering, and like you in your experiences, post MoE, she grows distant from the people she has been bound to since her destiny dawned. She grows TIRED of people around her not believing her, not listening to her, or taking her seriously, taking her for granted.

<<Darkchilde could empathize with that herself, as could her foremother, Hecate>>

Her heart ACHES, despite its MARBLE HARD constitution, as she grieves over the loss of a teammate, a friend, someone that she didn't know she could love as much as she did, and she has withdrawn from everyone but a precious few (Arsenal, Shadow Weaver, Jezebel, and Persephone).

She's even begun considering casting herself into the Siege Perilous. She has never been known for making rash decisions out of such emotion, but since the last cycle of the Blue Moon, things have become increasingly difficult for her. Even the strongest tree will bend, and eventually BREAK. That CANNOT happen, for her sake, and the sake of the world she exists in.

YOU are the one to help stabilize her, to bring her heart and soul back into balance. Your experiences make you UNIQUELY qualified to help her, Brenthon. You ALSO have much to learn FROM her, as well as cementing your own relationship with The Spellbinder, just as you did with me in our native timeline.

And there is one other still- your former comrade, Persephone, Goddess of the Underworld. She has lost her way since I last saw her, displaying poor judgement, and allowing herself to be abused by a mentat of incredible power (referring to Malice) , and getting involved in rather PEDESTRIAN reindeer games (referring to giving herself over to the Hellfire Club)


<< For the first time that Brenthon can remember since his EARLIEST days in the Masters of Evil, he sees the Darkchilde looking VERY DISPLEASED>>

I did NOT send Persephone to The Spellbinder's timeline to become...CONTAMINATED with the psyche of a mortal woman (Ava Cassadine), nor did i TRAIN her to SUBMIT herself to a CHANGELING (referring to Enchantrah). It was one thing for her to join the Six, to join The Spellbinder, who is another part of ME...but these recent events?

I am NOT pleased. and I blame Black Widow. I met HER too when they were searching for a way to rescue Spellbinder.

FIND PERSPHONE, Brenthon, and MAKE HER REMEMBER WHO SHE IS. Find her, BEFORE HECATE DOES.

I trust you'll heed my words, and my direction, Brenthon, I would never set you up for failure. You are were you are supposed to be, and I came to you to confirm that, and to make sure you took your next steps forward with a clear eye, and a clear, whole, MIND.

 

[Prophet]

NYC - The Cloisters

He smirked as he made his way through the crowd at Delilah's message. It felt good to hear her voice in his head. She liked this guy, he could hear it in her voice. He felt like an obnoxious kid brother, and that was something he excelled at. He had hoped he might maintain that same spirit when he told her that he and Haleigh had gotten married. He was not sure how she would take it. Everybody had given her such a hard time over Bishop in the past. So much so that Cameron had blindly backed The Six and their belief that Bishop was the problem. But he had gotten to know Delilah so well over the years. She was his strongest friendship. And now knowing her as deeply as he did, he couldn't find very many reasons for her and Bishop to not get together and try to make it work. The fact that his wife had just fucked this man also complicated things. But stranger things had happened in The Six. And Delilah was lying about how much of a normal life she wanted. She was just in mama bear mode. And he understood it. But Cameron believed that this period by herself was important. She was learning things she needed to learn about herself. Delilah wanted to be able to make her own mistakes, so Cameron would never meddle, but he was both excited to "see" her with a new flame and yet sad to think of what she might be able to have with Bishop.

"She is...not gonna take this well, King..."

He said to himself as he made his way over towards the cloisters. It was a romantic location, but it made sense for her. Elena Estrada. His first great love..his first girlfriend. His psychic bond with his wife suddenly felt a bit weird. Obviously, he was in love with his wife, but coming face to face with a beauty like Elena Estrada, someone he once loved, but one that he left to make a new life for himself. She wasn't the one that got away, she was the first person Cameron had loved despite realizing there was no the two could blend their lives. He loved Elena, but he didn't love her life. He didn't want that for himself. He wanted freedom. She would always be too connected to her father. Yes many things went through his mind but specifically he heard her voice.

