Meeting of the minds

[Black Widow]

Delilah: She didn't choose to DIE, Haleigh. Jessica Marcus is out to kill Alycia - stopping Jessica means preventing that from happening. Look, I understand you want to support your sister, and her feelings about Alycia,--

"No, I don't think you DO understand. This isn't about my sister, or what Alycia did to Stav. This is about what Alycia is doing to US right now. She doesn't WANT us, Delilah, she doesn't want anything to DO with us. She's gone OUT OF HER WAY to make that clear. You, Ava, Cameron, Nicolas-- I have TOO MANY other people to worry about to concern myself with a woman pretty much blames us for everything that's wrong in her life. I hope nothing bad happens to her… but I can't help her anymore."

Delilah: I'm not going to just shrug and leave her to the wolves.

"Then you're a better person than I, as always."

Delilah: And despite any problems we might be having right now, Sharon is there on that island too. She's a member of this team and I'm not just going to write her off because she's not our 'primary concern'.

"Of course…. Sharon. [pausing pensively] Yes, regardless of our differences, we DO have an obligation to help Sharon, if at all possible. She's still a part of this team."

For now. She thought to herself. It seemed inevitable now that Sharon would defect. Until then, Haleigh would do her best to honor her duty to Sharon as a team member… even IF she didn't agree with Sharon's behavior of late.

Delilah argued that leaving Haleigh behind was pointless. Jessica DID want to 'reclaim' Haleigh. It WOULD be better for them all to stay together. Delilah refused to go WITHOUT Haleigh.

Cameron: I've got more faith in you Haleigh than you might think, but it's also possible she could render you useless and DEAD. You want to take that chance?

"That's not the worst thing that could happen."

She said. It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't what she was actually concerned about. She'd long since faced her own mortality. It was the OTHERS she was worried about. There was something else…. Something she was about to bring up, when Cameron did it for her:

Cameron: Look, I don't just speak to hear myself talk. I'm not trying to be an asshole here, i'm trying to keep the situation safe for all of us. Anyone here who feels like they are going to be able to pull the trigger on Haleigh when she becomes a zombie, speak up now.. I get where BOTH of you are coming from, I really do, but just because we are a team and we stick together does NOT erase the very real possibility that ONE of US might have to END Haleigh's life in a few hours. Sorry for trying to spare anyone's conscience of THAT…

"I would hope… if it came to that… every one of you would be able to… save yourselves and your teammates... with a CLEAR conscience."

Cameron: FUCK!

[quietly] "Cameron…"

Cameron: Sorry. Really… I'm just trying to find a way to get everyone out of this alive. I don't want to separate us, but I don't want to put us in any MORE danger than what we are already going to face.

Malice: But really, in the event that Haleigh becomes a bio hazard, you REALLY should have a plan in place, unless you're too faint of heart and want US to dispose of her?

[skeptically] "Would you really do that for them? Or would you be to interested in seeing who could do it themselves?"

Malice: Spare me. Actually, there IS something I might be willing to do… call it a…PROFESSIONAL COURTESY… that could help her.

"Dare I ask?"

Dominique: Regardless of what YOU decide to do, I will be accompanying you. It is OBVIOUS to me that you as a team are not FIT to have Nicolas among you and left to your own devices, the possibility of his emotional/mental break down or DEATH and ultimately the return of SET seems to be ever greater. Nicolas is MY flesh and blood, he is MY responsibility and when this is over, I will see to it that he is REMOVED from your ranks. You don't deserve him. Some of you don't deserve ANYONE'S trust.

"What about what NICOLAS wants? Or does that not matter to you?"

 

[Prophet]

Haleigh: That's not the worst thing that could happen."

[to himself] "Speak for yourself..."

Haleigh: I would hope...if it came to that.. every one of you would be able to... save yourselves and your teammates...with a CLEAR conscience.

"I couldn't. EVER."

Malice butted in and saying, in TRUE Malice fashion that she would be more than happy to end Haleigh's life if need be or the possibility arised, which surprised almost nobody. He had to think quick on his feet, turn the conversation back to the task at hand before anybody took Malice's bait. But SURPRISINGLY, Malice continued and even offered some mysterious form of "help", to which he was sure everybody was suspicious of.

"We don't hardly get enough offers of help from you, Diana. PLEASE, continue to thrill us."

He looked at Dominique as she spoke on the subject of Nicolas.

"King's destiny is intertwined with our's Miss Deveraux. Remove him as you wish and he will find a way back, and if he doesn't I will. Call it overestimating myself, I don't care. Nicolas is OURS. Free and Clear..."

Nicolas wasn't his favorite person, but he would MUCH rather keep a watchful eye on him HIMSELF or at least with the help of his sister, than to have him PLUCKED from the ranks and delivered to the Sisterhood.

 

[Isis]

Hellfire Mansion

"What about what NICOLAS wants? Or does that not matter to you?"

[ Isis eyes Haleigh with such disdain, as if she were looking at a grotesque worm crawling toward her.]


You dare to question me on a task that is BEYOND your capability to even GRASP much less accomplish? As for "what he wants..." that apparently does not matter to YOU or ANY of you. It is obvious to even a BLIND man that your team cannot get itself together to even figure out which way is UP, let alone truly take care of one another. What you do to yourselves and each other is of NO importance OR consequence to me, but Nicolas is MY responsibility...whether I like it or not. to safe guard him...US...THE WORLD from his true bloodline, I will do what I feel is best. and UNLIKE you, I will explain it to him so that in time, he will understand.

He looked at Dominique as she spoke on the subject of Nicolas.

"King's destiny is intertwined with our's Miss Deveraux. Remove him as you wish and he will find a way back, and if he doesn't I will. Call it overestimating myself, I don't care. Nicolas is OURS. Free and Clear..."

[ Isis turned and looked at Cameron for a moment as if he had JUST appeared before her. She exhaled with a bit of astonishment at his arrogance.]

WRONG, stripling. Nicolas' FATE is MY concern...and MINE ALONE...and the DOOM of ANYONE who tries to interfere in THAT.

We have never met BEFORE, little one, but if you cross me on THIS, it will be the LAST thing you do and I will make whatever MALICE did to you seem like little more than a walk through the park!

Worry about YOURSELF and your own massively incompetent teammates. You can't even adhere to your own tenants of "protecting innocents" as you stand there and argue over whether or not to go to the aid of a friend [ Alycia].

[ Isis knew that her nephew would never "JOIN" the hellfire club under MOST circumstances, but he didnt have to. even if he simply lived in one of her many properties, or one of his OWN, AWAY from the Six, that would be fine. She would dispose of ANYONE that got in her way on this.]

 

[MorningStar]

Haleigh had come so far…and now taken two giant steps backwards. She was so cold when talking about Alycia and Sharon and her “obligation”. Maybe the machine was taking over…

”I would hope...if it came to that.. every one of you would be able to... save yourselves and your teammates...with a CLEAR conscience.”

"I couldn't. EVER."

Delilah tilted her head sympathetically as she looked at Cameron. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. She spoke softly.

“Cameron…any of us could die every single time we go out there. You can’t ask Haleigh to hide – that’s not who she is.”

She squeezed his shoulder, then dropped her arm to her side.

“Trust in us, Cameron. We’ll keep her safe. I swear to you to protect her with my life.”

Dominique announced that she WOULD be going with them. Well la-di-da. Delilah did not like Nicolas. He didn’t like her. He wasn’t her friend. But he was her teammate. And no overbearing bitch of a relative was going to come in treating him like a five year old and tell him what to do. Cameron stood up to Dominique.

Delilah looked Dominique in the eye after she dressed Cameron down for “getting in the way”.

“Nicolas is a big boy, and can make his own decisions. And so can Cameron.”

Then to Malice:

“And we take care of our own, thank you very much. Now...”

She paused for a second, taking the emotion out of her voice.

“Diana, if you could do something to assist Haleigh so that we can all get through this, we would be grateful if you would share it.”

Delilah nodded, acknowledging Malice.

