Rose of destruction

[Wallflower]

The Hellfire Mansion - Red Rook's Quarters

Persephone: "Did you now? How interesting...I sent that to Talisman as a fun little trinket to play with. I'm hurt."

"She's a bit laser focused on the Bishop sample Scion gave to her. I doubt he would have served a purpose higher than chum for the Aqua Ring..."

[smirking]

"Plus...the state of the body was rather...curious."

Persephone: "And here I thought you were going to shower me with gifts of extortion and threats."

"We've only just met. Buy a girl dinner first."

:: Persephone took the bottle from her as she moved to the side, allowing Amanda to enter her suite. It was decorated exactly how she had anticipated, which was oddly comforting. She stood in the room for a moment as Ava made her way over to the wet bar. ::

Persephone: "Care for a glass?"

"It WOULD be foolish to anger the gods, I suppose."

:: Amanda felt an immediate connection to Persephone, the likes of which she wasn't able to fully understand, until Persephone glanced over her shoulder. ::

Persephone: "Sit. Please."

:: She could find her very nature fighting her. The animal side fighting what was left of the human side in her body. Everything told her to sit. She wanted to. It felt like the right thing to do. ::

:: Amanda sat. ::

"Oh don't congratulate yourself just YET! I'm sitting because I want to."

:: crossing her silken legs, one right over the other. ::

"But to your credit..after a few more glasses of wine, I might not be able to resist your natural charms so easily...speaking of which, you offered some wine?"

:: Leaning back in her chair, she tucked a bit of hair behind her ear. Persephone was definitely a formidable woman. She had yet to have any one on one time with her, but so far she was living up to her reputation. ::

"So...Angelo Muniz. Did he see something he wasn't supposed to see..or were you just covering up somebody's mess?"

"The whole state of things around here is rather...machiavellian, don't you think? Not that I mind. Keeps things exciting."

"I do wonder...however, why a GODDESS could possibly need a place like this."

 

[Persephone]

Amanda sat and Persephone's eyes gleamed.

Amanda: "Oh don't congratulate yourself just YET! I'm sitting because I want to."

She slowly nodded before turning back to bar, not convinced.

"Uh huh."

Oh this would be quite fun. A woman in snake skin....the possibilities were endless. Why hadn't she taken up to talking to Amanda before. Lost opportunities she needed to make up.

Amanda: "But to your credit..after a few more glasses of wine, I might not be able to resist your natural charms so easily...speaking of which, you offered some wine?"

Turning around with two glasses in hand, Persephone walked over to the couch where Amanda sat and handed her a glass.

"Nice vintage choice."

She sat down, closer than the Black Bishop probably would have liked. She didn't care. Crossing her leg at the knee, she positioned herself turned in Amanda's direction. Taking a long sip of the smooth red wine, it was light and sweet.

Amanda: "So...Angelo Muniz. Did he see something he wasn't supposed to see..or were you just covering up somebody's mess?"

Persephone laughed softly, leaning her side against the back of the couch with her arm resting on top.

"A little a both I suppose. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

She smirked mischievously, a little play on words. She wouldn't go any further into the details. There was no need. And no trust.

Amanda: "The whole state of things around here is rather...machiavellian, don't you think? Not that I mind. Keeps things exciting."

"Machiavellian? My, my aren't we the book worm pulling out Italian Renaissance euphemisms. I wonder....how's your Greek history?"

She teased, slowly tipping the wine from her glass into her mouth as she peered over the rim at Amanda.

Amanda: "I do wonder...however, why a GODDESS could possibly need a place like this."

So she was familiar with mythology. Persephone shrugged as she savored the wine on her tongue a moment longer before swallowing.

"It wasn't exactly my choice to come here originally. [referring to Ava] But now that i'm here....it's been entertaining."

Although the fun was starting to fade with every passing day.

"I don't exactly enjoy having a giant target painted on my back, but i've endured worse and come out on top."

