Morningstar

[Bishop]

On the ground

Bishop had kept Alexia turned away from the battle, shielding her from having to watch it, watch her mother die. But as MorningStar unleashed hell on Badiane and the black hole, he positioned himself so she could see it.

“That’s your Mommy, Alexia. Isn’t she magnificent.”

If nothing else, Alexia would know what her mother was and what she had done for her, for them. He owed that knowledge to his daughter.

Delilah eventually became so filled with power as to be BLINDING, and he once again turned Alexia away, shielding her eyes with his hand and closing his as well, unable to stand the glare. But closing his eyes did little to stop the penetrating, all-encompassing, inescapable light.

And then it subsided. He opened his eyes, and took his hand away from Alexia’s. Everything was still. They were encased in Ruby’s shield, and the black hole and Badiane were no more.

Alexia, looking around her, whispered in Bishop’s ear, as if she were sharing a secret, “Her shield is black like mine.”

He smiled down at her in spite of everything and set her on the ground, still holding tight to her hand. The danger had passed. Now there was only time for grief.

He pulled Alexia in close to his side, still holding her hand but putting his other arm around her. He looked at the light in the sky that had one been his Delilah. Tears came as his mask broke, as strong as he was trying to be for his daughter, he couldn’t stop them falling.

And then he made a sharp intake of breath – he could feel her, everywhere, surrounding them, surrounding Alexia. It felt like...like…LOVE. She was with them.

The tears became a steady stream now, but as he watched little Alexia, jumping around, smiling, laughing, chasing the mini fireworks that could only have come from one place, he smiled through the tears. He spoke to the air.

“Stay with us. Please stay.”

Alexia had her hands out now as if she could touch the light itself. Was it possible?

But no, he felt her leaving them. With one final goodbye, she was gone.

He went down on one knee in front of Alexia, who looked into his face quizzically and began drying his tears with her sleeve.

Alexia: “Why are you sad, Daddy? Mommy isn’t sad. She’s happy. She says everything is okay now, and we should be happy too.”

He pulled Alexia into a hug and just held her there, a hug that was more for him than her.

 

[Ruby]

The Otherworld – Castle




:: Badiane’s blast HITS Harbinger right where she stood, causing the surface to DENT and almost crater. ::

"NO!!! NOT HER TOO!!!”

FUCK! Fuckity fuck fuck fuck!

:: Cass was upset. Her face looked as if it was gearing up for a majorly ugly cry. Then Prophet insisted that she wasn’t DEAD, because he would KNOW it. Firebird questioned him because SHE couldn’t sense Spellbinder via HER psychic connection with her sister. Black Widow urged everyone to keep it together because it wasn’t over…YET.

:: Cass’ nose wrinkled in disgust as she heard Badiane’s awful laughter…laughing at THEM, surrounding them. She felt defeated, and she didn’t like that. But then… ::

Harbinger: *weakly*: “I’m…not dead.”

:: Cass and Company looked together in the direction in which Alison’s voice came from. She was lying on her side. She explained that she couldn’t stop the black hole but she DID slow it down. Persephone and Blaze helped Harbinger to get up. Black Widow told them to let her rest. ::

Good idea.

:: Cass looked on worriedly as Black Widow brought forth an elixir to help Alison. ::

Black Widow: “Here, Alison. Drink this. Persephone, Firebird, bring her over there and keep her covered, she's earned this moment to rest. We need to be closer together Ruby, Prophet, you're with me. We still need to keep Alexia covered until this is OVER.”

:: Cass positioned herself with Haleigh. She watched as the frickin’ ship, with some of her FAMILY MEMBERS, blew up! But then something shocking happened! It was intact! Cass was amazed. ::

What. The. Hell?

Firebird: "Spell's power signature! Her SPELL around the ship HELD, that means she must still BE ALIVE!"

“The ship’s okay! Hallelujah!”

:: And with the others, their exclamations all CEASED and Cass couldn’t hear ANYTHING, thanks to MorningStar’s power. And THAT was a sight to behold. MorningStar had never looked so…GLORIOUS. Cass was in awe as she stared up at the heavens. She could ‘hear’ the others in her head and she knew it was most likely the work of Cameron. ::

Are you guys seeing this too?! MAJOR props to MorningStar!!

:: She kept watching until she could no longer watch anything due to MorningStar’s bright light and so she covered her face AND eyes. But she could still ‘see’ the light. And then…everything seemed to explode and Cass SCREAMED in pain…and fear. ::

“Wha…what’s HAPPENING?! NOOOOOO!”

:: She PUSHED against the pain, and channelled all her rage, hurt, anger, grief into a last stand, throwing up her hands and activating her psychokinetic bubble, making it BIG ENOUGH to hold ALL of her family members, including Bishop and Alexia. ::

My family…must protect them at ALL COSTS…

:: With a FIERCE look on her face, she continued to stand, protecting HER family. She may not have been able to be there for her original family, but she was going to make damn sure her NEW family was safe. ::

My FAMILY…must protect them…

Black Widow: “CJ…you can stop now.”

:: Cass was so focused on what she was doing, she didn’t hear Haleigh, nor did she feel her hand upon her back. ::

MY FAMILY!

Black Widow: “CJ…CJ?!”

:: Cass’ body began to shake from all the emotion she was feeling. Still, she kept her shield UP. ::

Black Widow: *commands*: “RUBY…STAND DOWN.”

:: THAT got Cass’ attention. Slowly, her hands fell to her sides and she looked at Haleigh. Her lips were quivering and her eyes were wild. The bubble immediately deactivated. ::

Black Widow: “You did good. The danger is gone. You did good. We’re safe, okay? We’re SAFE.”

:: Cass still looked at Haleigh as Haleigh nodded as if to confirm what she told the succubus. Cass collasped into Haleigh’s arms, and they moved to be with the REMNANTS of their team. ::

 

[Black Widow]

The barrier came down, and just in time. Haleigh couldn't even stand anymore, she didn't have enough energy left to try to even begin a systems analysis and repair. She was barely able to remain upright, so she was kneeling in front of Alexia, and Bishop laid next to them, unconscious. Ava was by her side in an instant, her concern evident.

"I'm okay.... it looks worse than it is.... protect Alexia.... I need to shut down for a minute....."

She went into 'standby' mode to preserve her systems and the last remaining energy reserves. She still had enough to maintain herself in a comatose-like state. As long as they got her to a healer, she'd survive. But Ava and Blaze had a plan of their own. They worked in concert to restore Haleigh enough for her own systems to take over and recover. She didn't seem to be very responsive to them at first, but after a minute or so, she began to show signs of progress.

Blaze: Welcome back, Hales.

[Groaning]"Thanks. What did I miss?"

Blaze: We helped stabilize you and Bishop with our elemental powers in carefully applied use. We're not healers...but we did what we could. Bishop should be coming around soon. Ali sent Rampage to Silver Swan and MorningStar. Alexia's with Prophet and Ruby, and Harbinger...well... She's gotten us this far, but I don't know how much longer she can last...OR what WE can do to help her!

Bishop: She’s right you know – you shouldn’t have wasted your time on me, you had others to protect. Thank you for saving my daughter.

It almost seemed like a nice moment, and for a second Haleigh even believed that maybe this guy wasn't so awful, maybe he was turning over a new leaf, or maybe he'd LEARNED something after working with them. He even sounded grateful! But that only lasted a few seconds, and then he went right back into his old habit of bringing up some totally irrelevant bullshit. Did he think RIGHT NOW was a good time to antagonize them? And THEN-- to top it all off, the cherry:

Bishop: I don’t owe you shit.

You STUPID SON OF A BITCH!

His was exactly the kind of attitude that discouraged Haleigh from getting overly attached to people who were 'only human.' He was so completely ungrateful for their help. Haleigh wanted to make him BLEED, but the kid was in the way. She settled for a murderous glare.

"You can keep telling yourself that, but it never WAS and NEVER WILL BE true. But you know what IS true? We aren't doing this FOR YOU. We don't want you to owe us. We'll never ask ANYTHING of you, so calm your tits."