 

[Prophet]

Dominique: Worry about YOURSELF and your own massively incompetent teammates. You can't even adhere to your own tenants of "protecting innocents" as you stand there and argue over whether or not to go to the aid of a friend

"Oh don't worry. I WILL. I adhere to my tenants just FINE. We all know we are going to go and TRY to protect Alycia. That was NEVER up for discussion. Whether AVA likes it or not, Alycia has defended this team to a fault, and I will make sure she gets a CHANCE to live a life outside of the SIX if she so chooses."

[sighing heavily]

[on Nicolas] "His fate may very well be of YOURS alone, but let me remind you, YOU haven't done a VERY good job of keeping THAT at bay.. HAVE YOU.. not at least not until the point of sexual BATTERY to some of my teammates. And no we HAVEN'T met properly, and judging from what i've seen, I don't personally care to know you. But what I do know is that Nicolas has sacrificed to be a part of this team and not just what is fashionable enough to be a member of the Sisterhood. Call my bluff as you may, but Nicolas is NOT leaving here without a fight from ME and the rest of our group. Even GODDESSES have met their match, isn't that right, AVA?"

He was glad in that moment, that Delilah stood up for him. They hadn't seen eye to eye much up until this point, but they had made a pact to watch each other's back, and even in their difference of opinion, Delilah honored that, and THAT, really meant something to Cameron.

Delilah: Trust in us, Cameron. We’ll keep her safe. I swear to you to protect her with my life.

That really meant more to Cameron than Delilah would ever know. Say what he would, and whatever was going on with Sharon, what he knew he felt for Haleigh was something different altogether. His love for Haleigh was something that by now, The Six knew, was the most consistent thing he had going for him. He may not have made it fair for her, he may not have made it easy, but at the end of the day, besides his sister, Haleigh Davidoff was the one person Cameron would do ANYTHING for. He did know however, that THAT.. excluded killing her.

"Thanks.. Trelaven. I really DO appreciate it. Yes, please... Malice. What is it you are willing to do? We've held our breath for FAR too long."

Cameron really was running out of patience. He may not have liked the Sisterhood, but in a sense he understood the mode they were operating out of. Their truce with the Six was that of convienence, and they didn't like it just as much as he didn't. They were only now working together because it was mutually beneficial. To an extent, he even understood Malice. He may not have probed her mind but he knew there was something much deeper at stake with her, otherwise she would have excluded herself from this caper altogether. She was an opportunist and she refused to be "shown up" or tapered with. This Jessica Marcus obviously represented a threat to her. Isis on the other hand seemed to only be going in order to ensure the rest of them didn't fuck up. None of the Six were novices, and try as she may to be the Queen snob, he knew he would NEVER encounter a bigger snob in his life than Morgan Victoria, and even SHE at some point... warmed up to Cameron. Dominique was NOT in his good graces. He didn't know her, and he wasn't around for the SET caper, but what he did know was the reeling thoughts from those around him that had endured the adventure. He knew their feelings towards Dominique and he didn't feel it right for her to go lording around her accusations as if she wasn't even apart of what happened to Nicolas, because to Cameron... she VERY much WAS a part of it all.

 

[Malice]

the hellfire mansion

:: Malice placed a reassuring hand on Isis' arm as she stepped forward, ready to attack Prophet. He'd never met her before, he didnt know what she could do. If Nicolas had not been the son of set, he would have DIED after his first encounter with her, and he was by far the physically strongest/most durable among them.::

Calm yourself, Isis. Prophet's foolhardy ways will be his own undoing...just as they were when he was captured by his sister...corrupted by yours truly...and myself. oh and when he was captured by Barbas....let's see, am I missing any OTHER times you played the role of "damsel in distress?" well we'll see what happens after Sheena Island, if you're even still alive.

:: clicking her tongue and winking at Cameron, she looked back at Isis.::

Don't waste your power on him now.

:: as Haleigh and the others OBVIOUSLY seemed interested in what Malice MIGHT offer Haleigh in the way of help, the White Queen leaned back and smiled wickedly. they were ALL jumping at a solution to avoid the INEVITABLE. They would have signed a deal with SATAN to save their precious Hybrid.::

Well, well, Haleigh. Not so SURE of yourself anymore? No more empty bravado?

:: laughing softly.::

I suppose when the reality of ones own mortality finally sets in, it DOES tend to bring a dose of humility doesnt it?

:: she leans forward and continues to look at Haleigh like a bird of prey eyeing its next target. speaking in a low tone dripping with evil.::

You were marked for death the moment you were infected with the virus. you ARE mystech's...eveything about you, except the reanimated corpse you now call your body. But in all aspects, you've been living on BORROWED time. Dear sweet Jessica Marcus is about to cancel that time for you...BUT i suppose if HARBINGER were the one telling you this...:: casting a lofty glance at Delilah:: some of you might be more willing to believe that...including yourself.

:: getting up and walking slowly around the wrap and now standing beside Haleigh...Malice places a hand firmly on her shoulder and her own face is now enshrouded in shadow::

It's apparent that your team does not have the heart, the COURAGE to deal with you in the most logical and SAFE way in the event you become a zombie. SO, The Sisterhood will once again step in and offer you a helping hand because

:: leaning down to Haleigh by her ear and speaking once again in that low, wicked tone:: ..

If anyone's going to kill you...it's going to be US, not some brat that's just woke up from a 20+ year nap.

:: standing up and walking away from Haleigh, she walked around and turned back to face them all.::

If Jessica has complete control over the T Virus, then that means she could most likely REVERSE its effect as well. I may be able to possess her and FORCE her to reverse the virus in Haleigh once she has been defeated and before i KILL HER.

Since we can't anticipate what will happen once either team arrives on Sheena Island, I am prepared to create a COMPLETE copy of Haleigh's psyche, her thoughts/though processes, memories, emotions etc. As long as her PHYSICAL BODY is not grossly damaged, the T Virus will not cause her to PHYSICALLY mutate FURTHER if/when and after she becomes a zombie. She'll have to be KNOCKED OUT and restrained and once we've dealt with Jessica, we'll deal with Black Widow.

BUT understand this...if ANY of you interferres with Isis and I while we are on Sheena Island doing as we see fit in regards to Jessica and the island itself...the offer to restore Haleigh's mind is withdrawn....to hell with her and the rest of you.

:: Malice was no fool, Sheena Island had all sorts of treasures that would benefit The Sisterhood and this would be another way for HER to PERSONALLY get back at Mystech or even its MEMORY will the Helfire Club profitted from it.::


Once you agree, I will begin the process of copying Haleigh's mind and storing it. it will require some time and concentration so the rest of you will need to leave. return your guest quarters. Isis and Enchantra will show you the way.

 

[Black Widow]

Cameron: I couldn't. EVER.

Haleigh looked at him gently from her seat at the table. She looked like she was about to say something, but stopped. He had a tendency to say things like that… it was easy to disregard the fact that just LAST NIGHT he was with Sharon, telling her god only knows what. She didn't want to think about it. She fought back the visual of the two of them together. She looked away from him, her brow furrowed. All the ways Cameron could and HAD hurt Haleigh, and he couldn't put her out of her misery? How poetic, she thought. Delilah went to comfort him instead.

Delilah: Trust in us, Cameron. We'll keep her safe. I swear to you to protect her with my life.

Haleigh gave a disappointed sigh to hide the fact that she was moved by their dedication to keeping her alive and well. She had not expected such strong reactions in them. She had HOPED at least ONE among them would have stepped up and been willing to do what needed to be done, but seeing them refuse to even entertain the idea that it might happen… made her hope she could continue to prove she deserved such loyalty.

"You guys are only making this harder for yourselves…"

She admonished softly, her tone layered with a pained gratitude. How many of them would she hurt if Jessica turned her? How many of them would she KILL before SOMEONE found the conviction to kill her?

She moved on, turn to Isis sternly.

"Dominique, I appreciate that as a team, we must appear to be very disjointed right now… we're missing some people, reacclimating to others, and there's a great many ISSUES at play in our team dynamics, but MAKE NO MISTAKE: When it comes down to it, we'll come together, as we ALWAYS do. We've been doing this a LONG time. Don't let our minor disagreements mislead you, we are COMPLETELY capable of functioning as a unit. Our rescue mission at LAX yesterday proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Malice talks Dominique down and then halfheartedly mocks Haleigh for her bravado with a cold laugh. Haleigh looks up in interest. Is Malice FINALLY going to reveal the terms of her mysterious offer?