Persephone's midnight eyes studied Amanda for a long moment. Her features, her skin, the indent of her exposed collar bones. She could see the rapid pulse of her heartbeat flickering at an accelerated rate along her neck--another tribute of a snake. Persephone parted her lips with her tongue, finally lifting her eyes to meet with Amanda.

"You're quite intriguing."

Persephone moved some hair behind Amanda's shoulder with her fingers.

"I've always had a fondness for snakes. Cold blooded like I am. Instinctual. The perfect hunters."

Persephone leaned forward, tilting her head inquisitively.

"Tell me. Are you hunting now?"

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- The White Princess's Suite

Alek: Now you ARE cheating.

"Yes, yes I AM."

She replied, taking great pleasure in watching him flex and struggle to pull the sword free. It was especially entertaining because he wasn't wearing a shirt. He asked if she was wearing kevlar because she only 'kind of' felt his obvious arousal, and she chuckled.

"Well, to be fair, you're still wearing pants, so maybe that's part of the problem?"

He mentioned that flamethrowers were tempting, but then segued that she'd need two hands for his other sword. She smirked as he asked if she thought she could wield it, as if he didn't already know. He gave up on trying to pull the suspended steel from her mental grip, and stomped on her knee while she was still 'stuck' between the wall and the crossed blades.

"OUCH."

She growled, taking the swords in hand and moving them easily so she was free again.

Alek: THAT’S for cheating.

"Well, you said you'd be insulted if I DIDN'T...."

She explained, and tossed the broadswords away, as he started advancing towards her, unarmed. He told her that it was time to take her punishment, but the look on his face made her think it was probably punishment she'd gladly submit herself to. He backed her into the wall again, and she grabbed his biceps as he kissed her neck and started to pull her shirt up. She raised her arms for him, then dropped them to his shoulders as his mouth traveled down her body. His hands were at her jeans, hers were pushing him down lower so he could peel them off. He stayed low, and kissed her some more, and she suddenly hoped she was in store for quite a lot of punishment.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Club - The White Princess' Suite

"Well, to be fair, you're still wearing pants, so maybe that's part of the problem?"

"That's definitely a problem I have the solution to."

He pulled away from her and grabbed her leg, pulling her roughly down to the floor with him. He pushed his pants down over his hips as he crawled on top of her, holding her hands to the ground. His knees pushed her legs apart forcefully as he looked deep into her eyes, not kissing her, not looking away. He raised himself up on his hands to get a better angle, his hips thrusting forward over and over. And still he held her gaze, animal desire is his eyes and a primal growl in his throat.

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire Mansion - Red Rook's Quarters

Persephone: "Machiavellian? My, my aren't we the book worm pulling out Italian Renaissance euphemisms. I wonder....how's your Greek history?"

"Well..your presence here certainly leans to the idea that most of what I know is wrong."

Persephone: "You're quite intriguing."

"So I've been told."

:: Amanda took a sip of her wine as Persephone moved a bit of her behind her shoulder and gave her a smuldering glance. She was definitely an intoxicating woman. One who piqued Amanda's interest. She allowed the advance. ::

Persephone: "I've always had a fondness for snakes. Cold blooded like I am. Instinctual. The perfect hunters."

"Snakes get a bad rap. Ever since man needed to give the world a reason to hate women."

:: Once again Persephone leaned forward. ::

Persephone: "Tell me. Are you hunting now?"

:: It was interesting to see the differences between Ava and Persephone and even more the differences between Scion and Persephone. Both of the women were bold and brazen and definitely led with their sexuality. From the noises coming from The Red Knight's suite, it was clear that Persephone used sex as a weapon. They all did. It was an EASY and POWERFUL tool if wielded correctly. This was one of the areas that Amanda felt uncomfortable with at The Hellfire Club, and it was a bit surprising to even herself. In her old life, she had used sex to get what she wanted, mostly money for more drugs. ::

:: But there was a cost to that. She didn't WANT to have sex with most of those people. They were a means to an end. They got her the fix she was looking for, but in the end, it had been at great physical cost. Drugs and sex had caused her to become a visitor in her own body, to the point that there was nothing there but pain. When she said she had been given a new life, she meant that on every level. This new body was pristine. Untouched by the hands of man. If sex was currency at The Hellfire Club, she was a prime rate mortgage loan with a very competitive interest rate...and she intended to stay that way until further notice. ::

:: Still...in this new form, in this new life, she was now taking tea so to speak with an actual goddess. An actual ancient being with incredible power who had cults devoted to her. How could one not want at the very least...to take a taste. ::

"Persephone...this is The Hellfire Club..and I'm an apex predator. I'm always hunting..."

