Rose of Destruction II

[Berserker]

The Carlyle - Penthouse Suite

Alek moved his head in a perturbed motion as Haleigh staddled him in the chair, not looking at her. That is, until…

"OR.... you could become the Red Prince."

His eyes shot to hers. What the hell was she playing at? His gaze narrowed, watching her drink straight from the decanter of scotch.

“You know why I said that.”

That it was everything he had ever wanted didn’t matter. Not now. That was all over for him. Hellfire was all over for him, sooner or later.

"Stop acting like such a pussy, Berserker. It's really quite a turnoff."

He grabbed her wrist, hard.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re turned on or not.”

"We're not GOING to get her out, and if you don't stop thinking about trying, you're going to get us all killed."

He couldn’t put all his eggs into his last ditch effort with Helena. If it didn’t work, if she wouldn’t keep Seph alive, it would be game over, for both of them.

“That’s a hell of a chance to take, Scion.”

He looked at her, that self-assured, cocky demeanor she had in full effect. But he could see in the set of her mouth, the steady way her eyes studied him, the lack of the merest tremble in her hand as she drank…she had a way out of this for Ava. Maybe not for him, but that didn’t matter. He picked up the decanter she had placed between them, and took a drink.

“So, tell me what you have in mind.”

 

[Firebird]

The Parthenon- Spectra

He recognized her.

“Blaze, right? Morgan’s sister.”

"That's me!"

She declared, adding a wink with one of her apple green eyes

“Uh, I don’t think I really need..that…I’m just looking for something.”

This was definitely not his comfort zone.

"Relax, Maxim, it's fashion, not chemical warfare!"

She said with a bit of a laugh. It was a unique pleasure, to see him on such uneven footing now, in this place! But still, he'd come HERE for a reason...

“Um, Zach told me I could get a nice suit here. I need it, for tonight.”

He pulled at his collar.

“Money’s no object.”

Blaze's eyebrows lifted a bit with intrigue at this information.

"Oh did he? Well Zachy boy is RIGHT, this IS the place for BEST suit. We'll make you look like a million bucks, which will be easy to do, since you say money is no object!"

"Do you have any idea of your size, measurements?"

Bishop shrugged. He looked like a dear in the headlights. It was ALMOST cute

If he doesn't know his size, then he probably won't have a cut preference...

"Oh-kayyy. Well no worries, we'll get those soon enough. "

Tapping out more information on her tablet.

"Oh, and You'll need accessories too. "

He started to object, she held up a hand

"Maxim, you have your hallmark, I have mine. Now RELAX! WE'LL take good care of you! "

He looked at her, wondering who "WE" were...and soon he'd find out.

 

[Sally Spectra]

The Parthenon- Spectra

"Maxim, you have your hallmark, I have mine. Now RELAX! WE'LL take good care of you! "

He looked at her, wondering who "WE" was...and soon he'd find out.

<< A LOUD hand clap is heard from behind Bishop, and that unmistakable contralto voice immediately follows>>

Yes, we WILL, darling!

<< Sally Spectra, the fashion goddess herself, makes the scene. For an older woman, she was VERY well kept, and well put together. Rich, talented, brash and charming, voluptuous, and definitely a fashion plate, the woman was dressed quite stylishly, in one of her own designs , which gave a playful view of her legendary cleavage that Cameron, Nicolas, Michael, Zach, and Andrew had ALL marveled at. Her outfit was accessorized with diamonds on her bracelet, and her earrings. as Joan Rivers once described her- she was a "diva with diamonds to spare." >>

WELCOME to my parlor, Maxim!

<< she said as she strode across the reception area right over to Bishop.>>

Now...what's the matter with you?

<< She looked him over, and without asking, she began physically adjusting his posture as she was sizing him up>>

You've been here five minutes and you're still DRY?

Blaze: I offered him refreshment, but he's a bit nervous. It's his first time.

<< Sally looked at him with a devilish glint in her eye>>

Ohooo, so you're a VIRGIN!

<< a beat>>

In the world of FASHION!

Well don't worry, my dear! It ALL begins here, with ME!

But as I've told Delilah before...my designs are for the LIVING! So SMILE for me, would ya?

And somebody get this man a drink!

Whadyawant...a BEER? We have those too!

<< and on cue Blaze tosses him a cold one, while one of the store attendants quickly brings Sally a flute of champagne.>>

Blaze, darling...tell Darla to hold my calls.

I'll be taking care of Maxim personally.

Blaze: Already on it, Sally!

Now then, Maxim.

What sort of suit were you looking for?

<< she looked him over with a glint in her eyes>>

With those bedroom eyes of yours...I think a dark color base will be the best choice.

And since you dont know your size, we're going to have to...

<< she looks at Blaze, who's already smirking, before looking back at Bishop>>

...take some MEASUREMENTS!

<< and with that, she WHIPS OUT her legendary tape measure, and Bishop could of sworn he heard a "Whip crack" sound effect in the air around him.>

Finish your beer, my boy!

Next stop for you is our private fitting room, where your custom made suit, and the REAL fun getting to it begins!

 

[Matrix]

So we knock on Delilah's door and she is surprised to see us. Of course she is. But she is polite and Miss D and I step in.