Elena: "You remembered our signal, amado."

Cameron was pleased to see Elena, but his mind was immediately alerted to the current situation his wife was facing at The Sanctum. Haleigh had been pulled in, and from what Cameron could see, it appeared that the house seemed to feel like they could put his wife on trial. That was something that would not stand with him. So as he gave Elena Estrada a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, he began to also keep a tactical eye on his wife, ready to assist at a moment's notice.

<< SLAP! >>

"Maltido bastardo! Pinche cabron! What the hell do you think you've been doing Cameron?!"

So she was a bit angry. But Haleigh was priority. The house was taunting her with visions of Malice. It was clearly an outdated spell. Cameron and Haleigh had done the necessary work to heal Haleigh's neurosis with her mother. She would not be thwarted by such a cheap illusion. Malice was not back, not in the slightest, and if she ever did come back? He'd be sitting on ready. And he told Haleigh as much.

"This is lame, Hales. This is nothing. You don't owe anybody a goddamn thing. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. We made our amends. We stopped Set. We've LOST others. We can't allow this to continue to tear us apart. Lean in, force the house's hand and get to Blaze. You got this."

Cameron could not mentally navigate Haleigh right now. He didn't want to develop the habit of taking care of his wife's issues. She was a smart woman, if she needed his help, she'd tell him. Just because they shared a bond didn't mean they always took care of each other's problems. They realized there were paths they had to walk alone. Cameron felt like this was one of them.

He rubbed his chin after recoiling from Elena's slap and string of insults. She was always so pissy and dramatic. It was something that used to drive Cameron wild. She was like a diamond in the rough in East LA. A conquest. She had taken care of him and his family through a hard period of time. And he left her once he got what he needed. Rather, Vivica had begged him to stop his life of crime. Leticia Lennox was dead. They didn't need the money anymore. He wanted to make something of himself. Something real. Above board. For Viv's mom. To prove that everything she had invested in him had been worth it. So he chose Vivica and left Elena's "family". And he hadn't seen her since, more specifically, fifteen years.

"I'm sorry! Jesus!"

She spoke wildly with her hands, Cameron having to analyze her movements to see if she was about to strike.

Elena: "You think you can just do whatever you please all over the Astral Plane! Tu puta madre! Jesus, Cameron, I taught you better than this!"

He took a seat.

"No, you taught me how to crack safes and rob banks. *I* taught myself how to kill The Great White of The Astral Plane. I know there were casualties, but I also know that the consequences of me losing that battle would have been FAR worse than what we suffered winning. And...I am trying to make reparations."

He put his hand up.

"Seriously, cut the dramatics for a second. I know I fucked up, but I am trying to make sure that psi sensitives never experience that kind of situation again. I'm forming a council. A set of eyes both mystical and mutant to watch over our various psychic realms. Specifically trained to detect the slightest hint of malice across the planes. I'm a married man now, it's not something that can take my entire attention. I need help. If you're pissed off about it, why don't you help me make it right?"

He scooted his seat a bit closer to Elena as their eyes locked, both beautiful hues of blue green and amber.

"Are you okay? Were you weakened? Depowered?"

 

[Seer]

The Sanctum Sanctorum

<< The thing about this place, is that what each person sees and experiences is REAL to them.>>

<< this house of magick takes something from within the person and projects it back to them, immerses them in it>>

<< But the other part that most people won't realize is that structure houses an extension of Limbo (aka The Otherplace) time and space move different inside this house of magick what is "real" is RELATIVE. >>

<<More than a mere temporal phantom, somewhere between a dream (which is a facet of reality), a look into the past, revisiting the present, or a glimpse of something, or SOMEONE to come.>>

<< Nothing can be dismissed or written off where this house is concerned. And How well or bad a person does in his/her test or "first experience" in this house depends entirely on them, their relationship to magick, their wisdom (or lack thereof), and their willingness to learn, as well as show that they can handle being in this unique place. >>