:: Amanda leaned in and kissed Persephone softly but passionately on the lips, her cold lips sending an exciting and cool CHILL down The Red Rook's spine as she softly cupped Persephone's cheek with her free hand, stroking her face for but a moment. She pulled back and took a sip of wine, smirking at Persephone for a moment as her eyes flashed their yellow cobra eyes for a moment, before reverting back to their natural and beautiful state. ::

"I just usually find that the things I'm hunting for...are a lot harder to find than one would think."

:: taking another sip, she made herself more comfortable. ::

"Your lip gloss is sweeter than I expected."

:: crossing her legs once more. ::

"I hope you don't mind the intrusion. As the only member of my own court, I often forget that makes me an ambassador of sorts. Not that you're in need of any friends. You seem to be VERY...popular. I would be envious...if I didn't think it came with a world of..for lack of a better word..SHIT."

:: thinking ::

"Tell me..what's worse? Olympus or Hellfire?"

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- The White Princess's Suite

He knew what he was doing, and as she was getting close she hooked a leg over his shoulder. He took the opportunity to grab her other leg and knock her to floor. She almost sat up and punched him. She wasn't as angry about the rough treatment as she was about the fact that he'd stopped just a little too soon.

He went for his pants, and she reached for him, but he pushed her back again and she wondered with increased enthusiasm if they were still fighting. She resisted him, but her smirk dared him on, even as she forced an increase in his aggression. There was a brief, almost serious struggle for control. He pinned her wrists to the floor and she laughed as they locked eyes. She didn't just lay back for him, she half-tried to flip him over and take a position of dominance, but he had his way with her, much to her obvious delight.

By the time they were done, neither of them sounded human. She relaxed back on the floor as he leaned over her, and for one exhausted minute, they both just stared at each other in mutual satisfaction and caught their breath.

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

She asked after a short silence. For once, her voice wasn't cold or challenging, in fact, it was almost kind. She had her suspicions about why he was so wound up this morning, but she gave him a chance to set the tone for the conversation.

 

[Persephone]

Amanda: "Persephone...this is The Hellfire Club..and I'm an apex predator. I'm always hunting..."

Persephone's eyes followed Amanda as she leaned in, a smirk forming on her lips right before Amanda's touched her own. She accepted the soft kiss, her eyes closing as the chill from Amanda's touch tingled every part of her body, cooling her in the utmost pleasurable way. Persephone didn't move a muscle, letting Cobra take control, feeling the woman's hand move to her cheek and trace gently down to her jaw. And as quickly as it had started, it was over. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw the satisfied smirk on the Black Knight's face and mirrored it.

"For someone so lethal you certainly are gentle."

It wasn't what the goddess had expected for Amanda. She had heard rumors that Cobra was untouchable and showed no interest in inter club relations. She was known for being in the library rather than in the bedroom. It made the kiss that much more intense. Persephone wanted to explore more....but she wouldn't push it. She knew a delicate situation when it presented itself. But the fact that Amanda kissed her to begin with was quite the indicator that perhaps there was an opening.

Amanda: "I just usually find that the things I'm hunting for...are a lot harder to find than one would think."

"That's why I enjoy luring my prey in. Have them come to me and save me the work....the result is just as satisfying."

She offered seductively before taking a sip of her wine.

Amanda: "Your lip gloss is sweeter than I expected."

"Mmm, something on me has to be."

Persephone jokingly replied.