It was right about then that it seemed Alison was STRUCK DOWN. It was quite a scene, but Haleigh remained calm. This HAD TO BE part of the strategy. Some of her teammates panicked. Haleigh suddenly realized that Morgan was not with them. Something must have happened while Haleigh was focused on Bishop and Alexia.

"It's not over YET...and every other move on her chess board has played out the way she planned...Firebird, we've got no choice BUT to believe now, KEEP IT TOGETHER, AND CARRY ON until this is FINISHED."

Alison reappeared, and looked to be on death's door. Haleigh knelt by her and discouraged Blaze and Ava from pulling her to her feet.

"No, let her rest. Her vitals...she does not NEED to be on her feet right now. Alison, did you bring any elixirs with you that we can give you now?"

Harbinger: You...have...

Oh, RIGHT! I do have something.

She retrieved the freshest sample quickly and pushed it into her friend's hands.

"Here, Alison. Drink this. Persephone, Firebird, bring her over there and keep her covered, she's earned this moment to rest. We need to be closer together Ruby, Prophet, you're with me. We still need to keep Alexia covered until this is OVER."

She delegated out the tasks with ease and confidence, the kind that came from years of experience making tactical decisions. They followed her lead, and she looked up, trying to determine what was happening now.

NIC! What's going on up there on the ship! We're running out of time and the longer this goes on, the more chance Badiane might have to power up and ADAPT!

She got her answer before she got his response. There was a dazzling light show, and Haleigh had to not only look away, but deactivate her senses to stop the pain. In her head, she could dim the brightness of the video playback, rewatch it, and realize what she'd seen. Delilah had erupted, and become a motherfucking STAR. Haleigh feels the vibration of a sound barrier shockwave. She knows it precedes the concussion of some kind of explosion. Ruby throws up a protective barrier of some kind, saving them from complete obliteration.

Haleigh felt a pain she had long since buried. It was the SECOND time she'd watched Delilah die, but this was no ordinary death. No one could come back from SUPERNOVA. The finality of it weighed very heavy on her soul. She remembered Delilah's drowning very vividly, and could not stop herself from reliving it now. Trying to save her, trying to revive her. Not capable of bringing her back, not capable of understanding why she left. The pain crashed onto her, again and again like the tide she'd fought to recover Delilah's lifeless body. The undertow grabbed a hold of her, drug her down, until she thought she would drown. Grief. That's what they called it. It was too profound a concept to apply words. Despite her strength, Haleigh was not able to deal with this pain. She shut down her emotions, as swiftly as if she'd closed down a program on a computer. Her expression went blank, her body language neutral. She reactivated her sensors so she could see what was going on again. She saw grief on all their faces. This was going to devastate them all.

Black Widow, with a metallic tone, addressed Ruby first. She couldn't seem to reach the girl right away, but after a couple of tries, the girl responds and relaxes. She looks unsteady and shaky, and Haleigh tries to reassure her, but her voice sounds empty and almost robotic.

 

[Seer]

<< Rampage holds on to Firebird and Silver Swan tightly, and both the fire elemental and the mutate hold on to HIM. By now, Sharon's silver eye mask has receded from her face, and she can be seen suffering from a pain that her invulnerability CAN'T protect her from. Tears fell from eyes, as she softly pleaded with the goddesses to hear her and help them ONE LAST TIME. Blaze openly weeped. Nicolas keeps his eyes shut tightly, but tears fall from his eyes too.>>

<< Just in front of them, Persephone silently grieves...feeling a pain she hasn't felt since she survived the brutal losses caused by the ORIGINAL Dire Wraiths to her MoE family. She holds her close friend, Harbinger, who has finally let go and has an outpouring of grief. Black tears fall from her eyes as she cries. On Alison's other side, is her brother, Prophet. As he came to her, she intially reacted with ANGER, screaming "NO!" at him, and trying to push him away. But he already knew. He'd seen her nightmare, he knew what it represented. He wouldn't let her block him out or push him away this time. Her initial resistance was not nearly at the strength it NORMALLY would have been, and so it was easy for him to deny her protest, as he took hold of her. It was OK for her to grieve with and ACCEPT SUPPORT from her brother, her only living blood relative, and now, more than ever, they needed each other.>>

<< Along side of them, Black Widow, who had finally calmed an adrenaline rushed Ruby down, coaxing her to lower their shield. The danger was gone....and so was their MorningStar. Ruby was exhausted physically and mentally. Black Widow, who by now had gone into another MODE, and was noticeably, eeriely more ROBOTIC, carried the psionic succubuss over to the others. Setting her down, the hybrid stands with Ruby on her left, and Persephone on her right. She stands tall, and sentry, allowing Ruby to hold/lean on her for support, but noticeably NOT showing any sign of physical grief. The last time any of them had seen her like THIS was when Morgan and Sharon were lost. The second time was during their adventure in the TIME STREAM, when they arrived in the timeline where Morgan had been murdered by a Barbas possessed Nicolas, who was then himself murdered by a vengeful Karen Victoria. The third and most RECENT time, was when Delilah had drowned in the aegean sea just outside of Minerva's Mansion. >>

<< It was obvious now that THIS was the hybrid's way of SURVIVING the throws of GRIEF, which was something that she found was TOO MUCH for even her powers to endure or protect her from. >>

<< And along side the Six family, there is Bishop, holding on to his precious little girl. He struggled, in vain, to face the grief that was closing in on him too. He had his precious girl, but Delilah was lost to him too.>>

<< Of them all, Alexia was the only one who was not effected by the spirit of grief! Having just felt the warm, loving touch of her mother, and communicated with her, she was reassured that all would be okay, and she believed her mother. Her mother was happy, they were safe, so why were all of the adults crying?? Even Silver Swan! Where was Auntie Ororo??>>

<< A lingering view of Harbinger and Prophet. Black tears fall from the precog's eyes, and Prophet's head is bowed, and touching his sister's temple. She'd stopped fighting him, and they were now in this TOGETHER.>>

<< On a level sight unseen and unheared by others, he struggles to communicate with her via their sibling psychic rapport.>>

.Morgan really can't be...she isn't going to try and SAVE DELILAH is she? She'll die! The time to keep me locked out is OVER. We need to minimize casualties. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON!"

<< Alison doesn't respond right away...because for a moment, she's LOST "SIGHT" of Morgan as WELL as Delilah! She can't help but wonder if somehow she MISSED something, and now...she's lost BOTH of her dearest friends!>>

<< But after a few moments, which might as well have been HOURS in this time of grief...>>

Alison to Cameron: Cameron...I....

--------------------------------------

<< Morgan, The DARKCHILDE, is ALIVE. But WHERE is she? The moment she ESCAPED for her life from the clutches of Badiane's poisonous, painful, LIFE DRAINING touch, she retreated to Limbo. There, she was RESTORED from the pain and injury of being touched by the DARK energy of BLACK. But She did not return to them! Instead, she WATCHED from her scrying glass in her castle on Limbo's summit.>>

<< The momenet she and Alison had discussed, it was now upon her! From LIMBO, where she could do ANYTHING her heart desired, she WOULD find a way to save Delilah.>>

<< FIRST, she maintained her magick shields around the candy ship.>>

<< THEN from a place OUTSIDE of perceived time and space, she JOINS Harbinger, combining their magickal powers to aid MorningStar, allowing her to overcome and DESTROY Badiane and her Black Dream Hole. But what price victory? Nothing that Harbinger foretold could prepare ANY of them for the pain of this loss once it was at hand.>>

<< Firebird's words from much earlier ring out in the space around the darkchilde in her gigantic, mysterious castle on Limbo's summit>>

Firebird: Morg, you're SORCERESS SUPREME. If there's a way...ANY way to save Delilah, you've GOT to find it!