Diana: I suppose when the reality of ones own mortality finally sets in, it DOES tend to bring a dose of humility doesn't it?

"You know, for all your supposed prowess as a mindreader, I'm surprised you'd get me wrong. It's not my OWN mortality that humbles me. I've faced that many times. WHY would I worry about death? How many times have I come back now? I don't even care to recall."

Diana: I suppose if HARBINGER were the one telling you this… some of you might be more willing to believe that…including yourself.

"Well, you aren't a precog, so you'll forgive us if we don't have much confidence in your ominous 'predictions'."

Diana approaches demonically, clamping a hand down on Haleigh's shoulder. Haleigh looks at Malice's hand for a moment, then calmly up at Malice.

Diana: It's apparent that your team does not have the heart, the COURAGE to deal with you in the most logical and SAFE way in the event you become a zombie.

"Heart and courage, they have plenty of. It's homicidal apathy they lack."

Diana: SO, the sisterhood will once again step in and offer you a helping hand because [in Haleigh's ear] if anyone's going to kill you.. It's going to be US, not some brat that's just woke up from a 20+ year nap.

"It WOULD be more fitting if it were YOU, Malice."

She replied coolly, almost respectfully. Malice walks away and finally unveils her offer. Haleigh senses that there's something in it for Malice… probably something Malice hopes to gain with the acquisition of Sheena Island, or through the debt Haleigh will owe her for such a colossal favor. Either way… she presented an option that would protect the others from harm and regardless of what that would cost Haleigh, it was worth it.

"I accept the terms of your offer. Ava, Delilah, Cameron, Nicolas, please go relax a while. I'll be fine."

 

[MorningStar]

” BUT i suppose if HARBINGER were the one telling you this...:: casting a lofty glance at Delilah:: some of you might be more willing to believe that...including yourself.”

Delilah stuck her chin out, defiant. IF Haleigh WAS becoming a danger – Alison WOULD have foreseen it and contacted them. She wouldn’t have just left them all to their fate…would she?

”If Jessica has complete control over the T Virus, then that means she could most likely REVERSE its effect as well. I may be able to possess her and FORCE her to reverse the virus in Haleigh once she has been defeated and before i KILL HER.”

Delilah narrowed her eyes skeptically.

“Why would you do that for us?”

Even the promise to not interfere with them on the island wasn’t much compared with the GLEE that Malice would take in seeing them lose Haleigh. She walked over to Haleigh, who quickly – too quickly – made her decision.

She spoke only for Haleigh’s ears – but knowing that the others would hear, one way or another.

“Haleigh…there’s a good chance this is a trap. And even if it’s not – you’re putting yourself – and everything stored in that giant computer brain of yours – into the hands of the Sisterhood. It’s risky at best.”

She sighed. Why were they always put into these situations?

“Before you make up your mind, know that I will do everything in my power to save you, whatever happens on that island. And if it comes to the point where you can’t be saved, I’ll do what needs to be done. These”

She glanced at the Sisterhood with a look of disgust.

"people won't lay a hand on you, I swear."

She glanced down at the floor, swallowing hard.

“But it’s your decision. I’ll back whichever choice you make.”

She turned, and leveled her glare coolly at Malice as she passed Isis and Enchrantrah and headed out into the hall.

 

[Prophet]

Diana: Calm yourself, Isis. Prophet's foolhardy ways will be his own undoing...just as they were when he was captured by his sister...corrupted by yours truly...and myself. oh and when he was captured by Barbas....let's see, am I missing any OTHER times you played the role of "damsel in distress?" well we'll see what happens after Sheena Island, if you're even still alive.

[rolling his eyes]

"No, I think you've gotten them all down accurately..."

Malice made her case, stating that she would pretty much copy Haleigh's psyche and store it for safe keeping which didn't sit well with Cameron one bit. If there was anyone who would break the truce, he believed it would be her. She could very well place Haleigh's psyche in somebody else's body, keep it. The possibilities for sabatoge were endless.

Delilah was obviously not comfortable with this decision either, which relieved Cameron. Unfortunately, though the stakes were high, this was the best option for them all and he knew it. For the moment, as much as it disparaged him, they were going to have to TRUST Malice.

"I don't like this either, but I guess for now it's our best bet. If she doesn't honor this deal, she will negate the truce. However.."

He moved closer to Haleigh and Diana now and removed Diana's hand from Haleigh's shoulder.

"I'd like to be witness to this "event". Keep an eye on things for myself, make sure nothing is done out of line, my own insurance policy. I'm the only one on this team capable of doing so. I won't interfere."

The others began to leave the room, not waiting for an answer, he walked up to Diana, face to face, as he began to converse with her telepathically.

"Look.. you put me through HELL. You saw all my thoughts, my fears.. Not only did you SEE how I feel about Haleigh, you've FELT it, and used that to psychologically "rape" me, but it also means you KNOW what i'm willing to do for her. I'm going to ask this once, and hope that for some reason you take pity, or WHATEVER. Don't FUCK with her. You STORE her and you STORE her safely...and..if she DOES "turn"... make SURE that YOU are the one to take her out. Delilah may think she could handle that.. but she can't, and I don't want her to have the chance. You've spilt the blood of countless, one more for you means nothing, one more for Delilah means EVERYTHING..."

Cameron met Diana's gaze and for a few moments he was taken back to those days of torture. Her eyes were different then. They were "thirsty" as if they almost CRAVED to see what she could get Erika to participate in. Now they were as cold as ice, unforgiving and inpenetrable. He knew he would probably never know what Malice was thinking or planning, and part of him wanted to witness this "storing" process for his own intrigue, knowing Diana was higher up on the "telepath" scale than he was, as much as he hated her, he could "learn" from her, but mostly he just hoped Malice would keep up her end of the bargain, with no funny business.

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: Haleigh…there’s a good chance this is a trap. And even if it’s not – you’re putting yourself – and everything stored in that giant computer brain of yours – into the hands of the Sisterhood. It’s risky at best.

"Don't you worry about that. I'll encrypt the sensitive data so thoroughly, it'll take the COLLECTIVE braintrusts at Apple AND Microsoft TWENTY YEARS to develop a program to decode it. Malice won't know anything more than she ALREADY DOES as a telepath."

Delilah: Before you make up your mind, know that I will do everything in my power to save you, whatever happens on that island. And if it comes to the point where you can’t be saved, I’ll do what needs to be done. These people won't lay a hand on you, I swear.

"Atta girl."

Haleigh inclined her head slowly in approval, somehow managing a smile. She knew how difficult it would be for Delilah to follow through. She knew it would cost Delilah dearly, and she understood that Delilah HERSELF knew the cost and still, made the promise. It meant more to Haleigh than she would ever be able to explain and at the same time, she wanted more than ANYTHING for Delilah to NOT have to keep her promise.

Delilah: But it's your decision. I'll back whichever choice you make.

[barely audible] "Thank you."

Cameron: I'd like to be witness to this "event". Keep an eye on things for myself, make sure nothing is done out of line, my own insurance policy. I'm the only one on this team capable of doing so. I won't interfere.

[shaking her head] "That's not necessary Cameron--"

She started, but she noticed he wasn't listening to her. Cameron and Diana were locked in eye contact, and Haleigh surmised that they were conversing telepathically. Haleigh wondered what was being said. Cameron looked pretty assertive and convincing. Diana looked as cold and apathetic as usual.

 

[Persephone]

Preparing to leaving the sisterhood's headquarters, Ava stopped short and took her sister by the crook of the arm. She knew Malice would hear her, but she didn't care. There was NO way in hell Ava would let Haleigh die at the hands of the white queen.

"If the worse case scenerio happens....if you turn--[pausing, Ava shook head not wanting to say the words] I will kill you. Not Delilah, not Cameron, NOT Malice. Me. Understand?"

Holding her hands up before Haleigh can protest.

"You're my sister, Hales. This responsibility falls onto ME. Just like it fell onto you back when my choice was either death or the Seige Perilous. I won't let you die by anyone elses hand..."