I smell beer, I smell weed...somebody is having a party and Delilah confirmed who it was. Isis steps in further and gets to the point. There is something unnatural about Cameron. That puts me on edge with everything that is going on so I watch Cam like a fucking hawk. I know him....but I don't KNOW him. Hell, I thought I knew Haleigh. Miss D can handle herself, but if need be I am ready to move.

 

[Bishop]

Spectra

"Relax, Maxim, it's fashion, not chemical warfare!"

He mumbled, I think I prefer chemical warfare.

He told her he’d come for a suit, recommended by Zach. Blaze rattled off a bunch of questions he didn’t know the answers to. He just gaped at her.

“Really, I think if I just try on a couple…”

"Maxim, you have your hallmark, I have mine. Now RELAX! WE'LL take good care of you! "

Yes, we WILL, darling!

A voluptuous woman appeared from behind him, who clapped her hands like a sultan in a harem.

WELCOME to my parlor, Maxim!

He was pretty sure by this point that this had been a bad idea.

The large woman, who from Delilah’s description could only be Sally Spectra, marched right up to him and started poking and prodding him, telling him to stand up straight like his third grade teacher.

You've been here five minutes and your still DRY?

I offered him refreshment, but he's a bit nervous. It's his first time.

“All I need is a suit…and quickly…”

He was pretty sure they weren’t listening to him at all.

Ohooo, so you're a VIRGIN!

Maxim looked at the ceiling. How the hell did he get himself into this, and how did he get himself OUT of it?

But as I've told Delilah before...my designs are for the LIVING! So SMILE for me, would ya?

“I don’t really…”

And somebody get this man a drink! Whadyawant...a BEER? We have those too!

“Oh god, yes, I do…”

He felt like he was in a tornado, or a musical. Or Hell.

Now then, Maxim. What sort of suit were you looking for?

He shrugged.

“The…regular?...kind?”

How many sorts of suits could there be?

Sally declared that they would have to measure him.

Finish your beer, my boy! Next stop for you is our private fitting room, where your custom made suit, and the REAL fun getting to it begins!

“I really don’t have much time…”

Bishop held up his hands in protest as Sally began to usher him away. He was going to kill Zach.

 

[Black Widow]

The Carlyle -- Penthouse Suite

Alek: I don’t give a fuck if you’re turned on or not.

He snarled, with a grip on her wrist that was dead sexy. She gave him a wicked smile, and then she told him the cold hard truth.

Alek: That’s a hell of a chance to take, Scion.

"It's a lot better than the nonsense you're suggesting."

She was as brazen as ever. She watched him drink to dull his anxiety.

Alek: So, tell me what you have in mind.

"Helena thinks you're bluffing. You have two choices. Fold.... or go all in. If you fold, she'll KNOW you were bluffing, and she'll make good on her threat, just to teach everyone a lesson. If you go all in, she has to keep playing."

She drank some more.

"Become Helena's Prince in thought and intent, for every second that you are inside the walls of Hellfire. Believe it so hard that even Malice tells Helena to relax. Unfortunately, that will mean you need to dial it back some with Seph. You love her, and that would have been FINE if you'd just kept playing the game. But SHE flinched, and then YOU freaked, and you both made everything SO MUCH WORSE."

She licked her lips again, and offered him the scotch.

"Slowly but surely withdraw from romantic entanglement with the Red Rook. Don't tell her about what Helena has asked you to do. Act like she's getting annoyingly clingy, or if she doesn't present an opportunity for that, pretend she's getting boring in bed. Cheat on her, with somebody she can't kill. Betray her, and she will live."

 

[Berserker]

The Carlyle - Penthouse Suite

"Helena thinks you're bluffing. You have two choices. Fold...or go all in. If you fold, she'll KNOW you were bluffing, and she'll make good on her threat, just to teach everyone a lesson. If you go all in, she has to keep playing."

He scoffed, grabbing the decanter out of her hand.

“You’re forgetting that Helena expects me to rip Ava’s throat out. She’ll know something’s up when I, you know, don’t.”

"Become Helena's Prince in thought and intent, for every second that you are inside the walls of Hellfire. Believe it so hard that even Malice tells Helena to relax.”

His eyes narrowed, but he was listening.

“Go on.”

Unfortunately, that will mean you need to dial it back some with Seph. You love her, and that would have been FINE if you'd just kept playing the game. But SHE flinched, and then YOU freaked, and you both made everything SO MUCH WORSE."

He shook his head.

“I’d rather let Helena kill me.”

She offered him the scotch this time.

"Slowly but surely withdraw from romantic entanglement with the Red Rook. Don't tell her about what Helena has asked you to do. Act like she's getting annoyingly clingy, or if she doesn't present an opportunity for that, pretend she's getting boring in bed. Cheat on her, with somebody she can't kill. Betray her, and she will live."

He looked at her, saying nothing, as the words sunk in. What she was suggesting. His hard expression broke.

“Haleigh…”

She couldn’t ask that of him. Couldn’t want him to do that to Seph. HE couldn’t do that to her.

“That would destroy her. You know her history, better than I do. I can’t hurt her like that…please…”

He bowed his head, not saying anything for a long pause.

“Do you think it will work? The truth.”

He looked up at her.

“Or are you just trying to get me out of your sister’s life?”

But the fact of the matter was, he knew it worked. He had done it before.

 

[Sally Spectra]

The Parthenon- Spectra

He shrugged.

“The…regular?...kind?”