Amanda: "I hope you don't mind the intrusion. As the only member of my own court, I often forget that makes me an ambassador of sorts. Not that you're in need of any friends. You seem to be VERY...popular. I would be envious...if I didn't think it came with a world of..for lack of a better word..SHIT."

Laughing, shit was definitely a nice way of putting it. Ever since her arrival in the Hellfire Club it was more a shit storm than anything else. If it wasn't Diana trying to punish her it was Helena. Then there was Haleigh up her ass. Alek complicating things. And Ravena.....Honestly, Persephone envied how low key Amanda had it in the club.

[deadpan] "That's putting it nicely, and MILDLY."

Amanda: "Tell me..what's worse? Olympus or Hellfire?"

Persephone let out a small laugh. She was curious thing wasn't she?

"Olympus was filled with lushes and sex addicts. They were all relatively harmless unless otherwise provoked. [with a grin] And I tended to provoke."

Placing her empty wine glass down on the coffee table, Persephone got a little more comfortable.

"Hellfire is like Russian Roulette. I never know who's going to show up at my door....[giving her a look] and whether they want to fuck me or kill me. Every day passes is an empty chamber. One of these days....well....we'll see what happens."

Persephone looked curiously at Amanda, her eyes narrowing just a bit as she studied the woman.

"That poses the question....how did you come to be here? You certainly don't seem like the type of person....to end up in the Hellfire Club....."

Persephone's eyes locked with Amanda's...almost in a transient state. She could feel Amanda's emotions, the spike of uneasiness....the withdraw....the uncertainty. She could feel there was an anger in her that drove her. Persephone's head tilted just a bit as she moved slowly towards Amanda. The connection strengthening.

"Revenge....."

She said softly, feeling Amanda's human side fighting her reptilian side. But Persephone caught a glimpse--just enough.

"For someone you loved...."

There was a spike in anger suddenly from Amanda. But there was an underlining layer of sadness, heartache, and guilt...but anger trumped everything. Persephone gently shook her head, her hand moving down the side of Amanda's face gently, sending a wave of calm to her. Reassurance that she wasn't going to use the revelation as a weapon.

"Shhhh...."

I understand....

She spoke in parcel tongue so only Amanda would understand. Persephone traced her fingers down Amanda's jaw and trailing to her neck.

More than you know.

She said once again in tongues. Persephone finally blinked, breaking the connection with Amanda. She understood why Amanda was there now and it was deeply personal. She didn't know the details...she didn't NEED to know the details. Revenge was enough of a reason to join a place like Hellfire Club.

"Well, if you need help ripping someone apart...."

She offered with a smirk, her hand still lingering along Amanda's neck intimately.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Club - The White Princess' Suite

Alek poured all his pent up anger, aggression and frustration into her. He wasn’t imagining Persephone under him – all he wanted to do right now was forget her. For now, he was here with Haleigh, and he didn’t have to be gentle, and he didn’t have to pretend they were in love. He could just fuck her until all there was was the blood rushing in his ears, and the noises she was making, and how good it felt to be inside her.

She fell back onto the floor and he just stared at her, breathing rapidly.

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

Had Persephone rushed to tell Haleigh all about it before or after she had fucked Angelo? And just like that all the forgetting was for nothing.

He rolled onto his back next to her, body glistening with sweat.

“What’s there to talk about? She decided she just wanted to be ‘colleagues’ and then went and fucked some nothing piece of shit. Stubborn bitch.”

He looked up at the ceiling, the anger creeping back in.

“Now I see why you like Ava better.”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Infirmary

They lay in each other’s arms, lips still meeting in kiss after kiss, even after their bodies had been spent. It was the safest she had felt in a long time, and she wasn’t going to give it up easily. She nuzzled his ear.

“When are they going to let you out of this place?”

She put a hand on his chest so she could push herself up to look into his face. She traced a line down the side of his face with her finger.

“Because I’m thinking you’re going to need at least two weeks of bed rest when they do.”

She smiled wickedly.

“Well, maybe not so much the rest, as the bed.”

She laughed and leaned down to kiss him softly.