She knew Haleigh would, but Ava wasn't going to back down. If everything was as bad as it seemed, and Jessica Marcus really DID have as much control over the TO Virus as Malice claimed, then she knew Haleigh was in a world full of trouble. Secretly she wanted to be selfish and keep her behind so she would be safe, but the others already made it abundently clear that they were a team and they had to work together as a team, no matter what. And she knew that deep down Haleigh wanted the same thing. She knew that her sister would much rather die in the line of duty than be considered useless.

And on the same note, she appriciated Delilah's willingness to do the same thing....to kill Haleigh rather than have Malice do it. But that wasn't Delilah's responsibility. Ava had split more blood than she could recollect. She was already called out for being a malicious bitch for not caring if Alycia lived or died. She wouldn't want Delilah to carry around Haleigh's death on her shoulders...it wasn't her burden to carry. And ironically enough, Cameron agreed [though Ava didn't know it]. Either way, the goddesses mind was made up. She just hoped it didn't progress to that point..

 

[Malice]

deeper into the catacombs

:: Cameron was almost beside himself with conviction for Haleigh. Why ELSE would he DARE to lay a hand on her as he removed her hand from Haleigh's shoulder? She'd broken Blaze's hand and Nicolas' jaw for the same trangression in times long past but with the Six reeling from the terms of her offer, Malice decided that Cameron's emotional turmoil was enough punishment for now.::

:: and Delilah, dear sweet Delilah....cracking at all the most critical points in her mind and emotional core. By the time this was over, SHE'D be the one in need of a psychic intervention. Without her precious Morgan and Alison here and with Alycia and Sharon now DESPISING her, the woman was in too deep, surrounded by people she'd never been close to and was often at odds with. She did her best to be a "Mama Bear" but Malice saw right through her and waved her off with a soft laugh.::

:: as Cameron met her ice cold glare with his own passionate eyes and once again boldy initiated mental contact, Malice didnt BLOCK it, instead she allowed it and heard what he had to say but did he REALLY think he could call the shots?::

Leave with others, King. You heard the terms of my offer and what I am about to do is not the concern of a NOVICE like you. It is between me, and Black Widow.

Isis: You heard her. OUT!

:: Isis and Enchantra usher Cameron out into the hall with the others.::

Enchantra: You have two options. You can either return to your quarters where you will remain until summoned, or you can vacate the premesis and return when you are summoned.

:: Malice looks at Haleigh deadly serious...then with a sinster smile.::

Now then.

:: she walks slowly toward Haleigh.::

It's just US. And don't try anything funny. I'll know you're movements before you make them and render you BEYOND incompetent AND incontenent before you can finish the HINT of a thought.

We'll go to the infirmary and begin the process. I must warn you, this will be a very invasive, deep, probing and LONG process. the more you try to block and conceal from me...the harder I will have to probe and the more PAINFULL it will be for YOU. I am an omega level telepath, BEYOND anything Cameron and Nicolas are capable of. I suggest you not heed Delilah's advice about "hiding" things from me...for YOUR own sake. You may be a "hybrid" by way of the virus...but if you die , even IF you are restored as some kind of computer synthezoid, you will have none of your humanity left, none of the emotional, psychic resonance or structure that links you to your life as it were. You will be useless to your friends, your FAMILY and all the circuitry and data encryptions in the world will not be able to compensate for that loss. all that stands between you and that...is ME.

:: Haleigh had no idea just how serious this was and while Malice warned her that she needed COOPERATE as much as possible, the White Queen hoped that Haleigh would try to "hide" and "conceal" parts of her mind...forcing the telepath to have to dig deeper and probe harder.::

OH...and just in case your body DOES become badly wounded and you MUTATE...we'll need a complete dna and cell sample to store on disc...im sure you'll want a BODY to put your mind back in wont you?

:: a door way across way in the War Room slides open.::

Now...follow me.

:: she sounded as if she were the grim reaper, ready to lead Haleigh across the river styx to the isle of the dead. down the dark, narrow corridor, Malice leads her into the medical area of the underground catacombs, a network of labs, exam rooms and other areas filled with state of the art medical technology that rivaled that of Barbara Minerva's. ::

You know, it's really unfortunate, isnt it? Delilah Trelevan is not well. Not in the mind...and as you may or MAY NOT know...

:: fondly remembernig their battle in the alternate timeline when Malice ravaged Haleigh's mind and psionically convinced her body that the T VIRUS had run its course, causing her to ACT like a Zombie and forcing her to attack Nicolas::

when the MIND ails...the body tends to follow.

Maybe she should consider RETIRING. It's obvious without her fellow Charlie's Angels :: Morgan and Alison:: she is ill equipped to face the darkness of this world.

:: Malice said casually.::

 

[Isis]

one last word

[ knowing the Six would not want to leave the Hellfire Mansion while Haleigh was in direct contact with Malice, the Black & Red Queen promptly escorted them to their quarters once they voiced their objection to leaving.]

[ Cameron was the last one Isis saw to his suite and once he walked through the door, Isis shoved him further in, making it a point to push him while he was in mid step so he'd stumble forward.]

don't bother leaving this room until you are called.

[ she commands as she stands tall in the doorway and looks utterly EVIL, speaking with a cold, hostile tone.]

and understand this, puppy dog, Malice and Enchantra may not hurt you, but I WILL. You are not Harbinger and on your BEST day you do not warrant the respect worthy of a true adversary. Cross me on Nicolas at YOUR peril.

[ Isis said, DARING the boy to give her a reason.]

 

[Prophet]

ah Hell No!

Cameron's gaze never left Malice's. She didn't respond to his plea to her, but for whatever reason, call it a lapse in judgement, he felt she would play her part accordingly when it came to this.

Isis: You heard her. OUT!

His intense focus on Diana was jolted back by the sounds of Dominique to which he very apparantly rolled his eyes and let out a giant sigh.

Enchantra: You have two options. You can either return to your quarters where you will remain until summoned, or you can vacate the premesis and return when you are summoned.

Leave. That was Cameron's instinct. He could monitor Haleigh while Malice did her thing and return if anything suspicious happened. Apparantly, he didn't have such a choice as Isis all but dragged him to a suite and shoved him in, causing him to tumble forward. He laughed at her. Who the hell WAS this woman?

[ b]Isis:[/b] Don't bother leaving this room until you are called, and understand this, puppy dog, Malice and Enchantra may not hurt you, but I WILL. You are not Harbringer and on your BEST day you do not warrant the respect worthy of a true adversary. Cross me on Nicolas at YOUR peril.

Gaining his stance once more he walked straight up to Isis, which he ascertained was a little too close for comfort for the woman.

"NO.. [pausing for a moment] Understand THIS. Your bad ass routine and general snobbery may very well intimidate the hell out of your own Black court, but it does absolutely NOTHING for me. I have faced BIGGER and BADDER bitches that make you appear LAUGHABLE. I've had my SKELETON ripped from my body, i've been encased in a tomb of amber. I've been subject to torture at the hands of your own White Queen and my sister. I've been tortured by BARBAS, the demon of fear, and lived. Hell, i've pissed off one of my own so much that she went back in time in order to kill the INFANT version of me, wanting to erase me completely from this timeline altogether, and here I STAND before you."

[moving in even closer]

"I'd like to consider myself a "changed" man. I'd like to say that the older, more barbaric version of myself is long gone, but that man is still VERY much there, deep down. My ability to drive people absolutely crazy is on par with NOBODY. So, if you'd like Dominique, I can VERY much give you a reason to want to hurt me..break up the truce."

[he removed a lock of hair from her face, seeming to try and "egg" her on]

"Nicolas is a part of this team. His destiny is intertwined with it, and you DAMN his very existence. You call yourself the "avatar" of Isis. The Egyptian Goddess of Rebirth and Magick, then ACT like it. Isis is supposed to be the ideal "Mother". She was NOBLE. She was friends with the saints and the sinners ALIKE. Nicolas may not EVER be my favorite person, but for the woman is who is supposed to be "destined" to keep his VERY dark and evil "Set" at bay, you are a MISERABLE FAILURE.. Even HE can see you associate with him only because you feel tied by design. His only chance at happiness, at keeping his demons inside is.. as crazy as this sounds, is with THE SIX. He DOES have friends with us, he has LOVE with us. Living with YOU would only serve to prove to him that he is nothing more than a MONSTER, and in time, SET would be unleashed on this world once AGAIN. Is that what you WANT?"