<< Blaze and Sally stared at him in disbelief>>

Honey, work with me here, eh?

<< She nodded, and Bishop, with a slight look of bewilderment, nodded. He was quickly realizing that the best way to get through this, was to smile and nod.>>

And NOW!

It's time for measurements!

<< another "whip crack" is heard by Bishop, but no one else around him seems to react to it.>>

You want to look your BEST for Delilah, don't you?

Of COURSE you do!

And EVERYONE who wears my designs is better off for it, now come along!

“I really don’t have much time…”

Bishop held up his hands in protest as Sally began to usher him away. He was going to kill Zach.

<< in the large, spacious, custom fitting room, Sally commands...>>

Strip!

<< a beat>>

To your underwear, my dear.

<< he complies>>

WELL now, GI JOE, all that huffing and puffing in the trenches has done you a world of good, HASN'T it!

<< she circles around to the back, and SNAPS the elastic of his boxer briefs as she begins taking her measurements, with Blaze nearby, SAVORING this moment as she looks at Bishop and can't help but snicker>>

<< She begins taking his measurements, with a skill of hand that is quite evident, and Bishop begins to relax>>

<< in between calling out numbers to blaze, Sally whispers in his ear>>

It's not so bad after all, is it?

<< laughing softly as pokes him in his side with one of her finger nails>>

And clearly your not nearly as ticklish as my darling little Zachy!

Ohhh he's a FUN one to fit, isn't he Blaze?

Blaze: <<Firebird lifts an eyebrow and smirks at the memories of HIS fitting sessions>> oh he's a squirmer allright.

Sally: But there's NO man that I can't fit to perfection!

<< Back to Bishop>>

Now, you just sit beefcake buns over there, Maxim.

<< pushing him down into a seat>>

I've got the very thing for YOU!

<< Bishop is left alone for a few moments, feeling a bit CHILLY, but at least he's in a private area, with no one else to see him like this. Soon, he hears the high heels of Sally and Blaze approaching once more.>>

<< They return.>>

Now then. I've been thinking about what would best suit you. It's not just the size or the cut, it's about the overall look and matching the right look for the right man and personality!

You're the strong silent type, so we won't go with TOO much flare, but you want to show Delilah...

<< Sally just KNEW that's who he was doing this for>>

...that you CAN clean up nice!

And trust me, honey. She WILL be impressed when she sees that no only did you take the time to spruce yourself up..

<< She YANKS him out of his seat>>

But that you came HERE to do it!

A woman LOVES a man with GOOD taste!

NOW, what about THAT!

<< She spins him around, and holds the suit up in front of his semi nude form in the three way mirror>>

The cut will fit your broad frame perfectly, giving you a modern look, but not too flashy. A nice little touch with one of our hankerchiefs, and a pair of shoes and socks, and ONE more little item that i'll show you in a moment.

<< She waited for him to say if he liked it, and once he did, she immediately took over again>>

EXCELLENT!

NOW, go and put this on. I'll prep it tailoring today.

<< while he was getting dressed, Sally looked at Blaze, who was trying her best not to double over with laughter, the fire elemental never would've imagined seeing a moment like THIS unfold. BISHOP, in Spectra!? It was like Pretty Woman inverted! >>

Now now, my little firebird! This is where MOMENTS are made, and lives are CHANGED! He may have come in here looking any old kind of way, but we're gonna send him to Delilah looking so dashing and debonair, they're both gonna have a hot time on the cold town tonight!

That reminds me!

Have an assortment of dresses with matching accessories sent up to Deilah's apartment, and have the attendant direct her to pick whatever she wants and WEAR IT tonight.

Blaze: On it, Sally.

<< Blaze fired off the order on her tablet, and moments later Bishop emerges>>

THERE we are!

<< Blaze WHISTLES to add to the moment >>

<< Sally makes him hold his arms, up, and checks the fit in certain places, including the "Front" AND the "BACK" >>

Hmmm...just a little nip HERE

<< she runs the chalk over "HIM" >> and a tuck THERE << running the chalk again on the BACK end>>

<< bending down>>

And...HERE.

Okay!

This'll be ready for you later today, my good man, and it'll fit you JUST RIGHT!

<< giving him a good SMACK on the rear end>>

Now there's one last thing!

<< she brings out a small jewelry box, that contains a stylish men's ring >>

This is from my accessory line that i made to compliment the line this suit comes from.

Wear this with it. It'll be the perfect cap to the perfect look. It'll bring you GOOD LUCK!

Okay?

<< she nods, and spins him around, pushing him back into the fitting room>>

Now, take it all off, so I can get started customizing it for you!

Leave your address with Blaze, and she'll facilitate it's delivery to you.

<< She looks at Blaze>>

I think we're finished here! The girls up front can take care of the rest!

Blaze: I already sent the deets to them.

<< she stands by the door to Bishop's fitting room>>

Blaze: You're all set, Maxim.

Sally: Yes, you are, my dear! Come see me AGAIN, and say HI to that lovely lightengale for me, would ya!

<< She waves her hand and laughs jovially, as she disappears out of the fitting room>>

Blaze: So...was it good for you?

<< she asks in a knowing tone>>

Blaze: you've just joined a very special club! The well dressed, and the SCANDALIZED!

 

[Bishop]

Spectra

Sally ushered him into some back room. He felt like he should be buying guns or something.