<< Images of Spellbinder in her normal form, then her darkchild form. Images of Limbo, the summit, the highgest of the castle. Images of the pages of the darkhold turning. Images of Spellbinder's violet eyes over the darkhold, with tears falling from them.>>

<< When MorningStar's consciousness, and the essence of who she'd been as a HUMAN was passing on, at the last moment, Spellbinder appeared via golden stepping disc, but her form looked spectral and ghostly. She leaped forward, crying out as she GRABBED HOLD of that "last remaining piece of MorningStar's soul." As suddenly as the witch had appeared, she disappeared. But she was not in Limbo. She was not with the Six. WHERE WAS SHE?>>

<< Even Harbinger had temporarily lost "SIGHT" of her, and that horrifying moment lead the precog to believe that something about their plan had gone horribly WRONG.>>

<< But NOT SO.>>

<< SOMEWHERE ELSE.>>

<< A place that Morgan has been. So has Alison. Even Delilah has been here before. It's that eerie, place that even defies LIMBO. The place were souls go before they complete move/pass on. A place that can ONLY be reached by the inescapable invitation from DEATH herself. But Death has curious ways about her, as Morgan, Alison and Delilah previously have learned on a personal level.>>

<< The darkchilde hovers in this Otherplace. She gestures slowly, chanting in an unknown tongue, as she gently gathers together flowing orbs- once green...now glowing white....they are the pieces of Delilah's consciousness, her SOUL. It's a process that has been done before.>>

<< FLASH!>>

Behold...

<< the floating, ghostly image of the baby girl now rests within the out stretched hands of Hecate.>>

the soul of Spellbinder. It had disappated. Unable to hold on to consciousness or awarness after her body had been poisoned and broken by Black. Not even her bond with karen as mother/child could give her even the tiniest bit of strength to reach out.... she had no connection here and thus, she let go. the body died.

Karen did what any mother would do, and she cannot be faulted for that, But I am the mother of ALL witches and I will not suffer the loss of TWO of my direct descendants over the treachery of man's perversion and science.

Ororo, the guardian of the dark trinity across the timelines of the multiverse rescued the battered soul of Morgan and pulled her back together and now, as I decreed so many moons ago, I will put back into place what is my will!>>

<<Spellbinder IS sorceress supreme, and THIS is her TRUE form. But NO LONGER is she afraid of the power of the darkchilde! She DOES have the power to save her best friend, and she WILL. But NOT with the necromancy spell!>>

<< She gathers together the pieces of Delilah's soul, and gently brings them together, guiding them with her magicks, and her intimate memories and knowledge of Delilah. She is now performing the SAME process that Ororo had performed on HER, a sign of how far she has come now that she has accepted her FULL power and mantle as sorceress supreme. Still, the work must be done slowly and carefully.>>

<< But soon, a "form" can be seen. Delilah's form, beautiful, in a fetal position. Only the most basic form of awareness. No pain, no fear, no sadness. >>

<< Spellbinder closes her eyes, and calls out to Harbinger. The two witches communicate!>>

-----------------------------------------

<< Back on the Otherworld>>

<< Harbinger's eyes snap OPEN and she jolts a bit.>>

Alison to Cameron (via their psychic rapport): MORGAN! She's ALIVE! Cameron...now is the time for you to do your part. Use your power, that mystical accent that you possess. Take Bishop's mind and astral form, and lead him to the realm of the DEAD.


<< Prophet would do as his sister said, making telepathic contact with Bishop, and then pulling him on to the astral plane. From there, Cameron would guide him to this "Otherplace" where he would find Morgan, noticing she was STILL in her (updated)darkchild form, but that there was a serenity and peace about her. Moreover, he saw what she was doing. She had somehow managed to RESCUE and bring the pieces of Delilah's soul and consciousness back together! But while Delilah was now technically in purgatory with them, she was still FAR from the land of the living. Now, Bishop, having been in this place HIMSELF once before, was there with Cameron anchoring him. Bishop is able to sense Delilah. They sense each OTHER...this place where they ALWAYS meet one last time before THE CURSE activates and ERASES them and all memories of them from each other in one life before moving on to the next>>

<< This is truly the closest they'll EVER come to getting a REPRIEVE from that curse, now courtesy of Spellbinder, the daughter of Hecate, and Prophet.>>

<< Bishop's astral form is left to approach Delilah's spectral form. Spellbinder is on one end, with Prophet on the other. The witch and the telepath sense and see each other, but there are no words. They watch silently as Bishop and Delilah meet once more.>>

 

[Prophet]

Alison: "Cameron...please(!?) DON'T interfere. We have come TOO FAR, and though you may sense some pieces, you don't yet know the PATTERN, OR what YOU'LL be needed for!"

:: No. This wasn't right. This was was DELILAH they were talking about and if there was ANYBODY who stood among them that had the right to know the plan was HIM. He was the one who had been there when she had nobody. He was the one who defended her when nobody else would, when they wanted to cast her out, when they didn't want to hear her, and now she was in her final moments. What would she think of him? How could he possibly forgive himself if he just watched her die and he didn't try to stop it? But it was too late. ::

"Delilah..."

:: She was gone, a beautiful concierto of light and power unlike anything he had ever seen. The Morningstar BECAME a true star, a celestial diety. If it wasn't the most heartbreaking thing Cameron had experienced in a long time, it would have been one beautiful of a show. He watched, tears streaming down his face, his sobs almost to a whimpering point, his chest heaving. Delilah made one last act of contrition as she made her way over to her daughter, filling her with such an overwhelming sense of love and devotion. It was a bittersweet feeling watching Delilah, or rather the entity she had become, finally have a moment of peace with her daughter, Alexia. He didn't want her to be gone, but Cameron couldn't stop thinking.

"THIS is how Delilah would have wanted to go OUT..."

:: And then there was nothing. Total and complete silence as The SIx began to fall apart in their various ways, seeming to mourn the lives of TWO of their teammates. Cameron forced himself on a noticably weak Alison, forcing his comfort on her. She resisted, but just like she always did, at the end of the day, she gave into her baby brother, holding him as well. ::

[via their sibling bond]

Alison: "Cameron I...."

[stopping for a moment]

Alison:"MORGAN! She's ALIVE! Cameron...now is the time for you to do your part. Use your power, that mystical accent that you possess. Take Bishop's mind and astral form, and lead him to the realm of the DEAD."

"Damn..."

:: He knew he didn't have much choice in the matter, but he knew that if Alison had asked him to do something like THIS, it was for a very good reason. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind, grabbed onto Bishop without his permission , and grabbed his astral form. ::

[to Bishop]
"You have somewhere to be..."

:: Closing his eyes an almost magickal energy cracked in the air as the faint chime of a bell as Cameron left the astral plane and into the Otherworld, his mind instinctively guiding him there as a crack of power landed Prophet, along with Bishop face to face with Morgan in The Otherworld, a haungtingly obtuse place. For some reason, in this plain, he immediately understood what she was doing and so he anchored Bishop there with his mind using his own power, to give Bishop and Delilah a moment without the curse that tainted their fates together. ::

:: There were no words in this place, it seemed. He was aware of Morgan being there, and she him, but they couldn't necessarily articulate their thoughts to each other. There was just a silent and solemn understanding of the task at hand. With eyes full of wonder and concern, he watched as Bishop was allowed to approach this form of Delilah. ::

 

[Bishop]

The Otherplace

He heard Cameron’s voice in his head: You have somewhere to be...

And then instantly his head was swimming and when it cleared he was somewhere else.

“What the fuck?”

They had taken him someplace. They were leaving him to die so they could take Alexia. Those bastards. But fair play to them, he’d have probably done the same thing.

He looked down at his hands, and then it was clear that something wasn’t right. They didn’t look right – he didn’t look right. Had they killed him that quickly?

Then he looked up, and saw her.

“Delilah?”

She stood across a space from him. Shining, but strange. She was there, but not completely. He knew then that she was a ghost, and the momentary surge of hope he had felt that she had been saved evaporated.

Delilah: “I’m here.”

He walked forward, at first worried it was a trick but as he drew near her he KNEW it was truly her.

She smiled, her hands folded in front of her. She looked so peaceful.