<< Beto, Haleigh Davidoff, & Amanda Sefton, were all experiencing something REAL to each of them. Something that represented an unresolved issue, or a deep seated desire/fear, OR something yet to come. That is another why each person is FORCED to undergo their "first experience"/test in the Sanctum Sanctorum, ALONE. And once the person passes through their "first experience", they are indeed changed. They have learned something, faced something, resolved something, OR are now looking ahead for something...or someone to come.>>

<< Now, we finally see Amanda Sefton, who was pulled into the Sanctum Sanctorum by an irresistible, overwhelming vortex, and she was separated from Beto>>

 

[Brenthon]

NYC Sanctum Sanctorum/Limbo

Darkchilde: "You are not the immortal Weather Witch, Ororo. You were not meant to completely transcend your HUMANITY the way she did. That is the part that you are missing."

"I've bested Ororo more than once. And it doesn't matter. It appears my legacy is to be of some kind of service to Limbo. There's no way to know what will be required in terms of my relationship with humanity. I know myself. I may not belong in Limbo, but I certainly don't belong on Earth."

Darkchilde: "I found you when you needed new life once before, and I am here to before you now, as you need that once again."

<< Beto's mind raced back to those days. He had been shunned from his community from being a boy who could tell fortunes, and for the murder of his mother. He found himself in a house, with a Witch of The Wilds, a woman who offered him safe harbor in exchange for devoting himself to her cause. She was a priestess of Hecate named Almora. He spent much of his preteen years learning magick, helping Almora pursue her goals. But she was gaining a reputation. Villages were closing in on her. They burned her at the stake. Brenthon was left alone. One night by a fire, Darkchilde appeared to him. She was from another time altogether, but she had cast a spell looking for the right members of her coven, despite where in time and space they were. Brenthon was among those of the past. She brought him to Limbo, to her places of power, and modernized him. Taught him about power without consequence. In return he served as one of her most faithful. He was her rook, her assassin. He worked in service of Darkchilde. As a disciple. But his time as that had come to an end. He was more than some disciple. He was an entity of power in his own right. >>

Darkchilde: "Everyone has their place in this celestial design, and there is no shame in being rooted on the EARTH. I began there, so did Ororo, so do the other two in Hecate's trinity."

"And so did I, Priestess."

[pausing]

Darkchilde: "At any rate, it's not WHAT, but rather WHO needs you here. You ARE favored by Hecate, even though you never knew it, and your connection with Jimaine Szardos represents another significant step forward in your NECESSARY transition to this timeline."

<< Brenthon had been a warlock under Hecate's tutelage in his time with the coven. He was not only Darkchilde's dagger, but her destructive left hand. He knew he was favored by her. Because he still felt that power in a body he had only recently woken up in. His people's mana was nowhere near that strong. It had been from other means. Magickal means. And he knew it was Hecate. >>

"Then by all means, Darkchilde. Explain this timeline to me."

Darkchilde: "As I told you, you WILL bear witness to the dawn of her destiny, as MAGIK, but even when she leaves you, your work will not be complete."

"It is unsettling to think of Illyana as replaced, Dark Queen."

<< Darkchilde did not elaborate, just continued. >>

Darkchilde: "The Spellbinder suffers. Her heart, her very SOUL are broken following a loss that has altered her destiny's course, and she is UNCOMFORTABLY close to letting go of this mortal coil before her destiny is fulfilled. That CANNOT happen, Brenthon. You saved her once before. You will be present to help her now, only NOT in the way you might think."

<< He had, in fact, saved Morgan Victoria more than once. One against Black, and once when she was a little girl against Belasco. He had known many incarnations of Spellbinder. As Queen of Limbo. As Morgan The Grey. He knew her. >>

"A woman with her responsibility does not have the time to act like this. She needs to awaken from her slumber and face reality. The sooner the better. I feel that."

Morgan: "And there is another, a beautiful witch with midnight blue hair, and bewitching cobalt blue eyes."

"The Harbinger."