[exhaling]

"But I digress.. I'm only merely saying that the reason I know Nicolas will be safe with us is because no matter WHAT i've done in my life, no matter who i've driven mad, where i've dissappeared to, at the end of the day... when the chips FALL, when the stakes are HIGH, THEY are the reason I stand before you today. ALIVE. THEY [waving his hand to the side] The SIX, has come through for me, and they WILL for Nicolas... with or WITHOUT your help. We all may DIE doing so, but we will be there for him. We don' have to be extremely "mentally distressed" in order for him to find us. We're right HERE..."

[cocking his head to the side for a moment]

"Anything ELSE? Dominique?"

 

[Black Widow]

Ava: If the worse case scenario happens....if you turn--[pausing, Ava shook head not wanting to say the words] I will kill you. Not Delilah, not Cameron, NOT Malice. Me. Understand?

[a smile spreading] "Yes, I understand."

But Ava had expected Haleigh to put up a fight about it, and so she continued to argue her point, that it was her responsibility, as a sister. Haleigh nodded in agreement, letting Ava win the 'debate'. At least Ava wasn't asking Haleigh to stay behind, though Haleigh KNEW Ava wanted to. Ava knew better than to ask Haleigh to be a coward for the sake of staying alive, and for that, Haleigh was grateful that she didn't have to explain to Ava as well that she was GOING to go.

Whatever Cameron was saying to Malice in mindspeak didn't work. Haleigh hadn't expected it to.

Diana: Leave with others, King. You heard the terms of my offer and what I am about to do is not the concern of a NOVICE like you. It is between me, and Black Widow.

"It's alright, Cameron. Diana and I have spent some time alone before; if she was going to try and hurt me, she'd have done it last night, when you-- weren't paying such close attention."

They all left then, the rest of the sisterhood included, leaving just Malice and Haleigh alone in the War room. They look at each other expectantly for a beat, then Malice smiles creepily. Haleigh rolls her eyes.

Diana: Now then. It's just US. And don't try anything funny. I'll know your movements before you make them and render you BEYOND incompetent AND incontinent before you can finish the HINT of a thought.

Haleigh smiled now, amused that Diana felt this caveat was warranted.

"If I had any intention of harming you, Diana, you'd know that already. I promise to behave… at LEAST as long as you do."

Diana: We'll go to the infirmary and begin the process. I must warn you, this will be a very invasive, deep, probing and LONG process. the more you try to block and conceal from me...the harder I will have to probe and the more PAINFULL it will be for YOU. I am an omega level telepath, BEYOND anything Cameron and Nicolas are capable of. I suggest you not heed Delilah's advice about "hiding" things from me...for YOUR own sake. You may be a "hybrid" by way of the virus...but if you die , even IF you are restored as some kind of computer synthezoid, you will have none of your humanity left, none of the emotional, psychic resonance or structure that links you to your life as it were. You will be useless to your friends, your FAMILY and all the circuitry and data encryptions in the world will not be able to compensate for that loss. all that stands between you and that...is ME.

[nodding nonchalantly] "I know. I was never actually going to bother with encrypting everything. I only told them that so they wouldn't worry. You'd see it as I was encrypting it anyway."

Diana: OH...and just in case your body DOES become badly wounded and you MUTATE...we'll need a complete dna and cell sample to store on disc...im sure you'll want a BODY to put your mind back in wont you?

"Alright. But don't get any clever ideas. You know I'll be able to find and destroy it and ANY copies that are made."

Malice beckoned Haleigh to follow and lead her through the catacombs to a location more appropriate for what they were about to do. Haleigh's gaze roams around, taking in the surroundings, cataloging the information.

"I have a personal favor to ask you, Diana. Please give it due consideration before you laugh it off. I thought I wanted to know that my friends would be able to stop me before I hurt them. Now that I've seen their reactions to the notion… I've changed my mind. Well, I should say, I've decided there's a better option. [with a smile] You'll be there. If I need to be killed… if I can't be stopped any other way… then I want YOU to be the one to do it. You're the most appropriate person to have a hand in my demise. I might go so far as to say I'd almost be honored if you were the one who finally made death a permanent status for me. And just think of the Glory you'd attain. It'd be… epic. You could hurt…. EVERYONE with that. But it's better if you do. I don't want any of them to have to carry the guilt, not on my account. Not Cameron, not my sister, and ESPECIALLY not Delilah."

Diana: You know, it's really unfortunate, isn't it? Delilah Trelevan is not well. Not in the mind…and as you may of MAY NOT know… when the mind ails…the body tends to follow. Maybe she should consider RETIRING. It's obvious without her fellow Charlie's Angles she is ill equipped to face the darkness of this world.

[sighing] "I know you're aching to see Delilah fall from grace, Diana. My blood on her hands… will be very hard for her, but after the grieving is done, the Six will rally around her and help her deal with it. They will understand that it was necessary, and that it was what I wanted. Fear not, I'm sure you'll have another chance to morally corrupt Delilah later. Maybe you'll find something that will destroy not just her self-image, but way the rest of the Six sees her as well. I don't know WHAT could do it… she's the purist person I know. [jokingly] Maybe if she slept with someone's boyfriend or something. That was a real humdinger when I did it."

She wasn't seriously offering Malice advice on how to trip up Delilah, she was merely trying to convince Diana that letting Delilah [or any of them] kill her wouldn't be as fruitful as Malice probably hoped.

 

[Malice]

Hellfire catacombs

sighing] "I know you're aching to see Delilah fall from grace, Diana. My blood on her hands… will be very hard for her, but after the grieving is done, the Six will rally around her and help her deal with it. They will understand that it was necessary, and that it was what I wanted. Fear not, I'm sure you'll have another chance to morally corrupt Delilah later. Maybe you'll find something that will destroy not just her self-image, but way the rest of the Six sees her as well. I don't know WHAT could do it… she's the purist person I know. [jokingly] Maybe if she slept with someone's boyfriend or something. That was a real humdinger when I did it."

She wasn't seriously offering Malice advice on how to trip up Delilah, she was merely trying to convince Diana that letting Delilah [or any of them] kill her wouldn't be as fruitful as Malice probably hoped.

Hmmm yes. Delilah is long overdue for a..."fall from grace". She redeemed herself...narrowly as it were...after the nightmare her meathead mutant hating boyfriend caused and apparently "forgiveness" is a virtue among your group...or maybe it's FORGETFULLNESS? I'm not sure. Either way, Delilah THINKS she's better than me. She's thought the same thing about YOU. She believes her purity allows her to stand ABOVE the rest and be a "standard" they should meet. Oh how i'd have such FUN perverting her sense of self the inside out!

:: Malice said with the glee of a rich woman counting her diamonds.::

But that will happen soon enough, maybe without any help from me at all!

:: foreshadowing of the future? Harbinger wasnt the ONLY ONE with indepth insight. Harbigner was a precog but Malice was a TELEPATH/EMPATH with insight into the MIND that was unparralleled::

"I have a personal favor to ask you, Diana.

Lie down on this exame table.

Please give it due consideration before you laugh it off. I thought I wanted to know that my friends would be able to stop me before I hurt them.

:: Malice continues prepping as she STRAPS Haleigh down to the table. not with mere cloth or even steel restrains, but adamantium. at her ankles, her wrists and across her forehead.::

Don't worry...TOO MUCH. This is just a necessary precaution.

:: she replies.::

Now that I've seen their reactions to the notion… I've changed my mind. Well, I should say, I've decided there's a better option. [with a smile] You'll be there. If I need to be killed… if I can't be stopped any other way… then I want YOU to be the one to do it. You're the most appropriate person to have a hand in my demise. I might go so far as to say I'd almost be honored if you were the one who finally made death a permanent status for me. And just think of the Glory you'd attain. It'd be… epic. You could hurt…. EVERYONE with that. But it's better if you do. I don't want any of them to have to carry the guilt, not on my account. Not Cameron, not my sister, and ESPECIALLY not Delilah."