Strip!

Maxim leaned forward, not sure he heard her correctly.

“Excuse me?”

To your underwear, my dear.

This just kept getting stranger. But he did it, because at this point, he needed the suit, and he didn’t think they were going to let him out of there without it.

WELL now, GI JOE, all that huffing and puffing in the trenches has done you a world of good, HASN'T it!

He smiled at her. She was crazy, but somehow infectious. She measured him, cracking jokes about Zach, which, let’s face it, he enjoyed. And finally she finished and pushed him down into a chair, still in his boxers, and left him alone for a few minutes. When she returned, she started talking more fashion stuff he didn’t really understand.

You're the strong silent type, so we won't go with TOO much flare, but you want to show Delilah...that you CAN clean up nice!

He looked at her quizzically.

“How did you know this was for Delilah…”

And trust me, honey. She WILL be impressed when she sees that not only did you take the time to spruce yourself up.

He started to say, “Do you really think so?” when Sally yanked him out of his seat – she was stronger than she looked.

A woman LOVES a man with GOOD taste! NOW, what about THAT!

He held up a suit in front of him. He nodded, actually impressed.

“I like it.”

She went on to describe stuff about the suit itself, but he thought it would do just fine. At her prompting he went to try it on.

When he came out again, Sally exclaimed and Blaze whistled. He had the odd sensation of being a piece of meat in the butcher’s case, something he normally enjoyed but which in these circumstance was just plain unsettling.

Sally checked the fit over, as he looked at himself in the mirror. Yeah, this is okay. He turned this way and that.

Hmmm...just a little nip HERE

“Did you say, nip?”

This'll be ready for you later today, my good man, and it'll fit you JUST RIGHT!

He tensed as Sally smacked his ass.

“Thank you, Ms. Spectra. I really do appreciate it. Delilah did always have nice things to say about you.”

Before Sally zoomed out like the tornado she was, she told him she had one more thing for him, and presented him with a ring for good luck. He grinned at her.

“I don’t normally wear jewelry, but I could use all the luck I can get. Thank you.”

He undressed and got (thankfully) back into his own clothes in one piece, and left his address with Blaze as instructed. He felt like he needed a nap after all that but he still had some things to do before that night. He wanted everything to go perfectly. After all, Delilah deserved it.

 

[Tachyon]

“So what about turning them back to our side? They were friends of the Six once, and surely could be again? Though how could anyone ever trust them again?”

He popped open another beer and took a long drink of the cool liquid.

“What would you do, X, if it were up to you?”

That is my issue. I am certainly capable of analyzing a situation and acting, but I think that we each only seem to have a partial picture of what is going on. Without getting it all together, we risk choosing poorly. With what I know now, we have to be willing to consider taking them out to limit the damage they have done, but at the same time I wonder...no one has died yet. It COULD be because the lovely Dominique Devereaux is just that amazing, but there are holes in some of these scenarios. They are horrific but these one-off missions are not yet fatal, not in the surgical way I would expect given the power disparities of the targets chosen. I mean, how the hell is Bishop alive? DON'T ANSWER THAT!

I cannot help but think that they are stalling somehow. They are at least paying a heavy price for being unsuccessful, I imagine.

So what would I do? I would get everyone together, compile all the data we have and decide on something and then do it. Whatever that is. But where we are now is untenable and the addition of the kids into the danger gives an urgency that cannot be ignored. We need to come together as a team and focus on what matters.

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower – Tachyon’s Floor

They are horrific but these one-off missions are not yet fatal, not in the surgical way I would expect given the power disparities of the targets chosen. I mean, how the hell is Bishop alive? DON'T ANSWER THAT!

Andrew, in the middle of chugging another beer, gave the air a two fingered salute in Bishop’s honor. How was that guy still alive? Surely someone should have killed him by now, even if it wasn’t Haleigh.

He grumbled under his breath, Because he’s a dick, that’s how he’s still alive…

I cannot help but think that they are stalling somehow. They are at least paying a heavy price for being unsuccessful, I imagine.

Andrew nodded. If this was some sort of elaborate plan, the idea that they were stuck there, being punished, was really sad to think about.

“So how do we figure out the truth?”

He asked X what he would do.

So what would I do? I would get everyone together, compile all the data we have and decide on something and then do it. Whatever that is. But where we are now is untenable and the addition of the kids into the danger gives an urgency that cannot be ignored. We need to come together as a team and focus on what matters.

“Let’s make it happen.”

He held up his bottle for Xavier to tap, before finishing it off.

He stood up.

“Thanks for the beers – sorry for barging in here like this. I’ll let you get back. Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He held out his hand to Xavier.

 

[Tachyon]

“Let’s make it happen.”

He held up his bottle for Xavier to tap, before finishing it off.

He stood up.

“Thanks for the beers – sorry for barging in here like this. I’ll let you get back. Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He held out his hand to Xavier.

Xavier shook his hand.

Anytime. I am glad you broke me out of my trance. I can sometimes seal myself away when I need to be out THERE...living life instead of studying it. Vivica had me nailed on that point. So I thank you for that. No worries.

Andrew saw himself out and Xavier cleaned up, then planned what to do next. An older kid asked him about cricket once he knew where Xavier was from, and so he purchased some gear to teach him and any others interested. He tossed it and some flowers he bought for Alycia this morning into his car and drove over to Charope, only to find that she was at the Sanctuary. He hopped back in and began to make his way over...this was even better, because he wanted to check in with the kids sooner rather than later.