“Plus I think it will take at least that long for me to do everything to you I’ve been thinking about doing. Especially…”

She whispered into his ear, before pulling back and arching an eyebrow at him in invitation. She kissed him again then laid back down to rest her head on his chest, her arm around his waist.

After some moments of silence, her brow furrowed a bit.

“Zach…are you okay? I mean, really?”

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- The White Princess's Suite

Alek: What’s there to talk about? She decided she just wanted to be ‘colleagues’ and then went and fucked some nothing piece of shit. Stubborn bitch.

Haleigh looked over at him in alarm. She'd THOUGHT that Seph just got mad at them for not actually having sex last night, and that they'd just fought about it.

"She.... WHAT?"

It took her a second to process it, and then she shook her head in frustration.

"Two thousand years and she still hasn't figured this shit out..."

Alek: Now I see why you like Ava better.

"Yeah, Ava is MUCH nicer to deal with. Seph's a double-edged sword if there ever was one. Good is bad, bad is good, and her moods are capricious at best. By tonight, I'm sure she'll come back around, when she realizes she's being ridiculous. We just can't force it on her. Maybe I can talk some sense back into her."

She rolled onto her side and propped her herself up on an elbow. What had once been a nice, stable arrangement was now tenuous at best. She could see him still seething about it, but the irony was that she tried to provoke his anger last night, with her suggestion that Persephone had already slept with other people. He'd insisted that he didn't care, but it was clear to Haleigh that he DID. Now she was faced with a new dilemma: how to deal with the Red Knight if her sister had cast him aside. Haleigh sighed heavily, because the game had changed yet again, and her patience for clusterfucks was wearing thin.

"So this chump she fucked to spite you.... he got a name? I'll pay him a visit."

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion - White Princess' Quarters

"She...WHAT?"

He turned his head towards her, confusion washing over his face.

“I thought she’d told you…”

"Two thousand years and she still hasn't figured this shit out..."

He laid his head back down on the floor and resumed staring at the ceiling.

“I think it’s worse than that – more like three.”

"Yeah, Ava is MUCH nicer to deal with. Seph's a double-edged sword if there ever was one. Good is bad, bad is good, and her moods are capricious at best. By tonight, I'm sure she'll come back around, when she realizes she's being ridiculous. We just can't force it on her. Maybe I can talk some sense back into her."

He scoffed.

“Yeah, right.”

He shook his head.

“She has it so far ingrained in her skull that she’s going to get hurt that she’s missing…”

Haleigh rolled over onto her side. He turned his head to look at her again.

“What does it matter if we feel nothing?”

"So this chump she fucked to spite you.... he got a name? I'll pay him a visit."

“Oh he won’t be a problem.”

A devilish smile played over his lips.

“I killed that motherfucker.”

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

He was basking again in her happiness, kissing her occasionally, and wondering how much longer this nice moment would last before some new tragedy crashed down on top of them.

Ashley: When are they going to let you out of this place?

"Hopefully soon, I hate hospitals."

He replied. this place wasn't as bad as a normal hospital, because it was private and there wasn't that overwhelming sense of despair from all the random people watching their loved ones suffer. But it still looked like a hospital, and didn't feel like home.

Ashley: Because I’m thinking you’re going to need at least two weeks of bed rest when they do.

"Is that right?"

He asked playfully.

Ashley: Well, maybe not so much the rest, as the bed.

"Sign me up for that!"

He replied, and pulled her in close as she kissed him. She told him she'd need at least two weeks to do everything she wanted, and whispered in his ear. He grinned, fantasizing a bit, and then she distracted him with a question.

He caressed her skin as he considered her question. There was no easy answer to that. It was like a bomb had gone off in the middle of his life, and there was no part of it that was recognizable anymore, and he was still running around trying to dodge falling debris.

But I'm still alive.

He thought gratefully.

And there's a beautiful woman in my arms, who cares enough to ask me how I am. And I've salvaged the friendships I thought I'd lost. And Morgan still thinks Haleigh and Ava can be saved....