:: Malice stops for a moment as she was slowly walking around the table after dimming the lights and sealing the exam room and she looks over at Haleigh.::

What...and deny SHARON what she so YEARNS for?

:: obviously betraying what the mutate felt about Haleigh.::

She may be a mutate and her thoughts almost IMPOSSIBLE to get ahold of, but her emotions are as primal as nature itself. She wants to murder you and Delilah...but her love and concern for Alycia and even NICOLAS stops her from giving in to that KILLER instinct that was PROGRAMMED into her.

:: Malice activates external scramblers to prevent any possible detection, scanning or interferrence into this room from any OUTSIDE Telepaths. Powerfull as she was, she knew the delicate nature of what she was about to do, she could NOT be disturbed at anypoint during the procedure and Haleigh couldn't afford her to be disturbed.::

You all really don't give Sharon enough credit. She could do things that just about everyone, save perhaps you...and Morgan, that bloodthirsty little witch, wouldnt even DREAM of in combat. Sharon tried her best to kill ME when we fought you, right after Dominique joined us. She really SHOULD be with the Hellfire Club. She'd finally find the freedom in our motto- "POWER WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE".

:: Malice seemed so casual and familiar as she recounted that moment with Haleigh. It was almost as though the woman forgot that Haleigh was her "FRENEMY" at the moment.::


:: she turns back to Haleigh as she leaves the control panel::

I'll level with you. There's NO WAY that I or the Sisterhood are going to stand by while this BRAT ::Jessica:: gets a new lease on life and tries to make ours a living hell. she should have died with her father in that mansion. Now that she's BACK? that means part of MARCUS is still here...and I simply CAN'T leave a job :: the murder of james marcus:: undone now can I?

and...you and i BOTH know that the possibility for disaster for YOUR team is far greater than it is mine. Is it an obvious advantage for US? of course. But...with MYSTECH out of the way...who would we have to

::gesturing her hand upward and twirling it a bit as she seemed to "search" for the right words::....

keep us from getting hmmm complacent?

The TRUCE remains in place because it benefits BOTH sides and with Mystech not being as much of a factor for EITHER of us...it has taken the urgency for either side to destroy the other AWAY...FOR NOW.

:: she came closer to Haleigh, having a clear advantage as she stands by Haleigh's "bedside" and looks downs at her::

For a foe who has prooven herself to be just as resourcefull and deadly as me....a swift, thorough death...if that is what is required, is what you'll be given.

:: a RARE moment, one that if Haleigh ever tried to tell someone about would be like trying convince someone she saw the loch ness monster. Malice seemed to ACKNOWLEDGE Haleigh's "status" as a truly worth opponet and if necessary, SHE would deal with Haleigh in a swift, efficient manner.::

I dont need some walking petrie dish ::Jessica:: to give ME a leg up on my foes and besides...the Six's fallout from it will be victory enough for me.

:: of COURSE Malice had to add that last part in, it just wouldnt be HER otherwise.::

 

[Isis]

Hellfire catacombs

[ The NERVE of this arrogant WORM. Dominique didnt move or flinch as Cameron closed in on her. He was only a couple inches taller than her, but she still looked "DOWN" on him. He attempted to bash her credentials, much like Ava/Persephone. Calling into question her ability as a sorceress, or an avatar. Oh how FOOLISH he was. He sounded just like Haleigh, resting on his laurels. That somehow he could survive flirting with danger and death time and again and live to tell about it. He tried remain absolute in his resolve to stand by Nicolas. Dominique was UNIMPRESSED. The accomplishments she made, the status and prestige she had both as a super powered being, a business woman and a globally celebrated chanteuse spoke for themselves. but most important of all, her successfull banishing of SET and continued vigilance of keeping him at bay. that was an ENTERNAL burden for her to bear...not something anyone, least of all this two bit telepath could understand. ]

"I'd like to consider myself a "changed" man. I'd like to say that the older, more barbaric version of myself is long gone, but that man is still VERY much there, deep down. My ability to drive people absolutely crazy is on par with NOBODY. So, if you'd like Dominique, I can VERY much give you a reason to want to hurt me..break up the truce."

[he removed a lock of hair from her face, seeming to try and "egg" her on]

[ Dominique's facial expression doesnt change as she moves without warning, grabbing Cameron's hand by the wrist and TWISTING IT just enough to cause pain as she forces it away from her face and back down to his side as she shoves him back again.]

Do not EVER lay a hand on me, you common rabble!

[ she growled as her own face was now enshrouded in shadow, just like Morgan's would be when SHE was angry.]

"Nicolas is a part of this team. His destiny is intertwined with it, and you DAMN his very existence.

Stupid child, if YOU knew HOW he came to exist, you'd be less quick with your tongue. Perhaps It would do YOU good if I REMOVED IT?

You call yourself the "avatar" of Isis. The Egyptian Goddess of Rebirth and Magick, then ACT like it.

The fact that Nicolas is still ALIVE is more than enough proof for someone such as YOU that I AM fullfilling my role...my DUTY as Isis. Speak NOT of things you no nothing about or were not even there FOR!

Isis is supposed to be the ideal "Mother". She was NOBLE. She was friends with the saints and the sinners ALIKE. Nicolas may not EVER be my favorite person, but for the woman is who is supposed to be "destined" to keep his VERY dark and evil "Set" at bay, you are a MISERABLE FAILURE..

ENOUGH!



ARROGANT FOOL!

[ Isis GESTURES...and a chime sounds off as a goldn halo forms around her gloved hand...she's about to strike him down, but then she gets ahold of herself.]


You know NOTHING of Nicolas or ME to speak in such a way!

[ she pushes him back again, this time making him fall onto the bed as she stands over him. Nicolas would sense the flash of near VIOLENT levels of anger from Isis at this point.]



My sister, Nicolas' mother, paid the ULTIMATE price of her LIFE so that Nicolas would be born into this world. She KNEW the cost...and chose to go through with it ANYWAY. I lost SO MUCH...and Isis, the goddess whom my village had a covenant with for GENERATIONS, had mercy upon me and gave me a chance to live again. She set me on a new path with the ultimate destiny of finding and dealing with the menace of Set! She gave me the power I would need to face the EVIL that catalyzed Nicolas' conception. It is not something YOU or ANYONE ELSE could have fathomed, much less DEALT with.

It was ONLY because of your witch, Spellbinder, that I was able to LOOK PAST MY OWN ANGER and BITTERNESS toward Nicolas to realize that Isis didnt want me to SLAY the boy but to PROTECT HIM from SET. Protecting him indirectly means "protecting" the world...INCLUDING someone was repugnant as YOU. How your sister can even STAND you is beyond me!

Even HE can see you associate with him only because you feel tied by design.

MY FEELINGS about Nicolas are MY OWN and I do not have to justify them to YOU or ANYONE ELSE. Have you noticed that NO ONE...not even MALICE challenges me on that? The Six AND the Sisterhood know...UNDERSTAND that it is I who have the final word on Nicolas. NOT YOU. If you cared so much about him...or anyone ELSE on your wretched team, you wouldnt spend most of your waking hours being CAPTURED and placing THEM in MORTAL DANGER as they have to rescue you time and again!

Part of protecting Nicolas means knowing and being able to do what HAS TO BE DONE if it becomes necessary to save him from the EVIL that is his MONSTER of a father. YOU don't have the knowledge OR the POWER to do that. You couldnt even defend YOURSELF from your rank amateur witch sister, ERIKA KING. Though I am not all surprised. Your mother, Kelly King was a colossal failure and apparently the only who got to AVOID that curse of massive incompetence was Harbinger.

His only chance at happiness, at keeping his demons inside is.. as crazy as this sounds, is with THE SIX. He DOES have friends with us, he has LOVE with us. Living with YOU would only serve to prove to him that he is nothing more than a MONSTER, and in time, SET would be unleashed on this world once AGAIN. Is that what you WANT?"

WRONG. His only chance at happiness is to be with someone who UNDERSTANDS his burden and is prepared to help him, TEACH him and if necessary...DO WHAT MUST BE DONE. I am his flesh and blood...his ONLY living relative. It is my duty as decreed by Isis herself...and it is my RIGHT.