 

[Black Widow]

The Carlyle -- Penthouse Suite

She watched him resist the idea, refuse to accept it. He even said he'd rather die. She wondered if that were true, or if it was just something he believed for now, and would change his mind when he stared death in the face again.

Alek: Haleigh... That would destroy her.

No, it won't. Persephone would go back to being cold and angry. She'd be powerful and fearless again without you to make her vulnerable.

Alek: You know her history, better than I do. I can’t hurt her like that…please…

He broke under the weight of her suggestion, and bowed his head.

Please?

She thought, and sat back from him a bit. He wasn't supposed to be the type to say please. He was supposed to be the type to take what he wanted. Her attraction to him waned quickly. She was angry with him, but one good hard fight would have resolved that. His strength and aggression had been what excited her. He was arousing when he was tough, mean and dangerous. He was USEFUL when he was Berserker, a wildcard, a loose cannon, but now she could see the man behind that mask.

Alek: Do you think it will work? The truth.

"I think it's the only plan that CAN work, and still keep everybody ALIVE at this point, since you fucked shit up so bad even the Queens noticed."

She replied bitterly, her patience wearing thin.

Alek: Or are you just trying to get me out of your sister’s life?

"If that was all I wanted, you'd be exsanguinating into my lap right now. Then I'd go back to Hellfire and tell Helena I did her a favor, and my mother would confirm it to be true, and OH SO MANY problems would go away."

She said coldly, then took a deep breath and forcefully exhaled through her nostrils.

"Helena is the Red Queen, and she won't accept second place. Not only does it hurt her EGO, but it hurts her court integrity. So naturally, she wants the threat eliminated, and she SHOULD kill YOU too, but she's given you the chance to save your own hide because she likes you. All we really have to do is convince her that she's number one in your eyes, and her desire to get rid of Seph will wilt. But If this IS going to work, then you need to HARDEN THE FUCK UP AGAIN."

 

[Berserker]

The Carlyle - Penthouse

"I think it's the only plan that CAN work, and still keep everybody ALIVE at this point, since you fucked shit up so bad even the Queens noticed."

He looked at her, coldly.

“The queens don’t give a fuck about some pissant lower club member. If you think this is about that, then you are not as intelligent as you think you are.”

"If that was all I wanted, you'd be exsanguinating into my lap right now. Then I'd go back to Hellfire and tell Helena I did her a favor, and my mother would confirm it to be true, and OH SO MANY problems would go away."

“No, Helena would STILL kill Ava, just because she could. If I thought it was that easy, I’d LET you kill me.”

"Helena is the Red Queen, and she won't accept second place. Not only does it hurt her EGO, but it hurts her court integrity. So naturally, she wants the threat eliminated, and she SHOULD kill YOU too, but she's given you the chance to save your own hide because she likes you. All we really have to do is convince her that she's number one in your eyes, and her desire to get rid of Seph will wilt.”

“You don’t know Helena as well as you think you do. There’s no guarantee that this wasn’t her plan all along. That she won’t try to force me to kill Ava – or do it herself. You’re trying to paint her as fickle, and that she is not.”

She doesn’t change her mind.

He stared at her a long moment.

“But it’s the best shot we have.”

Let’s just hope she acts out of character this time.

“But If this IS going to work, then you need to HARDEN THE FUCK UP AGAIN."

His eyes flashed and he forcefully threw her back off his lap onto the floor.

“Harden the fuck up?”

He stood up.

“HARDEN THE FUCK UP!?”

He towered over her.

“You bitch. You sit there, smugly directing people’s lives as if she WOULDN’T EVEN BE HERE IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU. If YOU had ‘hardened the fuck up’ when she came here to you. But no, you NEEDED your sister with you, didn’t you? Didn’t want to have to go through this alone? No one to comfort you and dry your tears as you commiserate over all the fucking bad things you’ve had to do.”

He squeezed his hands into fists, flexing the cords in his arms.

“FACE IT, Haleigh. It’s not ME that got her into this. It’s YOU. YOUR need to act like the toughest bitch in the joint. YOUR acting up that got HER PUNISHED. They didn’t have a reason to want to hurt her until you brought her here and MADE HER A TARGET.”

He seethed.

“So don’t you fucking DARE put this all on ME. This is on YOU and your selfish, infantile ego.”

He leaned in to her face with a sneer.

“But I’ll ‘BE HARD’ – don’t you fucking worry about THAT.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Carlyle -- Penthouse Suite

Alek: The queens don’t give a fuck about some pissant lower club member. If you think this is about that, then you are not as intelligent as you think you are.

She gave him a smug smirk, because that wasn't the way he'd fucked things up, and it amused her to hear him try to imply she was the less intelligent one here. She suggested that she could kill him and that doing so would drastically improve her situation.

Alek: No, Helena would STILL kill Ava, just because she could. If I thought it was that easy, I’d LET you kill me.

"No she wouldn't. With YOU gone, the actual problem disappears, and Seph is grief-stricken for her lost love, and that's punishment enough for her insolence. She won't be killed because she's my sister. MY stock is on the rise, Red Knight. Your DEATH as a TRAITOR would only increase my WORTH as the White Princess."