Delilah: “Don’t be afraid. All is as it should be.”

“How can you say that?”

Delilah: “Because it’s true.”

“You can’t go. Alexia needs you. I need you.”

She shook her head with the smallest of motions.

Delilah: “You have each other. That is not my place any longer. I have to move on…”

She looked off to the distance for a moment. He took both her hands in his.

“I guess…I guess it’s my turn to die now, huh?”

He laughed without real humor. Tears came to his eyes once again.

“I wish it would happen right now, so I could come with you.”

Delilah: “Shhh…”

She placed a hand gently on his cheek.

Delilah: “It isn’t your time yet, my love. You have much left to do.”

“It wasn’t your time either.”

Delilah: “Yes, it was. It was past my time. I lived more than I was meant to in this life – I’ve returned from death twice, there won’t be a third.”

She withdrew her hand from his face and leaned forward, their lips meeting in one final perfect kiss, one that should never have been possible, but this was the Otherworld where magick had power over time and space, life and death.

Delilah: “It’s time that I move on to the next life.”

She took a step backwards away from him.

Delilah: “I will see you there.”

“Delilah, don’t go!”

He rushed forward, wrapping her in his arms.

"Don't go."

They embraced for a time, before Delilah pulled away.

“I love you.”

She smiled, backing away.

Delilah: “I know.”

She paused.

Delilah: “Take care of our daughter. She is everything.”

She gave him one last smile.

Delilah: “I love you.”

And then she turned away.

 

[Seer]

From Outer space, to OUTSIDE of time and space

<< The threat of Badiane was forever ended, thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of Delilah Trelevan. After months of being lost in darkness, following a trauma that no one deserves, MorningStar emerged with a demonstration of strength that was in line with her true character. Driven by her love for her daughter and her inate instinct to protect the weak and innocent, she reached down into herself and found her inner light once more. Aided by her friends...her FAMILY, she then transcended her human form, failing and limitation to become a STAR in FACT.>>

<< Only the birth of a star could correct the death of a star and its resulting black hole, a terrifying celestial phenomena that no mortal could ever hope to endure OR overcome. The witches, Harbinger and Spellbinder, driven by their sorrow and guilt over the mistakes they'd made while trying to help Delilah during the Blue Moon, showed where their hearts truly were, as they pulled out all the stops to help their friend. They aided Delilah in achieving her goal of defeating and destroying Badiane and her black hole.>>

<< Alexia, the daughter of Delilah and Bishop, was now free and safe. All the children that hadbeen stolen from their worlds by Badiane were free, leaving the Six family, Bishop and Alexia alone on this strange world.>>

<< As it had been during the Aftermath of the Blue Moon, the victory came at a terribly painful cost. In becoming a true STAR to defeat Badiane and her black dream hole, Delilah sacrified her humanity, her life. After one last special communion with her daughter, the time had come for "her" to move on.>>

<< The Six were now left to face something that no power they possesed could defend them from- GRIEF.>>

<< Together they stood, held one another, some kneeled, others openly weeped, some "shut down." But all they could do was stand together. They didn't even know how they would get home now, as it seemed Spellbinder was lost to them as well!>>

<< But this wasn't quite over yet!>>

<< Bishop, escorted by Prophet, now found himself in that mysterious "Otherplace", the realm of the dead, with it's plain and seemingly endless and dreamy gray expanse, only filled at times by random flashes and flickers of spectral light here and there.>>

<< It's a place that some of THEM have been before, along with countless others since the dawn of time. But those among the Six that had found themselves here were truly FORTUNATE that this was not the beginning of a NEW journey for them. Bishop, however, was not so sure what was happening for Delilah, or himself for that matter.>>

<< Delilah had been anchored by Spellbinder, who now used the same process that Ororo had used to rescue HER when she died at the hands of Black. Bishop was anchored by Prophet. The two star crossed lovers share a moment of serenity as they communicate, while Spellbinder and Prophet silently watch from either end. They both perceive each other, but there's no need for them to interact.>>

<< Soon, Delilah pulls away from Bishop. Her soul can't help but want to move forward...one way or the other. Bishop's heart sinks, and soon, his astral form returns to his physical body courtesy of Cameron, who is also back in the physical world.>>

<< The collective grief of the Six family is impossible to describe now, but just as it seems to be completely overtaking them all, they are MOVED. TELEPORTED via golden stepping disc that opens beneath them.>>

<< Once again, time and space, as they are able to perceive it, are meaningless, as they travel in the twinkling of a sorceress' eye, to LIMBO, the eldritch dimension that is everywhere "outside" and yet belongs NO WHERE.>>

<< It's a place most of them have been before. A mysterious, endless, cold, magickal, TERRIFYING place. It is the ultimate HOME of Spellbinder!>>

<< They are inside of HER castle, the gigantic stone fortress that is etched from the very rock of the highest, most bold mountain in Limbo, known simply as The Summit.>>

<< Inside this dark, gothic, mysterious castle, they are now on the very top floor, where there is a domed ceiling that has a large circular opening in it's center, and straight forward through this domed observatory, is a doorway that leads out to a large balcony/altar that over looks the endless expanse of this eldritch dimension.>>

<< ALL of the Six family, along with Bishop and Alexia are here, and find themselves in the formation of a CIRCLE around the center point of the observatory, where Spellbinder's scrying glass hovers, and the SOUL SWORD sits, partially embedded in a glowing pillar of dark rock.>>

<< As each of them adjusts to the change of environment, they have their own individual observations and concerns. Some notice the eerie whispering wind that flows through the castle, others take note of the lightning and storm clouds they can see through the opening in the dome, they wonder WHY they're here and where Morgan is. >>

<< Persephone has one VERY big concern, her own physical well being. It was established in her OWN native timeline, that of her fellow Wraith, The Darkchilde's , that Limbo has a TOXIC effect on her physical being. To save her during the final battle against the original Dire WRaiths of legend, the immortal weather witch Ororo cast her in stone statue form. By a wild but ultimately ENGINEERED sequence of events many moons later, The goddess was FREED from her stone purgatory by the surviving members of The Six! They were on a very personal quest, to seek the aid of the Darkchilde in RESTORING a lost Spellbinder.>>

<< Ultimately, Persephone would join the Six, becoming an intregal member of their group as she had once been to her MoE family. NOW, in Limbo again, her FIRST thought is one of concern...nearly PANIC...but she finds that she does NOT begin suffering from the any ill effects! No loss of strength or energy, nothing! How can this be? As she allows herself to accept this surprising REALITY, she then wonders why they are here, and where Morgan is.>>

<< Another concern some of them have is, WHICH Morgan will they have? Will they be REUINTED with Spellbinder, or CONFRONTED by the darkchilde?>>

<< All they can do now, is stay together, and wait. It's understood by them, that they should not break formation either.>>

 

[Alexia Sheremetyev]

Alexia tried to make Daddy feel better, but all the other adults looked sad too.

Then suddenly she was falling! He stomach did flip flops before she came to a stop. All the adults were there too.

“Can we do it again?”

They were now in ANOTHER castle! She had no idea there were so many…but this one…was familiar…

She raised her hand.

“Ooh, ooh, I know where we are! This is Darkchilde’s castle! Auntie ‘Roro showed me pictures!”

She let go of her father’s hand and sauntered over to the Silver Swan – her friend! – who was there with the adults.

“Do YOU have a castle like this?”

She blinked inquisitively up at Sharon.

“You wouldn’t even have to use the door, you could just fly right up to the top!”

 

[Silver Swan]

In Limbo

[ Sharon had remained behind Delilah until the last possible moment. Were it not for Rampage leaping across the horizon and grabbing hold of her to carry her away, she would have stayed, even though not even SHE could survive the birth of a STAR.]

[ In that moment of shock, awe, and perhaps even disorientation and FEAR, She and Nicolas HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER, as they CRY OUT. The starlight nearly envelopes them, but Nicolas TELEPORTS, using his power to psychokinetically shift the both of them in/out of the astral plane, getting them to relative safety on the ground with the others.]