If you want a MONSTER...look amongst your own teammates. a renegade murdering goddess who betrayed hecate and olympus, not to mention killing one of nicolas' dearest friends AND would condemn one of your allies to death even NOW as payback for the murder of her own twisted father [ Persephone] a self righteous cow who thinks she's above reproach [ Delilah] or YOU...a man so beside himself in the presence of one of his tormentors, he can't decide whether to be a hero or to "sink" to her level. when you are not busy bedding one of your teammates or eternally disappointing another....you are just as lost and PATHETIC now as you were before.

Yes if you speak of Monsters...then I suppose by definition, Nicolas does have PLENTY of good company, but I AM thinking of more than just you idiots. If Nicolas was to ever be doomed by anything OTHER than his parentage, it is by his association with people as sloppy as YOU.

[exhaling]

"But I digress.. I'm only merely saying that the reason I know Nicolas will be safe with us is because no matter WHAT i've done in my life, no matter who i've driven mad, where i've dissappeared to, at the end of the day... when the chips FALL, when the stakes are HIGH, THEY are the reason I stand before you today. ALIVE. THEY [waving his hand to the side] The SIX, has come through for me, and they WILL for Nicolas... with or WITHOUT your help. We all may DIE doing so, but we will be there for him. We don' have to be extremely "mentally distressed" in order for him to find us. We're right HERE..."

[cocking his head to the side for a moment]

"Anything ELSE? Dominique?"

Nicolas is MY responsibility...good or bad...hate or love. I accept ALL of it and so does he. What YOU think doesnt matter.

This conversation has run its course and you have prooven yourself to be JUST as redundant as I suspected from the beginning. Enjoy your own fabricated sense of "victory" in this moment. The REALITY that you are a 5th wheel that will probably be in need of rescue YET AGAIN is enough for me to have pity on you...the Six's resident...perpetual....VICTIM.


[ and with that, Dominique leaves Cameron there to ponder their interaction while she disappears down the dark hallway.]

 

[Black Widow]

Hellfire Lab

Diana: Hmmm yes. Delilah is long overdue for a..."fall from grace". She redeemed herself...narrowly as it were...after the nightmare her meathead mutant hating boyfriend caused and apparently "forgiveness" is a virtue among your group...or maybe it's FORGETFULLNESS? I'm not sure.

[griping] "Trust me, nobody forgets ANYTHING among the six. The second they do, there's always someone else there to remind them EXACTLY how it went down."

Diana: Either way, Delilah THINKS she's better than me. She's thought the same thing about YOU. She believes her purity allows her to stand ABOVE the rest and be a "standard" they should meet.

"She's correct on all assumptions."

She agreed simply, complying with Diana's request for her to lie down on the table.

Diana: Oh how i'd have such FUN perverting her sense of self the inside out! [Malice said with the glee of a rich woman counting her diamonds.] But that will happen soon enough, maybe without any help from me at all!

[slightly disturbed] "You are WAY too excited about it, Diana."

The loud clicks of the adamantium restraints permeate their conversation. If Haleigh were going to be unnerved about doing this, now would be the time… but she seems to be calmly compliant. Diana wouldn't do anything right NOW, when they were alone. There'd be no one to see it and nothing to be gained, and Malice was a woman who exploited opportunity only when there was something valuable to be had. Still… the restraints seemed a bit overkill.

"Is all this really needed?"

Diana: Don't worry… TOO MUCH. This is just a necessary precaution.

Malice was mulling the idea over. Haleigh waited patiently for her response while Malice set the room for their 'operation.' Malice brought up Sharon and the obvious fact that Sharon truly DID want to kill Haleigh-- and Delilah as well. Haleigh frowned at that. It wasn't a surprise, just inconvenient.

Diana: You all really don't give Sharon enough credit. She could do things that just about everyone, save perhaps you…and Morgan, that bloodthirsty little witch, wouldn't even DREAM of in combat. She tried her best to kill ME when we fought you, right after Dominique joined us. She really SHOULD be with the Hellfire Club. She'd finally find the freedom in our motto- "POWER WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE".

"Yes… I'm afraid you're right. It's not that she's so homicidal that's the problem. As you said, Morgan and I are at least as bad there. No…. It's that she's just so ANGRY. With us, with herself, with EVERYTHING. No one is going to like this but… I ALSO think she'd be much better suited amongst the Hellfire Elite. That doesn't mean she has to be our enemy."

Both of them had abandoned antagonism now. Anything that had been said in the past 24 hours, any taunting that had been tit-for-tat, it all seemed inconsequential. There was a tone of dispassionate neutrality between them, no more games.

Diana: I'll level with you. There's NO WAY that I or the Sisterhood are going to stand by while this BRAT ::Jessica:: gets a new lease on life and tries to make ours a living hell. she should have died with her father in that mansion. Now that she's BACK? that means part of MARCUS is still here...and I simply CAN'T leave a job :: the murder of james marcus:: undone now can I?

"No, that would be negligent."

Diana: and...you and i BOTH know that the possibility for disaster for YOUR team is far greater than it is mine. Is it an obvious advantage for US? of course. But...with MYSTECH out of the way...who would we have to ::gesturing her hand upward and twirling it a bit as she seemed to "search" for the right words:: ....keep us from getting hmmm complacent?

"Or just plain bored. Where's the fun if there's no challenge, right?"

Diana: For a foe who has prooven herself to be just as resourcefull and deadly as me....a swift, thorough death...if that is what is required, is what you'll be given.

[she can't move her head, but she smiles slightly] "I appreciate that, Diana."

Diana: I don't need some walking petrie dish to give ME a leg up on my foes and besides… the Six's fallout from it will be victory enough for me.

[scoffing] "I suppose since I'm getting what I want, it'd be rude to ask you to not enjoy it quite so much. If you truly CAN kill me… and make it stick… you deserve to be pleased with yourself…. For the initial achievement and the aftermath. [chuckling] Wow. Between You, Sharon, Jessica, Delilah and Ava, I'm going to get to Sheena Island and if I so much as SNEEZE, there will be even more people trying to kill me than usual. Now I'm glad you're a telepath. As soon as you see the intent forming in anyone else's mind, you'll be able to beat them to the punch. [looking up at Malice for a moment] Well.... I suppose we should get on with it then. I'm ready whenever you are."

 

[Prophet]

Isis:ARROGANT FOOL!

Cameron's eyes lit up for a moment as he pondered whether Dominique would actually take the step and attack him, negating the truce. Part of him REALLY wanted her to, but unfortunately, she gained composure. Instead she pushes onto the bed as she stands over him.

My sister, Nicolas' mother, paid the ULTIMATE price of her LIFE so that Nicolas would be born into this world. She KNEW the cost...and chose to go through with it ANYWAY. I lost SO MUCH...and Isis, the goddess whom my village had a covenant with for GENERATIONS, had mercy upon me and gave me a chance to live again. She set me on a new path with the ultimate destiny of finding and dealing with the menace of Set! She gave me the power I would need to face the EVIL that catalyzed Nicolas' conception. It is not something YOU or ANYONE ELSE could have fathomed, much less DEALT with.

It was ONLY because of your witch, Spellbinder, that I was able to LOOK PAST MY OWN ANGER and BITTERNESS toward Nicolas to realize that Isis didnt want me to SLAY the boy but to PROTECT HIM from SET. Protecting him indirectly means "protecting" the world...INCLUDING someone was repugnant as YOU. How your sister can even STAND you is beyond me!

"Please, we all have sob stories, Dominique. Your's is no different than any ONE of us, so FORGIVE me if I don't GIVE a shit about what you "lost". Wanna compare notes? And what you are REALLY saying here is that without the help of Morgan, who I don't know if you've forgotten this already, IS a founding member of The Six, you would have never known Isis' true intentions for you as her avatar. Without Morgan, you would have been even MORE likely to fail. Bravo."

[gritting his teeth]

"And TRUCE or NOT, mention my fucking SISTER one more time, i'll deck you."