She said, with some venom, because at this point she was beginning to think she should have just gone with THAT idea, instead of trying to dust off his shining armor and get him back on his horse. Now she'd given away the element of surprise, so she stayed the course, and told him about Helena, and how she'd lose interest in killing Seph as soon as HE lost interest in in loving Seph.

Alek: You don’t know Helena as well as you think you do. There’s no guarantee that this wasn’t her plan all along. That she won’t try to force me to kill Ava – or do it herself. You’re trying to paint her as fickle, and that she is not.

"No, she is NOT. Helena's behavior has been fairly consistent -- She's motivated by the collection and retention of POWER. Persephone as the Red Rook was a good acquisition, until the power shifted."

She said, and then she told him to harden up, so the whole damn plan would work. As soon as the words left her lips she saw something in his eyes that thrilled her again. He dumped her onto the carpet, flat on her back, and she propped herself up on her elbows, grinning like the cheshire cat.

Alek: Harden the fuck up?

He stood to his full height, casting a shadow across her and still she remained on the floor, legs sprawled, no effort made to move out of harm's way.

Alek: HARDEN THE FUCK UP!?

That's right, get fucking angry, BERSERKER. Let me SEE your RAGE.

He called her a bitch and she laughed. He blamed Seph's situation on HER, but even when he called things correctly, he still got it wrong. She wasn't going to correct him. It was more advantageous to let him believe she wanted Ava to console her about being bad. He didn't need to know she'd already made peace with her dark side.

He balled his hands into fists, and she bit her bottom lip in anticipation.

Come on, come on, FIGHT ME....

Alek: FACE IT, Haleigh. It’s not ME that got her into this. It’s YOU. YOUR need to act like the toughest bitch in the joint. YOUR acting up that got HER PUNISHED. They didn’t have a reason to want to hurt her until you brought her here and MADE HER A TARGET. So don’t you fucking DARE put this all on ME. This is on YOU and your selfish, infantile ego. But I’ll ‘BE HARD’ – don’t you fucking worry about THAT.

"Oh, well, you know, I wouldn't have gotten so worried about it, if you hadn't gone so very SOFT on me. You're right about ONE thing. I made my decisions, she made hers, and we joined Hellfire. We knew it wouldn't be EASY. But it certainly didn't have to be this fucking difficult."

She hissed, glaring up at him.

"She fucked you the night of the Blackout Party, that was fine, but it meant I had to fuck you too, and try to keep you sleeping around, so neither of you would catch the feels. THAT could have worked for a good long time, but NO, you had to go all CAREBEAR."

She sneered from the floor, shaking her head in disgust.

"Still..... I could have worked with that, and TRIED to. If you hadn't acted all smug, and just admitted you didn't know what the FUCK you were doing, I could have helped you deal with her knee-jerk reaction. I COULD'VE taken care of that little punk she fucked, and coached you on how to get her back, and we'd still be fucking to keep things looking semi-casual, and everything would have been FINE."

 

[Berserker]

The Carlyle Hotel - Penthouse

"No she wouldn't. With YOU gone, the actual problem disappears, and Seph is grief-stricken for her lost love, and that's punishment enough for her insolence.

He laughed at her then.

“If THAT were true, she would have just ordered me to stop seeing her. Wouldn’t you rather have the hand wielding the blade on Ava’s side?”

He unbuttoned his shirt the rest of the way and pulled it open, baring his chest.

“But by all means, try it. Throw the dice.”

He smirked.

“I will be sorry though to see the look on your face when you realize you’re WRONG.”

“She won't be killed because she's my sister. MY stock is on the rise, Red Knight. Your DEATH as a TRAITOR would only increase my WORTH as the White Princess."

He laughed again.

“Helena doesn’t give a fuck that she’s your sister. You were listening, weren’t you? If it isn’t me, it will be some other reason. Probably you.”

He stood over her, angry, while she looked up at him from the floor. This was all her damn fault. But he assured her, he would do what was necessary. Just like he always fucking had to.

"Oh, well, you know, I wouldn't have gotten so worried about it, if you hadn't gone so very SOFT on me. You're right about ONE thing. I made my decisions, she made hers, and we joined Hellfire. We knew it wouldn't be EASY. But it certainly didn't have to be this fucking difficult."

“IT’S ONLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF YOU!”

He shoved the armchair, overturning it, shattering the decanter on the floor.

“Excuse ME for having ONE FUCKING MOMENT where I didn’t have to GODDAMN PRETEND THAT THIS IS FUCKING OKAY! Because I SURE AS HELL can’t do it ANYWHERE ELSE!”

Hadn’t he done his duty? Hadn’t he EARNED a little happiness? Helena would have gladly allowed him Persephone if she wasn’t trying to fuck Haleigh up.

"She fucked you the night of the Blackout Party, that was fine, but it meant I had to fuck you too, and try to keep you sleeping around, so neither of you would catch the feels. THAT could have worked for a good long time, but NO, you had to go all CAREBEAR."

He wanted to hit her, to beat her goddamn face into a bloody pulp for that.

“I am NOT a fucking ROBOT. Not like YOU.”

"Still...I could have worked with that, and TRIED to. If you hadn't acted all smug, and just admitted you didn't know what the FUCK you were doing, I could have helped you deal with her knee-jerk reaction. I COULD'VE taken care of that little punk she fucked, and coached you on how to get her back, and we'd still be fucking to keep things looking semi-casual, and everything would have been FINE."