[ Morningstar's moment of triumph, and SACRIFICE was at hand. She destroyed Badiane, saved her daughter, and freed the other innocent children. But what price this victory?]

[ When it was finally over, she was on the ground with the others. Rampage hold on to her...TIGHTLY. He NEEDED her support. She could sense it as she "HEARD" his internal rhythms reacting to GRIEF. SHE held on to him as well. Firebird was on Nicolas' other side. On Themyscira, the Amazons teach the wisdom and STRENGTH in seeking support and comfort in the arms of loved ones during the darkest hours, times of grief, and despair. Not everything can be solved or endued by POWER or BATTLE.]

[ They grieve. Sharon softly calls on the goddesses to help them...to SAVE Delilah. But she was not there when Athena and Hecate warned Delilah that If she returned to the Six during the Blue Moon crisis, there would be no more assists in escaping her fate...not from THEM at least. They had balanced their scales with her]

[ The pain of grief. Sharon was no stranger to it. She'd lost her husband, her son...then HERSELF. She'd struggled to make sense of her new life and reality, and it nearly cost her some of her dearest relationships. Now she was here in this place, with the people who mattered so much to her, feeling the same sense of profound loss.]

[ They could do nothing but go through this, together.]

[ Soon though, they were all MOVED. They'd been teleported, and they found themselves in LIMBO, Spellbinder's castle! Sharon had only been here twice before, during the Barbas caper. Things were different here, on every level. It was both curious and disturbing to the mutate.]

[She, along with the others regained their sense of space and orientation, as they now saw where they were, and that they were in a circle around the center of the castle's observatory.]

[ She wondered why they were here now. Spellbinder's fate seemed unclear at best on the Otherworld. Was she returning to them? Or was something else coming?? As AWFUL as she wondered if she might need to PREPARE to defend herself, ALEXIA, or the others. ]

[ She slowly pulled away from Nicolas, holding on to his hand and squeezing it before squeezing Blaze's to assure them that she would not be moving far from them. She looked around slowly, noticing how worn the others looked.]

“Can we do it again?”

They were now in ANOTHER castle! She had no idea there were so many…but this one…was familiar…

She raised her hand.

“Ooh, ooh, I know where we are! This is Darkchilde’s castle! Auntie ‘Roro showed me pictures!”

She let go of her father’s hand and sauntered over to the Silver Swan – her friend! – who was there with the adults.

“Do YOU have a castle like this?”

She blinked inquisitively up at Sharon.

“You wouldn’t even have to use the door, you could just fly right up to the top!”

[ Her sense of uncertainty was interrupted by the curiosity, the wonder and exuberance of a child's innocence. Alexia was now standing behind her. Sharon breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, pushing away all the other things she was feeling, and letting the sound of Alexia's voice anchor her into another mode.]]

Alexia...

[ Sharon says as her silver eye mask recedes from her face and she slowly turns to face Alexia, knowing down to her to meet her big blue eyes.]

Delilah's blue eyes....

Yes, that's correct, this is the darkchilde's castle.

[ She smiled at Alexia, taking time to look over the child, and being so grateful for the resilience that young children have, and don't know to be grateful for. in time, the memory of Badiane would hopefully fade from her mind. To Alexia's next question...]

No, I don't have a castle like this. I live in a place like your mommy, but I can always visit places like this, that are far away, special..and unique

[Winking to Alexia, as she referenced her ability to fly]

[Sharon followed Alexia's gaze up to the dome, and the opening in it]

Yes, I could, and there'd be lots of open sky for me to fly around in. I could even carry you with me, on another flight of fancy, just like I did in the OTHER castle where we shared a song together?

[ She holds her hands out to Alexia, and when the child places her tiny hands into her own armoured hands, Sharon gently holds them
as she once again look at her]

And do you know where I'd want to take you? To Auntie Ororo's beautiful garden.

You remember that place don't you? It's also here, and very soon...

[ Sharon wanted to keep Alexia on this path, hopefully distracting her from what some of the other adults around them were displaying AND some of the darker aspects of Spellbinder's castle]

I think we're going to find Auntie Ororo to make sure that she's okay. I'm sure that she's been very worried about you! She'll be proud to know what a good and BRAVE girl you've been, and HAPPY that you've been able to spend time with your daddy...and your mommy.

 

[Alexia Sheremetyev]

Yes, that's correct, this is the darkchilde's castle.

Alexia beamed at being right. She was a little disappointed that the Silver Swan didn't have a castle, but she guessed being able to fly made up for it.

I could even carry you with me, on another flight of fancy, just like I did in the OTHER castle where we shared a song together?

She put her hands in the Silver Swan's and smiled at the thought of flying again.

"Promise?"

And do you know where I'd want to take you? To Auntie Ororo's beautiful garden.You remember that place don't you?

Alexia looked at her like she had six heads.

"'Course I remember, that's where I LIVE silly! I have my own room and everything."

...and very soon...I think we're going to find Auntie Ororo to make sure that she's okay. I'm sure that she's been very worried about you! She'll be proud to know what a good and BRAVE girl you've been, and HAPPY that you've been able to spend time with your daddy...and your mommy.

Alexia whispered to the Silver Swan conspiratorially. "She can do magick, you know. I've SEEN it. She probably already knows I'm okay. And..."

Her face fell as she turned her head to look at Bishop.

"I'm not sure I should leave my daddy - he's awful sad. Maybe he could come to live with Ororo too. And then we could both be happy!"

She smiled brightly at the thought.

She looked around at all the sad adults.

"Are they sad because Mommy left? Don't they know she's happy with the stars? She'll always watch over us, she told me so!"

[ Bishop looked over at his daughter. Her excitement warmed his heart, but he knew not everyone would share his feelings.

"Alexia, come here. Leave Sharon alone." ]

She turned to him rolling her eyes and put her hands on her little hips.

"That's not 'Sharon'. It's the SILVER SWAN!"

Looking up at her, she added matter-of-factly, "Right?"

 

[Rampage]

Pain and despair and loss and FURY. All rolled into one, magnified by the loss of a family member. It was bad enough to lose Delilah. It was sad enough that Alexia and he would have the title of orphan in common. That there would be conflict in regards to Bishop's place with the child.

Now he had lost Morgan. His Morgan. They had been to hell and back and to lose her now seemed even more unfair. Were it not for the strength of Sharon to be held by him as they grieved, there is no telling where he might have descended.

Suddenly, they were in Limbo, at her Castle?! Nicolas was struck by grief, wonder, even suspicion. But most of all, he was tortured by HOPE. This place no longer held trepidation for him. This was where they had shared and made love, where they had revealed their darkest selves to one another and embraced each other's monstrosities.

As Sharon spoke with Alexia about anything that would keep the child occupied, Nicolas stayed close to everyone but stepped forward, raising his axe, the union of their powers and one of the ultimate expressions of her power as Sorceress Supreme and of the regard in which he is held. It began to glow as he sent up a silent prayer.

Athena, she who lights the way of travelers past and present, clear the path for a warrior sorceress to the heart of your champion. Bring her back home, in whatever form she finds for herself, and I WILL receive her in love. Hear my call, bright Pallas.

 

[Persephone]

Everything happened so fast and ended so quickly. Delilah was gone. She left this world in the most beautiful way possible, but it didn't dull the gut wrenching hit of reality that she was actually dead. Tears fell from Ava's eyes effortlessly as she moved to Alison who couldn't keep it together any longer. She held Alison as the precog shook in agony over the loss of her friend. Surprisingly, Ava stayed stoic as she consoled her friend, however her eyes revealed the true pain she was in. Looking to her sister, Haleigh had shut down, literally. She had become the Black Widow through and through. No emotion, no grief, nothing. She envied her.