MY FEELINGS about Nicolas are MY OWN and I do not have to justify them to YOU or ANYONE ELSE. Have you noticed that NO ONE...not even MALICE challenges me on that? The Six AND the Sisterhood know...UNDERSTAND that it is I who have the final word on Nicolas. NOT YOU. If you cared so much about him...or anyone ELSE on your wretched team, you wouldnt spend most of your waking hours being CAPTURED and placing THEM in MORTAL DANGER as they have to rescue you time and again!

Part of protecting Nicolas means knowing and being able to do what HAS TO BE DONE if it becomes necessary to save him from the EVIL that is his MONSTER of a father. YOU don't have the knowledge OR the POWER to do that. You couldnt even defend YOURSELF from your rank amateur witch sister, ERIKA KING. Though I am not all surprised. Your mother, Kelly King was a colossal failure and apparently the only who got to AVOID that curse of massive incompetence was Harbinger.

"Just because nobody questions you, doesn't mean you are BEYOND question. And KNOW that even though you SAY you have final word on Nicolas, if any ONE of us thinks you are WRONG in your discernment, we WON'T follow suit. THEY [gesturing] may not say it, but that's the damn truth. And please, bring on the list of family members that were "failures". It just wouldn't be an argument with Cameron King unless they were mentioned. My sister [Erika] and my mother were the direct result of the machinations and ideas that the women YOU align yourself with put forthe. AND both of THEM have made their plays at ME, and I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'M STILL HERE!"

[standing from the bed]

"And damnit, i'm here now."

If you want a MONSTER...look amongst your own teammates. a renegade murdering goddess who betrayed hecate and olympus, not to mention killing one of nicolas' dearest friends AND would condemn one of your allies to death even NOW as payback for the murder of her own twisted father [ Persephone] a self righteous cow who thinks she's above reproach [ Delilah] or YOU...a man so beside himself in the presence of one of his tormentors, he can't decide whether to be a hero or to "sink" to her level. when you are not busy bedding one of your teammates or eternally disappointing another....you are just as lost and PATHETIC now as you were before.

Yes if you speak of Monsters...then I suppose by definition, Nicolas does have PLENTY of good company, but I AM thinking of more than just you idiots. If Nicolas was to ever be doomed by anything OTHER than his parentage, it is by his association with people as sloppy as YOU.

Cameron laughs LOUDLY.

"Did you REALLY just sit here and say that I am the one with MONSTERS amongst my ranks? You sit on THRONES next to two women who have been responsible for more deaths than ANY one of the Six COMBINED. You sit next to a woman who has no qualms KILLING a small INFANT, let alone the many depraved and PERVERTED things hiding in her closet that we don't even KNOW about! I will GLADLY take my "monsters" over the DEMON you choose to call an ally, not to mention that IF and WHEN an opportunity arises to dispose of you and Malice thinks she can get away with it, she'll TAKE it. The Black Court has the biggest "turnover" for a reason.

I will NEVER define myself as a hero, and despite what all of you think, YES, being in the mere presence of Malice TORTURES me. I've lost more at the hands of her than I can think of, but those MOMENTS, they don't DEFINE me. I'm not as RULED by those memories as The Sisterhood would like to think, and I have YET to EVER sink to the level of the White Queen, i'm just not going to let any one of you SIT there anymore on your own over inflated senses of worth and think you RUN the show. We NEED each other.

Nicolas is MY responsibility...good or bad...hate or love. I accept ALL of it and so does he. What YOU think doesnt matter.

This conversation has run its course and you have prooven yourself to be JUST as redundant as I suspected from the beginning. Enjoy your own fabricated sense of "victory" in this moment. The REALITY that you are a 5th wheel that will probably be in need of rescue YET AGAIN is enough for me to have pity on you...the Six's resident...perpetual....VICTIM.

"It HAS run it's course, but know the actual REALITY is that it doesn't matter, because at the end of the day, even if I have to climb my way out of Hell to keep Nicolas out of your "nurturing" hands if I feel the need, i'll do it! Also take a moment to consider what NICOLAS might want. So instead of WASTING your time here, maybe you should go and have a conversation with HIM..."

She left Cameron and he punched a hole through the wall next to him. He didn't like this business of trying to keep the Six together as a team. Sharon would go to the Hellfire Club, he saw that already in his mind, but Nicolas he saw WITH this team, and damn anyone who was about to try and cripple the team by taking yet ANOTHER from their ranks. This was more than him just merely defending a teammate. This was about him trying to keep the very fabric of the Six together, so that Morgan might actually HAVE a team to come back to.

Things were looking very dark for him. With Sharon thinking of leaving, Nicolas going into Dominique's care, and the very likely fact that Haleigh could DIE in the next 24hrs did NOT look good to him. He sat down on the floor, indian style, and caught his reflection in the mirror.

"I want my damn SISTER..."

He hated the callousness and anger that Dominique was able to inspire in him. He hated ACTING like that again. It felt like a backpedal. This was one of the reasons he LEFT the Six to begin with. How could he try and BE a "decent" person when he was FORCED to align himself with the likes of MALICE? For now, he gathered himself up off the floor and onto the bed, burying his head into the pillows, trying to allow himself some rest.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah was ushered back to her “room”. She didn’t say anything on the walk there, or as the door closed behind her. It felt like a prison cell more than it had the night before. Thoughts of Haleigh and what might need to be done filled her mind. Plus she didn’t like Haleigh being in Malice’s hands. But Black Widow was a big girl, and deserved to make the decisions about her own life. Truth was, in Morgan and Alison’s absence, Delilah had gotten closer to Haleigh, and she didn’t want to lose her now that she was finally able to tolerate her.

And Cameron…all over the place with his emotions. She was afraid for him, here amongst the Hellfire Club’s queens. Poor Cameron…

Delilah paced. She was climbing the walls. She couldn’t take this place anymore.

Cameron…I can’t stay here…contact me if anything happens with Haleigh. Please. And watch over the others.

With that, she created a wormhole and found herself on the Bowery, on the edge of the East Village. She had always loved to walk the streets of New York City at night, and this was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss. She inhaled the cold night air, took in the bright lights, the people walking amongst her going about their business.

Delilah didn’t know all of Bishop’s old haunts, but she knew a few. There was a brick walkup on 11th Street, one of the smaller places. But it was quiet, and solitary. And most importantly, it wasn’t the Hellfire Club. She picked the lock and let herself inside. Reaching into a kitchen cabinet she pulled out a glass and filled it with water from the tap. She took a long drink, then leant against the fridge, pressing the cool glass to her forehead. The events of the past two days had taken their toll on her, that was sure.

She took a hot shower, and pulled clean sheets and a blanket from the closet and made the bed. She was so tired, but she found herself just staring at the ceiling above her. It hadn’t been that long ago they were on Aerie. And now it was like she desperately needed a vacation. Images of her house on the island filled her head as she finally drifted to sleep…the sun on her little porch, the beach, the water, the flowers…

And then she was waking up, sunlight streaming through the open windows and a soft breeze bringing the sea smell to her nose. She was warm, and happy, and content. She turned over lazily onto her side. There was a note on the pillow next to her. Meet me in the garden… it said.

She smiled and threw her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet padded along the rich wood floors, downstairs and out the French doors at the back, into the garden of wildflowers. Butterflies swirled around her, birds chirped peacefully, as she followed the path. Up ahead she saw a clearing. She didn’t remember there being a clearing. But maybe he had made one, a surprise for her. He knew she loved the garden.

Suddenly, the air turned cold. She hugged her bare arms to her. Around her everything turned dark, and a wind whipped her hair. Rain began to fall and by the time she reached the clearing, she was soaked. No one was there.

As she stepped further inside, she saw that at the center stood a craggly, dead tree, its bare branches broken and knotted. And around it, grave stones. She drew closer, and she could begin to make out the names.

Alexis Chandler-Quartermaine, Sharon Kelly, Alycia Barnett…

She stepped closer. Her hand went to her mouth in horror.

Morgan Victoria, Alison Marble, Ava Cassadine, Blaze Fielding, Cameron King…

She stopped as she reached the patch of stones, worn with age. She read the last two names.

Connor St. James, Haleigh Davidoff…

Delilah sank down into the wet grass, her knees sinking into the mud. She covered her face with her hands. Everyone she hadn’t been able to save…