“Nothing’s been FINE since you walked in the mansion, Scion.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Carlyle -- Penthouse Suite

Alek: Helena doesn’t give a fuck that she’s your sister. You were listening, weren’t you? If it isn’t me, it will be some other reason. Probably you.

"No Alek, get your head out of your ass. If they were going to kill her BECAUSE of me, they'd have done it already. ALIVE, she can be used against me."

She said, and he raged that the situation was only difficult because of her. She scoffed and shook her head. He was clearly blinded by his love for Seph, and wanted to blame someone other than himself.

He tossed a chair and the decanter shattered, splashing her with scotch and shards of glass.

Alek: Excuse ME for having ONE FUCKING MOMENT where I didn’t have to GODDAMN PRETEND THAT THIS IS FUCKING OKAY! Because I SURE AS HELL can’t do it ANYWHERE ELSE!

He ranted, as she calmly picked pieces of glass out of her cleavage. She didn't give a damn about his poor-me routine. Maybe she would have, but that was before he revealed himself to be an asshole of the highest order. Now she just wanted to hurt him, in any and every way possible, so she was finding this all to be very cathartic.

She sneered at him, and called him a carebear, trying again to provoke him to violence, so he wouldn't be able to play the self-defense card if it came down to that. He looked like he was about to oblige her, but all he did was snap at her, trying to hurt feelings she didn't have.

Alek: I am NOT a fucking ROBOT. Not like YOU.

He wasn't going to fight her. She picked herself up off the floor, unmoved by his fury, unfazed by his insult.

"No, you're not a robot. You're an ANIMAL. You used to be WILD, but now you're TRAPPED in a cage of your own making."

She replied, and passed by him casually, on the way to the bar. Hadn't she seen a humidor? A cigar would be nice right about now, if she wasn't going to get a fight. She told him everything would have been fine, if he'd just worked WITH her instead of second-guessing her from the beginning.

Alek: Nothing’s been FINE since you walked in the mansion, Scion.

She cast a look of skepticism at him. He was just lashing out like a wounded cub. She reached the bar, and found what she was looking for. They were Cuban, wonderful. She clipped the end and lifted it to her lips, and held a lighter to it and puffed until the tip glowed evenly and her lungs filled with smoke.

"So, are we going to do this, or what?"

If he wasn't going to play anymore, she'd have to decide whether or not to sell him out to save her sister.

 

[Berserker]

The Carlyle Hotel - Penthouse

Haleigh finally got up off the floor, going once again to the bar.

"No, you're not a robot. You're an ANIMAL. You used to be WILD, but now you're TRAPPED in a cage of your own making."

He fumed. How the fuck had he gotten here? He never put anyone above himself, and he liked it that way. Every word, every action carefully considered and planned for maximum effect. Even when he lashed out, allowing his violence out, there was always a reason to fall back on. A way that it furthered his own path, or Helena’s. Which until now had amounted to the same thing.

No. That wasn’t true. His being with Seph DID serve Helena – she just chose not to see it. Or maybe she did and didn’t care, which was more likely. He really did wish now that neither Haleigh nor Persephone had ever come to the Hellfire Mansion. That he’d never walked into the Red Lounge to spy on the new Red Rook and scrutinize her real intentions for being there. Losing her now was worse than if he had never had her.

He hadn’t been prepared for the feelings he was having. They threw him, made him feel like a stranger in his own body. He didn’t understand what was happening to him. Didn’t know how to go back to how it had been before. And now Haleigh wanted him to do just that. How could he? How could he look at her and see how he had hurt her in her eyes? Haleigh might see Persephone return to her cold, heartless, viciousness. But he? He would always see the hurt.

Plus there were holes in Haleigh’s plan, ones she didn’t want to admit were there. No matter what happened now, he was dead. Whether Haleigh decided to kill him, or she let him see this through. Because the second Helena realized he wasn’t going to kill Persephone, she would kill him.

So he weighed it now. Was the chance that Helena might leave Seph alive worth forgoing the days or weeks they might have together, happily, before everything was destroyed?

If there’s a chance, it’s worth it.

He watched Haleigh, standing there, calmly smoking a cigar. He laughed cruelly at himself. He had come to Haleigh as an ally, but she had never cared for him, not even as someone she liked to fuck.

She wasn’t his ally. But she was Seph’s. And that was what mattered.

"So, are we going to do this, or what?"

He buttoned his shirt front, straightened his jacket, silently watching her, deadening his eyes and his heart.

“Yes, I am.”

What did she have to do? What did she have to give up? He was the one who was making the sacrifice.

He turned and walked to the door to the elevator bay, opening it. He didn’t turn back, but spoke coldly, voice filled with everything he really wanted to do to her right then.

“If Persephone dies, I will come for you next.”

He slammed the door behind him.

Alek stopped in at Sant Ambroeus and picked up a tagliatelle Bolognese and a vitello tonnato, plus another bottle of red, and found his way back to the mansion. He couldn’t – wouldn’t – do it tonight. Tonight was for her.

He opened the door to his room, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. And then he saw her. Lying on his couch, wearing one of his shirts, and he’d never seen anything sexier or more beautiful.