But soon, the world around them disappeared as they began to fall through a stepping disc. In the blink of an eye they were gone from the Otherworld and reappeared in LIMBO. Looking around, a pang of panic coursed through her body as her tear filled eyes widened knowing that she wouldn't be able to survive here for long. In every other venture to Limbo, the moment she arrived she felt the effects of her body dying. But now? She felt nothing....looking down at her hands in disbelief, they weren't dulling in color as they did before...Whatever was happening had to do with Delilah and Morgan. Maybe it wasn't over? Maybe Morgan brought them here because her powers of the Darkchilde could bring Delilah back? Hope filled Ava's heart for a moment...

"What's going on?"

She whispered to Alison, even though she knew it was unlikely that the precog would tell her.

Ava's eyes shifted to Alexia....the little girl just as big of a ray of sunshine as her mother. She wasn't sad or upset....angry or fearful. She was so certain that everything was going to be okay despite what had just transpired. It further proved the resilience of this little girl, but moreso that she was undeniably Delilah's daughter. In that moment, no matter WHAT happened in Limbo, Ava would make sure Alexia's life would be filled with happiness, wonder, but most of all love. She owed Delilah that much.

 

[Silver Swan]

In Limbo

"I'm not sure I should leave my daddy - he's awful sad. Maybe he could come to live with Ororo too. And then we could both be happy!"

She smiled brightly at the thought.

She looked around at all the sad adults.

[ Sharon couldn't help but smile as she listened to Alexia letting her in on Ororo's "secret." But it was her concern for her father, Maxim, that touched Sharon even more. How sweet & simple was her outlook. Inclusion. She wanted everyone to be as happy as she was. Already, she seemed to display the core traits of her mother, wanting to help people. ]

Autie Ororo does help people in their time of need, Alexia. She's even had visitors stay with her for long periods of time. You and your daddy can talk with her about that.

[ She said with a smile as she heard some of the others whispering among themselves, trying to understand why they were here of all places.]

She looked around at all the sad adults.

"Are they sad because Mommy left? Don't they know she's happy with the stars? She'll always watch over us, she told me so!"

[ Before Sharon could answer Alexia...]

[ Bishop looked over at his daughter. Her excitement warmed his heart, but he knew not everyone would share his feelings.

"Alexia, come here. Leave Sharon alone."

It's okay, Maxim.

[ Sharon looked at Bishop from her kneeling position and said calmly to reassure him and Alexia. She'd been a mother too. She knew what a child needed at this age, especially in the face of such an indescribable, UNEXPLAINABLE loss!]

She turned to him rolling her eyes and put her hands on her little hips.

"That's not 'Sharon'. It's the SILVER SWAN!"

Looking up at her, she added matter-of-factly, "Right?"

[ Sharon smiled once more at the young child, and nodded her head in agreement]

Right.

I am the Silver Swan, the same that your Auntie Ororo has told you many stories about.

But....

["Whispering" to Alexia, to share this "secret" with her]

When I'm not flying through the air, or going on an adventure, My special friends like your mommy- and your mommy's other close friends here with us now, they call me Sharon. I'd like it if you called me Sharon too.

[ Winking at her and nodding with approval ]

 

[Harbinger]

:: The arrived in Limbo. The stark contrast in this mysterious realm has always been between Ororo's garden oasis, and the rest of the dimension, which reflects it's mistress, Spellbinder. But even now, in the cold, dark, magickal realm...there's a bit more...."ORDER" than before. Not AS many demons seen in the skies, and none DARE to enter the castle on the summit, for fear of Spellbinder.::

:: Still, the Six family are struggling right now. Alison has only JUST begun to get a sense of what Morgan was going to do, now that she was confirmed to be ALIVE.::

Whatever was happening had to do with Delilah and Morgan. Maybe it wasn't over? Maybe Morgan brought them here because her powers of the Darkchilde could bring Delilah back? Hope filled Ava's heart for a moment...

"What's going on?"

She whispered to Alison, even though she knew it was unlikely that the precog would tell her.

Ava's eyes shifted to Alexia....the little girl just as big of a ray of sunshine as her mother. She wasn't sad or upset....angry or fearful. She was so certain that everything was going to be okay despite what had just transpired. It further proved the resilience of this little girl, but moreso that she was undeniably Delilah's daughter. In that moment, no matter WHAT happened in Limbo, Ava would make sure Alexia's life would be filled with happiness, wonder, but most of all love. She owed Delilah that much.

:: She wipes her tear streaked face, and looks over at Ava, whom she happened to be standing next to in the circle that they formed around the center of this observatory::

Morgan...

:: Alison whispers to Ava::

She's alive after all...and she's coming back any moment now.

:: she leaned in closer to Ava::

It's not over yet....

:: Sharon engaged young Alexia. The precog looked upon them, as did Ava and some others. Alison felt a mix of relief and grief for the child. She was free from Badiane, and the Six would make sure that she'd never to endure something like that again. But she'd lost her mother. She was too young to understand this kind of loss, and no one present would dare rob her of the joy and comfort her mother left her with before she passed on. She remembered the SPELL she cast on the baby Alexia, that night of the Blue Moon, when Bishop helpd her in his arms. A spell to ensure that she would ALWAYS know and remember her mother AND her father, even from those earliest encounters, those brief moments of touch, and communication. ::

She looked around at all the sad adults.

"Are they sad because Mommy left? Don't they know she's happy with the stars? She'll always watch over us, she told me so!"

:: NOW more than ever, the spell would fill in the gap for her, but it was heartbreaking to know that she would never BE WITH her mother again, not in the way that a child or young adult needs to be.::

:: Alison bows her head, and covers her eyes with her hand. Trying to keep herself as composed as she can::

Bishop looked over at his daughter. Her excitement warmed his heart, but he knew not everyone would share his feelings.

"Alexia, come here. Leave Sharon alone." ]

She turned to him rolling her eyes and put her hands on her little hips.

"That's not 'Sharon'. It's the SILVER SWAN!"

Looking up at her, she added matter-of-factly, "Right?"

It's okay, Maxim.

[ Sharon looked at Bishop from her kneeling position and said calmly to reassure him and Alexia. She'd been a mother too. She knew what a child needed at this age, especially in the face of such an indescribable, UNEXPLAINABLE loss!]

[ Sharon smiled once more at the young child, and nodded her head in agreement]

Right.

I am the Silver Swan, the same that your Auntie Ororo has told you many stories about.

But....

["Whispering" to Alexia, to share this "secret" with her]

When I'm not flying through the air, or going on an adventure, My special friends like your mommy- and your mommy's other close friends here with us now, they call me Sharon. I'd like it if you called me Sharon too.

[ Winking at her and nodding with approval ]

As Sharon spoke with Alexia about anything that would keep the child occupied, Nicolas stayed close to everyone but stepped forward, raising his axe, the union of their powers and one of the ultimate expressions of her power as Sorceress Supreme and of the regard in which he is held. It began to glow as he sent up a silent prayer.

Athena, she who lights the way of travelers past and present, clear the path for a warrior sorceress to the heart of your champion. Bring her back home, in whatever form she finds for herself, and I WILL receive her in love. Hear my call, bright Pallas.

:: Alison finally looked up again over to Nicolas this time. He was obviously in a slightly BETTER state than he had been mere moments ago. They ALL felt something, just BEING here in this place. If Spellbinder were truly DEAD, they'd know it.::

:: There WERE other questions though, and one that many had already thought about is, WHERE was Ororo? was she alright? And would Bishop try to take Alexia? He'd already had this conversation with Alison, and so she knew where his mind was on that. He was rude, obtuse, and seemed to delight in antagonizing people, but he was also perceptive on certain things...even procative and SMART about them. There would be no conflict over Alexia at this time. He knew where she'd be safest.::

:: For now though...it seemed that Nicolas' silent prayer, along with Sharon's urgent plead to the goddesses, may not have fallen on deaf ears after all!::

:: Eldritch chimes sounded off, a golden stepping disc opened....::

 

[Black Widow]

This setting was much more bearable. She could still function, she could still defend her team if the need arose. But she seemed stiff, with perfect posture, steady breathing, and a calm expression, a machine that looked human.