<< She was also not a stranger to Limbo. He'd seen her as ruler, prisoner, villain and hero. Though he'd never developed a relationship with any of them. She seemed programmed to kill and nothing else. Beto could sense the frost around her heart. It felt INPENETRABLE. >>

Darkchilde: "I met her, once before, when they traveled across Limbo's timestream, seeking to save The Spellbinder. She is special, and she needs to REMEMBER her place, and her POWER."

"Her heart is ice cold. Feels...almost empty."

Darkchilde: "Now, she grieves, she hurts, she is suffering, and like you in your experiences, post MoE, she grows distant from the people bound to her since her destiny dawned. She grows TIRED of people around her not believing her, not listening to her, or taking her seriously, taking her for granted."

"Absolutes are hard for most people."

Darkchilde: "her heart ACHES, despite it's MARBLE HARD constitution, as she grieves over the loss of a teammate, a friend, something that she didn't know she could love as much as she did, and she had withdrawn from everyone but a precious few. She's even begun casting herself into the Siege Perilous. She has never been known for making rash decisions out of such emotion, but since the last cycle of the Blue Moon, things have become increasingly difficult for her. Even the strongest free will bend, and eventually BREAK. That CANNOT happen, for her sake, and the sake of the world she exists in."

"You cannot stop one of the trinity from doing what she wants. I know this to be true. She has to save herself from this. Like we all did."

Darkchilde: "YOU are the one to help stabilize her, to bring her heart and soul back into balance. Your experiences make you UNIQUELY qualified to help her, Brenthon. You ALSO have so much to learn FROM her, as well as cementing your own relationship with The Spellbinder, just as you did with me in our native timeline."

<< It was a new cause. He had followed Darkchilde to the ends of the Earth, and now she was the peak of her power. He believed in The Dark Trinity, had lived in their world for so long. Perhaps his new destiny rested in helping Spellbinder. >>

"I am loyal to the cause, Darkchilde. But this is a big undertaking."

<< She continued. >>

Darkchilde: "And there is one other still - your former comrade, Persephone, Goddess of the Underworld. She has lost her way since I last saw her, displaying poor judgment, and allowing herself to be abused by a mentat of incredible power, and getting involved in rather PEDESTRIAN reindeer games."

"You have not held a mortal body in quite some time. That much is clear. Perhaps you have forgotten what it feels like for those who live their days in the flesh. Life is brutal and unknind. I judge nobody who has survived the fallout of our war. Whatever she is going through, she has been my sister in arms. I will not shirk my hand if she requires it."

Darkchilde: "I did NOT send Persephone to The Spellbinder's timeline to become...CONTAMINATED with the psyche of a mortal woman, nor did I TRAIN her to submit herself to a CHANGELING. It was one thing for her to join The Six, to join The Spellbinder, who is another part of ME...but these recent events? I am NOT pleased. and I blame Black Widow. I met HER too when they were searching for a way to rescue Spellbinder."

<< It was bittersweet for him to hear these words. As happy as he had been to see her, to know she had been this all powerful version of herself for quite some time and had still not sought him out? Nor did she know that he needed rescuing? How was that possible for a woman of her power? >>

"I don't remember Persephone being a woman who didn't know what her options were. I remember her as someone who was guided by her passion. Still, I refuse to believe that anything she's gotten herself into she can't handle. If it truly worries you this deeply, I will keep an eye out."

Darkchilde: "FIND PERSEPHONE, Brenthon, and MAKE HER REMEMBER WHO SHE IS. Find her, BEFORE HECATE DOES."

The Gypsy King cocked a bemused eyebrow.

"I will watch Ava. But I'm nobody's savior. And she wouldn't want that either. If I am to be in her company, I want to have a clean slate. I deserve that with her. As for Black Widow, I do not find it wise to exploit a crack between Haleigh and The Spellbinder. They are sisters, as I am now made aware. I do not wish them to fight."

Darkchilde: "I trust you'll heed my words, and my direction, Brenthon, I would never set you up for failure. You are who you were and who you are supposed to be, and I cam to you to confirm that, and to make sure you took your next steps forward with a clear eye, whole, MIND."