He dropped the food on the table near the door, and slipped out of his jacket letting it drop to the floor as he slowly crossed the room. He unbuttoned his shirt, never taking his eyes off her, letting it fall too. Shoes…pants. Stripping them away as if he could do the same to their situation. By the time he reached her he was naked, and still in awe of her. He held out his hand to her.

 

[Persephone]

Persephone had resorted to music and hemlock [courtesy of Talisman's private collection], deciding the wine and tv weren't enough to take her mind off of everything that was currently unfolding. The room was dark, lit only with the hundreds of candles that still decorated Alek's room. The fireplace was now on next to the couch as Persephone lounged in one of Alek's dark red almost black button down shirts nearest to the fire with her legs tucked behind her. iPad in hand, she was already feeling the effects of the hemlock, thank Gods. Between Helena, Alek, and Mystique, she needed the world to just melt away for one night. She'd deal with the bullshit tomorrow.

Persephone heard the door open, causing her to look over and see Alek enter silently with a bag of food. His eyes were dark and brooding as they met with hers, Persephone's brows furrowing.

"Hey.."

He didn't say anything as he sat the bag of food down on the table next to the door and pulled his jacket off, letting it fall to the floor. He kept his eyes locked on her while walking over to the couch, undressing silently as he went.

She got to him.

Persephone sat up and placed the iPad down on the coffee table, her eyes taking in his perfectly sculpted body, his face, his eyes....what was behind his eyes. He was good at masking his emotions--putting up the veil. But before he left he had a look of urgency and purpose. Now, he looked blank....with the slightest hint of defeat. Parting her lips, she knew whatever Helena had said....whatever errand Helena had sent him on...it changed him. In one singular hour.

He stood before her and held out his hand. Persephone looked at it then up at him. She wanted to kill Helena. She wanted to rip her apart for what she was doing to him. For the manipulation and control she had over him. But instead she stood, taking the loose silk button down by the hem and pulling it off her body in one swift motion. The playlist shuffled to a song as Persephone took his hand as she approached him, moving it around her body to the small of her back. She immediately kissed him, her free hand moving to his cheek as she deepened it passionately. She knew this would be the end of them. It was over before it was even able to begin.

Breaking the kiss, Persephone's face stayed close to Alek's, her hand moving gently down his neck while her other hand hooked around his body, holding him tightly against her.

"Just you and me tonight."

She kissed him again, moving him backwards to the bed until he was against the edge. As he climbed on, Persephone didn't break the kiss, following him until he was on his back and she was hand and knee on top of him. Finally she parted their lips, her eyes meeting with his. She was hurt....more than she would have liked to admit. But she didn't show it....she didn't let him know she could see the difference in him already.

"I'll make you forget..."

She whispered softly. Forget Helena, Haleigh, the situation, the Hellfire Club, the whole damn world. Because just as much as she wanted to help him forget, she wanted to forget as well. Just for the night. Their last night--she would make him feel untouchable. Persephone's body pressed against his as her lips trailed heated kisses down his neck and to his chest. She lifted herself just enough for him to slowly enter, her eyes rolling shut as she began to rock her hips against his, her body instantly reacted to him. It was electric and erotic, but she didn't allow herself to moan in pleasure....not yet. She wanted him to feel it first. She wanted to hear him feel the ecstasy--to forget everything but her.

 

[Berserker]

The Red Knight’s Quarters

Alek breathed in sharply at Persephone’s now naked form, standing in front of him. She took his hand, bringing their bodies together by placing it on the small of her back. Her mouth found his, and it was like heaven, like coming up for air from the dark depths of a black pool.

"Just you and me tonight."

He stroked her hair, giving her a little half smile.

“No matter who’s in the room, it’s always just us to me.”

She kissed him passionately, and he trailed the fingers of his hands down her bare back, feeling her soft skin. He backed towards to the bed and climbed onto it, his mouth never leaving hers. He laid on his back, and she came with him, climbing on top of him. She pulled back from the kiss, and he looked deep into her eyes. He reached up and touched her cheek gently. Inside he wanted to scream. It hurt to look at her, as perfect as she was. One night was not enough.

"I'll make you forget..."

He closed his eyes, and tried. Only she mattered, tonight and always. If he had to lie every night hence to save her, so be it. But tonight, she would have the truth from him.

She kissed his neck and he opened his eyes, his hand stroking the back of her head, then as she rose up moving down her body, feeling her. She was more than ready for him, but he let her set the tempo. He wasn’t going to make any mistakes, not this time.

She raised her hips, and he slowly lifted himself to meet her, wanting it to last as long as possible. He watched her face as he entered and she began to move on top of him. His hands went to her hips and he moved in time with her, slowly, feeling every tiny movement of their bodies against each other. He wanted to throw her to the bed and ravage her, but he knew that would make it over too quickly, so he allowed the passion to overtake him, to drive him mad with how much he wanted her.

His hands slid to her breasts, and before he could help himself he was sitting up, his mouth on them, his hands on her back holding her to him. Pulling back, his eyes looked into her face with such need, such lust, still keeping that slow rhythm with their hips. He whispered against her lips, “My love, my only love…”

And then he kissed her, with as much hunger as if it had been the first time.

They held it for a long time, lips and tongues exploring each other, until he broke the kiss abruptly, an involuntary moan escaping. He looked at her, drunk off the feeling of being inside her, and intensified his movements, finding it harder and harder to hold himself back from her.