She checked the vitals of each person still present. None were critically injured, but they didn't exactly seem 'stable' either. Irregular heartbeats... labored, interrupted breathing patterns.... leaky tear ducts and nasal cavities... No, they were not stable at all. There was no combat medic course of action for the wounds they were suffering.

Clinically, in a detached way, Haleigh knew and could identify the signs of grief, and the stages. She could see it on her teammate's faces. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. All neat little categories, all tidy little labels. If that was all it was, she'd deal with it in seconds.

From experience she knew that grief was not tidy, or neat. It was an atomic bomb in the heart. It was an obliteration of emotional stability. The stages were not some timeline to be followed, this step, then that one, until it was done and the bereaved was suddenly 'over it'.

No. You experience all stages together on a rollercoaster of torture that feels neverending. You are torn this way and that by the ambivalence and unpredictability of your own thoughts and emotions. Rage, Contempt, Disgust, Shame, Guilt, Disappointment, Shock, Rage, Mirth, Apathy. You feel all of it simultaneously until you can feel none of it, then you start over, and get overwhelmed by it all over again. It makes no sense and feels completely out of control.

It was this knowledge that prompted Haleigh to shut down her emotions. She knew she could not handle it right now. She could compartmentalize it, and deal with it later, if at all. She began to consider the idea that she might never have to feel that pain again, for any loss. This was the road one of her alternates had chosen.

 

[Prophet]

:: The interaction between Delilah and Bishop was both really beautiful and really sad, for a number of reasons. What Cameron was seeing in front of him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Whatever it was between the two of them, as cursed as it may be, was something Cameron definitely didn't have, and he was beginning to wonder if he ever would. He had a sister who viewed herself happiest when she was by herself, and though he knew that most of that was just her trying to protect herself, it still stung, especially after the many years of effort on his part to somehow prove his worth, or prove his love to her, just to get to where they were now. Even before their appearance in space, he had been more angry at her than he had been in awhile. Part of that was brought full circle during their "dreams". Alison may have been the happiest alone, but if she had to choose one person to be with, it wouldn't be Cameron, it would be Morgan. Then there was his fucked up relationships with both Haleigh and Alycia. One he felt he really did love, but it didn't look like what he was seeing before him. It was darker than dark, it was primal, it was vicious, but every time he saw her, there was nothing he wanted more. Then there was Alycia, a woman he had a chance to make something with, somebody his family approved of, somebody they trusted; a good choice. It took about two seconds for him to fuck that up, and what was worse was that he still hadn't told her about it. Now, he was watching his best friend say her final goodbye. He had failed her, and now he was supposed to live up to his promise to care for Alexia in her absence. What in the name of the gods could have possibly made Delilah think that Cameron King was a person good enough to mold the mild and help shape a CHILD. She would have been better off with Bishop. At least he was her actual father. ::

:: Everything he had gone through since the beginning of the Blue Moon, through his torture at the hands of Sister Mary Justice, to the attack of The Purifiers, to now was beginning to get to him. For every hard fought win, there was an insufferable loss, and it was beginning to slowly put him in a state of mind he hadn't been familiar with for quite some time now. A place that nobody wanted him to go back to; a place he didn't want to go back to. But eventually, things with too many fractures BREAK. ::

"I love you, Delilah..."

:: He was aware that Morgan was up to something, but with his senses not being the same here, he couldn't articulate himself and ask her just exactly she was doing or what the ultimate goal of this was. Why restore her soul to just send her back out into purgatory. ::

<< FLASH >>

:: He was in Limbo in what felt like an instant as a cold and familiar wind breezed through his body. Prophet looked up at the domed ceiling that broadcast the electric purple skies of Limbo, as cracks of lightning could be seen in the deeper reaches of it's space. He was right, Morgan definitely still wasn't done. ::

"Well...it never feels good to be HERE..."

:: Watching everybody settle into their environment, it was interesting to see how comfortable Alexia was here, eagerly awaiting the time that she could see Ororo, still enthralled with Silver Swan and offering her father room and board. He was glad that she was okay, but this wasn't right, and while it may be bad to wish a child to experience negative feelings, he hoped at some point, Alexia would understand the reality of this situation, because it was GOING to come up later. She was here because she subconsciously tried to drain her mother's light whenever they came into contact, and her mom had died to save her. It couldn't be stars and flowers forever. And what would happen to a child raised in Limbo. She couldn't stay here, there would be no reason for her to. Not now, not with Delilah gone, and the last place Delilah would have wanted her to grow up was HERE. ::

"What am I going to do...?"

:: He shot a look at Haleigh who seemed incredibly calm. Cameron was using his own ability to placate himself at the moment, but not to the level that she was. The two made brief eye contact but in her current state it was like looking into the eyes of a microwave, it may be able to look at you, but it couldn't really SEE you. All of this made Cameron feel incredibly alone, trying his best to not let the guilt of the situation wash over him. ::

"I was with Morgan...in The Otherworld. I really don't want to give anybody any kind of false hope, especially not now, but after what I've just experienced, I don't think Morgan is DONE doing what I think she was doing.."

:: All of a sudden, a golden stepping disc began to manifest in front of them. ::

 

[Spellbinder]

In Limbo

"I was with Morgan...in The Otherworld. I really don't want to give anybody any kind of false hope, especially not now, but after what I've just experienced, I don't think Morgan is DONE doing what I think she was doing.."

<< Before any of them, outside of Alison, could ask what that was supposed to mean, a golden stepping disc opened up in the center of the observatory. Everyone turned their attention to it. Alexia, who had seen "light circles" and stepping discs randomly appear even in Ororo's garden, and had heard of them in some of Ororo's stories, knew of them- she was not afraid, as she had just teleported through one and rather enjoyed the ride! still, as the wind and thunder heralded the arrival of the castle's mistress, Alexia moved back behind Silver Swan.>>

<< Soon, Spellbinder emerged. She had not returned to her normal human form. She was still presenting in her (updated) darkchilde persona.>>

<< After she emerged from the disc, she gestured, calling forth a large, glowing sphere of energy that pulsated, and hummed softly. She did not acknowledge her friends, and Bishop just yet. She seemed to be attending the sphere of bright white light, almost "calming" it down! But soon...>>

Greetings.

<< Her voice now had that haunting resonance that it only took on when she was in this particular form.>>

<< She took a moment to look among them. They were weary, battle worn and emotionally fatigued, and NOW some of them were understandably on edge. She didn't have to be a telepath to know why.>>

<<FLASH!>>

He face softened.

"Just remember, when I'm gone - don't forget that you aren't a demon, you're human, even if there's no one around to recognize it. Remember me?"

I know that it is a source of discomfort for some of you to see me in this form. But You have nothing to fear from me. I am MYSELF.

In this desperate caper, with so much at stake, and with a foe that commanded her magicks on a scale not unlike Circe, I had to use ALL of my resources, including the one that carries the most risk, directly tapping into the POWER of Limbo. Limbo REFLECTS me, it is part of who I am, from the source of my base mutant power, to the arcane magicks that I command.

When Badiane attacked me, she used her magick to mimic the energy signature of Black. I escaped at the last possible moment, arriving here, where I was able to recover.

We all knew that Badiane's defeat and destruction would come at Morningstar's hands. Rather than risk altering the time thread that Harbinger had seen as the most likely outcome, I decided to try a different approach, and began to search for a way to....

<<FLASH!>>

"We KNOW what Harbinger has said will come to pass. We know her visions are CLEAR, but Morgan...You're SPELLBINDER! You're SORCERESS SUPREME! "

"If there's ANYTHING you can think of...ANY SPELL that MIGHT do something to save Delilah, you've GOT to find it! "

...to SAVE Delilah AFTER she destroyed Badiane.

Persephone: :: The goddess recalled what happened on Aerie, when Karen activated the necromancy spell. She saved Michael...but even with Hecate saving HER from the destruction of that spell, it altered her down to her soul. Her name, Shadow Weaver, was more than a mere code name. Karen was going to try it AGAIN during the Black/Bianca caper to save Morgan's life. THAT time, Hecate stopped her. Ava wasn't the only one thinking that this was the route Morgan might be taking...and so, she gave voice:: Spellbinder, is it the necromancy spell? You know what will happen if you use that! Delilah would NOT want you to revive her that way.