"There are no words to express my gratitude. I believe your words, it's just...I do not find myself able to trust anybody but myself these days. So while I sit here and want to believe you, and struggle against the part of me that DOES believe you, I can't decide whether or not this is some kind of test and not a vision. But I decided I don't feel like figuring it out. I just want to see what happens."

<< He gripped Darkchilde's hand as his midnight black eyes met her icy violet. It was still insanity for him to see her. It had been so long. The others were around constantly. But never Darkchilde. He was convinced she was dead. >>

"I agree to your terms, but I am bound in no agreement. Thank you for the spirit of your gift. I am ready to serve where I am needed."

<< He was trying to play the game on the game's terms. While a great part of him believed this was Darkchilde, there was an equally large part of him that was being as careful as he possibly could not to get himself killed or taken for a patsy. >>

"It will not be perfect. There will be many mistakes, on both ends. But I am ready. Send me where I need to go, Darkchilde. I am ready for the next chapter."

 

[Magik]

NYC- Sanctum Sanctorum

<< She enjoyed a wild ride as much as the next person but this was fun at all. >>

<< She lands on the floor and it takes a moment for her to recover.>>

<< When she does, she finds herself in the same place that Haleigh and Beto had initially arrived, the Sanctum Sanctorum's foyer.>>

mmmm...

<< she slowly rose to her feet, rubbing her head.>>

I like it rough...but that just disrespectful.

No sign of Beto...and yet, I know...I SENSE he is here. The spatial/temporal barriers along the sidreal string of reality bend and warp in this....Otherplace....this house of magick.

<<sighing>>

But now that we're....I am inside....I

<< she takes a moment to slowly look around this immediate area>>

<< It was beautiful, strong, mysterious, softly illuminated.>>

FIREBIRD? I am Amanda Sefton, daughter of gypsy mother, and Witch Queen, Margali Szardos! I occupy the the TOP SPOT of the Winding Way, and I heard your call to Hecate! In her name, I offer my assistance, as a witch!

<< There were soft whistles from air currents, and haunting whispers carried on those currents, as well as chimes that intermittently played in the air throughout this place. >>

No Response from the Firebird...

House of magick....you've granted me access, but I will be tested. I stand here ready.

<< She said with certainty>>

<< The scene did not shift just yet, and Amanda allowed herself to move forward>>

The Library...

<< A source of knowledge and information. If the house was going to let her more forward , she decided that was the best place to start. Any decent library belonging to a witch had a few "standard" items, including a labyrinth map, a book of spells and incantations (any number/version) , and few other essential items. >>

<< If Amanda was going to be allowed to move through the house for any length of time before her test, she needed to be INFORMED about where she was going. >>

<< as she began to search for the map of this place...>>

<< a strobing flash of lightning, followed by a CRASH of thunder suitably startles Amanda, causing her to flinch>>

<<GASP!>>

<< as she jumped, she blinked her eyes, once, twice, and she found herself in...>>

The Great Hall of the Hellfire London Branch

<< There was chaos and conflict. The ripple effects of the tremendous unrest and upheaval at the Hellfire American Branch surrounding the supposed death of the infamous, and legendary White Queen, Malice had carried over to the London Branch.>>

<< Several other Inner Circle members of the London Branch had started going rogue, making power plays leading up to and in the immediate aftermath of Malice's apparent death.>>

<< One of those caught in the crossfire of all this was Bretta, the dark faerie. She was a member of the London Branch's red court, and she had followed Domino and Lord Ravena during their violent and bloody revolution.>>

<< Bretta was good enough for them THEN, but something HAPPENED between then, and the time Amanda herself, fresh off her monumental success of ridding the London HC's mansion of the N'Garai invasion, was on the fast track of following in her mother's footsteps to becoming the next London Red Queen>>

<< Suddenly, for reasons known only to Amanda, the sorceress abruptly withdrew herself from her close association with London's Inner Circle, and left the mansion.>>