Spellbinder: No, Persephone. That's not it. You're right, Delilah would NOT want me to use the necromancy spell. There is more to magick than dark/black, destructive spells. There is also white/light, restorative. I haven't always showed the proper appreciation or RESPECT to the mantle that I've inherited. But along the way, Ororo, and DELILAH, among others, offered important lessons, ANCHORS for me.

Some of you << Looking at Prophet>> have discomfort, or even disapproval of magick and those who use it. I can't blame you for that. But I can show you the GOOD that magick can do as well.

Behold.

<< lifting her hands a bit, the glowing sphere now hovers at a point where the SCRYING GLASS is directly behind it. The Six, Bishop, and Alexia see the reflection of the sphere, but they ALSO see the faintest FLICKERING of a feminine form in fetal position AROUND that sphere>>

I have spent time gathering the pieces of Delilah Trelevan's soul, calmed them, and guided them back together. This is the most BASIC form of her essence, without consciousness, without LIFE as we know.

The moment she became a star, her life line was BROKEN, her consciousness was nearly dissipated. Though I have gathered the pieces and guided them together, the spark of LIFE is needed to spur her consciousness, and allow my magick to restore her human form.

I CAN'T restore her with the necromancy spell.

But there is ONE other option.

Delilah freely gave her life, her very soul to save her daughter and all of creation. To RESTORE Delilah's humanity and her LIFE line and soul, to give her new form, it will require the life force, the soul of another, ALSO freely given.

But know that this means you will take Delilah's place...in the realm of the dead.

 

[Bishop]

"That's not 'Sharon'. It's the SILVER SWAN!"

Bishop smiled in spite of himself.

“Okay Miss Bossy.”

He watched Alexia so excited to be with Sharon, and he saw how good Sharon was with her. How could he ever hope to be a good parent, after everything that had happened, after the life he had chosen? It didn’t make sense, that he was here and Delilah was gone. It made no damn sense.

Spellbinder arrived, still looking like a reject from Hellraiser. But as she spoke about looking for a way to save Delilah…there was hope…

Anything…I’ll do anything…

Delilah freely gave her life, her very soul to save her daughter and all of creation. To RESTORE Delilah's humanity and her LIFE line and soul, to give her new form, it will require the life force, the soul of another, ALSO freely given.

But know that this means you will take Delilah's place...in the realm of the dead.

Bishop immediately stepped forward.

“Me. Take me.”

 

[Black Widow]

Prophet is looking at her, and she smoothly turns to meet his gaze. He was trying to remain strong, but she could see the cracks. Something deep within her stirs, an emotion longing to escape her blockade, but he looks away, and she crushes it back down beneath the weight of her willpower.

Morgan appears, creating warning scripts in Black Widow's HUD. Haleigh's right hand falls to rest on the grip of her .45, but she doesn't remove it from the drop leg holster.

Morgan: I know that it is a source of discomfort for some of you to see me in this form. But You have nothing to fear from me. I am MYSELF.

"Spellbinder, that is precisely what they fear."

She replies serenely. Morgan explains what happened and where she has been, and Haleigh just listens. There is some discussion about Delilah, with regards to bringing her back. Ava expresses some concern, which Morgan addresses. She reveals that her efforts to restore Delilah will require a sacrifice. Bishop immediately offers himself. There won't be any arguments, and logically, Alexia would benefit more from having her mother than her father during her formative years. But there WAS an issue.

"It is possible that Morningstar does not want to be 'saved', or that she does not want another to take her place."

 

[Spellbinder]

Limbo- The Summit- Observatory

Bishop immediately stepped forward.

“Me. Take me.”

She reveals that her efforts to restore Delilah will require a sacrifice. Bishop immediately offers himself. There won't be any arguments, and logically, Alexia would benefit more from having her mother than her father during her formative years. But there WAS an issue.

"It is possible that Morningstar does not want to be 'saved', or that she does not want another to take her place."

<< Spellbinder looks upon Black Widow. She knows that SHE is one of those present who would be unsettled by her current appearance. Not that she could blame her! But the hybrid has noticeably SHUT DOWN her emotional center, and is now operating on an entirely different pattern, one that in some ways, Morgan can identify with. The "HEART OF ICE." Sometimes it's the only way to endure the fire of PAIN and loss!>>

<< The hybrid raises a valid point, proving that she knows Delilah very well. But there's an answer for that issue>>

Black Widow, when Delilah died during child birth, under the unholy glow of the Blue Moon, she was met by the goddesses Athena and Hecate. They felt BADLY for how she came to be in the realm of the dead, events that were in large part facilitated by Hecate's response to Delilah's plea to "take away her guilt over slaying Bishop." That act resulting in the man standing in our midst now. They gave her what she was asking for, though she did not know what doing something like that would truly mean. They sought to alleviate her guilt and her grief.

<< she continues>>

But we've all lived through what's happened SINCE then. This was their way of balancing their scales with her. The goddesses offered Delilah a choice. She could accept Athena's reward and be reborn as an AMAZON, with no memory of her previous life, no ties to it or anyone apart of it, AND be free of the curse that follows her and bishop from one life to the next; OR she could be RESTORE to her present life, in full health and vitality BUT whatever her FATE was in this life...she would have to face it, with NO help or intervention from THEM (the goddesses). They WARNED her of great pain and even hardship. Still, her love for her LIFE as she had lived it so far, her love and sense of loyalty to US, her friends...her FAMILY...and her NEED to one day see her little girl Alexia lead her to choose the latter of the two.

THAT is why she revived during the Blue Moon. She WANTED to be here, for her daughter, for her life and all that she had yet to do, and for/with US.

Much like when Ororo gathered my soul and consciousness when Master Mold pulled me through the Seige Perilous, OR when Black broke my lifelines, OR when Alison died during the battle against Blackout, Not only have I gathered Delilah's "pieces" and guided them back together, but I also HEARD the most primal of desires from her. She WANTS to live again, not among the stars, but HERE in the life that mattered most to her.

<< And in this moment, as Bishop IMMEDIATELY offered himself, Spellbinder was reminded of something about Maxim. Something that she'd seen during the Black/Bianca Ceasul caper. Something Harbinger had learned during the Blue Moon, and on the Otherworld during this night, There WAS something redeemable about him after all. Ororo taught Morgan, and her counterparts about not always taking, but GIVING, sacrificing something of themselves to help and sustain someone in need. Despite Maxim's flaws, his obtuse personality, and abrasive behavior...at his core, he understand this life lesson, and abided by it without hesitation. >>

<< He had endured so much pain, both separate AND connected to the Six, and this caper was no exception. She remembered what Nicolas said, when he challenged her and Blaze on whether or not to notify Bishop when the threat of the Blue Moon was looming. He had a stake in this, whether they like it/HIM or not. Alexia was his child...and it was evident that he cared deeply for her, and that he'd go through the seven circles of HELL for her, AND/OR Delilah.>>

<< If this was a TEST on Spellbinder's part, the Bishop PASSED, and because of that, she would give him a much needed and fairly deserved BREAK.>>

The life force need NOT come from a SINGLE person. A SMALLER portion, from SEVERAL will be sufficient. There are NINE of us present, if EACH of you is willing.

<< She was INCLUDING herself in this, but EXCLUDING Alexia.>>

Be warned, EACH of you will feel PAIN, and your own life energy WILL be diminished.

If you understand, and give freely just the same, then I will have what I need to restore our Morningstar in full form and substance.

Harbinger: We understand...

Silver Swan: ...And we ACCEPT. We give freely, without hesitation.

Firebird: We're ready when you are, Spellbinder.

<< The gathered Six family join hands around the demon sorceress, and the essence of Delilah Trelevan, now ready to help Spellbinder RESTORE Morningstar!>>