<< It was a decision she would later express REGRET about to Domino and Discord, during their time together in Madripoor. For during Amanda's absence, Bretta was MURDERED by the American Branch's Black and Red Queens- Talisman and Enchantrah.>>

<< Domino and Discord couldn't understand why Amanda, or ANYONE, would shed a tear for Bretta, but Amanda revealed that she had known Bretta since they were children. Bretta was rescued from an anti-mutant mob, taken in, and raised by Margali Szardos, Amanda's mother, and former Red Queen of the HC London Branch.>>

<< Bretta and Amanda grew up together, with Amanda even helping to teach Bretta how to use some of her mytically rooted powers as a Dark Faerie in more effective/offensive ways.>>

<< Still, none of that training would save Bretta from being brutally murdered by Talisman, a horrible, opportunistic woman who had no respect for anyone around her, and Enchantrah, a woman who was more focused her hedonistic, excessive, yet no less glamorous pursuits>>

<< And now, as impossible as it might have seemed, Amanda Sefton was now PRESENT for the moment Bretta witnessing her final moments, and her bloody murder>>

<< a dolly zoom effect behind Amanda, as she gasps with shock>>

It's the changeling, Enchantrah, and the INTERLOPER!

<< Amanda couldn't stop them, there simply wasn't enough time, but she made her presence known>>

MURDERERS!

<< Amanda points and screams with rage as the two renegade American Branch Queens turn to see her. Talisman would realize she wasn't supposed to be there, but would have precious little time to analyze this bizarre phenomena>>

<< With glowing blue tao mandalas manifesting around her gloved hands, Amanda FIRES UPON Talisman and Enchantrah with two large, destructive magickal force blasts, but Talisman quickly whisks them away from harm. They'd accomplished their goal, and Amanda was helpless to save her, she could not heal the dead.>>


<< She kneels down , looking over her fallen friend with a crestfallen facial expression, as she quietly utters a "prayer" for a lost witch/magick user.>>

<< she couldn't save her, but she COULD send her body back to Margali so that the faerie could be buried properly.>>

Ororo: Do not punish yourself over this loss, my child. It has already happened, and Bretta HAS been safely guided to the afterlife by YOUR mother.

<< Amanda looks up...>>

Amanda: who!?

Ororo: I am Ororo, the Immortal Weather Witch, and guardian of the Dark Trinity. I stand before you, because the dawn of your true destiny is at hand.

Amanda: But I thought....

Ororo << holding up her hand for silence>> You heard the Firebird's call for help, because you were meant to. But you were NOT meant to stop or even KILL those other two (Talisman and Enchantrah). You are meant to restore BALANCE and ENSURE STABILITY.

You HAVE the power to kill, that much is certain, but what sets you apart (from Darkchild and Spellbinder) is your willingness to HELP and PROTECT the weak, and to RESTORE that which is broken. When you wrested the Eye of Agamotto from Talisman, restoring it back to your family, your CLAN, you helped to bring increased function and balance to the overall order and flow of MAGICK.

Ororo: Your mother has been preparing you for this moment, this EXPERIENCE for some time, even though you have not always believed. I am here to serve as CONFIRMATION, and to GUIDE YOU forward.

Ororo: YOUR TEST is not whether or not you can overpower someone, or even save them. YOUR test is to prove if you have the wisdom and SERENITY to....

as the mortals would say

Ororo: ....keep your eye on the prize! Don't lose sight of why you are here, and do not get distracted by the wonders and intrigue in this Otherplace.

Amanda: But how can i find the Firebird? She has not answered my call.

Ororo: She will be along soon enough.

<< Ororo extends her hand to Amanda, who receives that hand, and stands to her full height>>

Ororo: Now, it is time for you to go where you are most needed in this house. The rest will unfold/be revealed to you in due time, and by the right person. We SHALL meet again.

:: Ororo disappears in a column of wind and dried leaves, while Amanda herself is surrounded by swirling sky blue orbs, and TELEPORTED from where she was in the house to somewhere on the 2nd floor::

<< Amanda Sefton will appear in Sanctum Sanctorum again soon enough>>