It wasn't as bad as it could be, but there were still things that weighed on him.

"You know, most of this horrible shit that's been happening, I can deal with. But I'm at the end of my rope with Rose, honestly. She's upset about Haleigh, I get it, I really do.... but to forbid me from helping-- that only hurts the Sanctuary kids. And to keep me from seeing Jake on top of that -- that's just awful. I've known him nearly his entire life. It hurts HIM as much as me. Hasn't he been through enough? I just want to help him understand, help him deal with the fallout of being nearly kidnapped, nearly killed-- by one of his heroes! Gods only know what kind of poison Rose will fill his mind with. And I don't know what I can do, or say, to begin to fix it."

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- The White Princess's Suite

Alek: I thought she’d told you…

"Uh, no, maybe you haven't noticed, but Seph and I aren't exactly on good terms right now. No slumber parties, no mani-pedis, and no bonding about boys."

She replied, in a tone laced with frustration as she ruffled her hair around. Persephone was making things needlessly difficult with her refusal to trust the only allies she had. She tried to suggest that maybe she could still talk some sense into Seph.

Alek: Yeah, right. She has it so far ingrained in her skull that she’s going to get hurt that she’s missing… What does it matter if we feel nothing?

She looked at him with consideration. He wasn't the heartless bastard everyone assumed he was. She offered to have a little chat with Seph's new lover.

Alek: Oh he won’t be a problem. I killed that motherfucker.

OH, FUCK.

"Oh, NICE."

She said casually, damage control mode activated.

"Of course, my sister might not appreciate it...."

She said, and when she looked at him, she saw confirmation.

"She's being exceedingly difficult, I assume."

Her expression remained blank, even as she realized he'd come to her for a good old fashioned REVENGE fucking. This was an unmitigated disaster. Every time she thought she understood just what she was dealing with, the variables were drastically altered until the equation was, once again, unsolvable. She needed to talk to her sister, but that would have to wait. First, Berserker.

"So. Does this mean I'm your new 'number one'?"

She asked with a dirty smirk.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Club - The White Princess's Suite

"Uh, no, maybe you haven't noticed, but Seph and I aren't exactly on good terms right now. No slumber parties, no mani-pedis, and no bonding about boys."

That got him thinking. What else hadn’t Seph shared with her “sister”?

Haleigh reacted very minimally to the news that he had killed Angelo. So they understood each other – that was good.

“I mean, I was just going to beat the living shit out of him. You know, send a message. But then he started talking all this shit about Seph… And the Red Court doesn’t put up with that shit from some nothing member.”

"Of course, my sister might not appreciate it...."

“Your sister? No, I don’t suppose Ava would appreciate it very much. Persephone on the other hand...”

The naughty smile was back on his face as he thought about it.

“Seph already stormed into my room to complain about it. But inside? Nobody loves a mangled body more than she does. If she wasn’t trying so fucking hard to hate me, she’d be here right now running you over to fuck me in her dear departed’s blood.”

"So. Does this mean I'm your new 'number one'?"

He reached over and ran the back of his hand down her upper arm.

“Baby, when I’m with you, you’re always number one.”

He smiled, humor in his eyes.

“Besides, who else am I gonna get to combine my two favorite things for me?”

He rolled onto his side to face her.

“Fucking and fighting.”

His face got serious. She should know. It affected her too, and even though the relationship was counter to Hellfire’s interests, he knew it would be important to her.

“Persephone failed. Your ex is alive.”

He rolled back onto his back and looked at the ceiling, the smile returning.

“And eventually she’ll realize I was right about the whole thing.”

 

[Valkyrie]

Charope, LLC - The Infirmary

"You know, most of this horrible shit that's been happening, I can deal with. But I'm at the end of my rope with Rose, honestly. She's upset about Haleigh, I get it, I really do.... but to forbid me from helping-- that only hurts the Sanctuary kids. And to keep me from seeing Jake on top of that -- that's just awful. I've known him nearly his entire life. It hurts HIM as much as me. Hasn't he been through enough? I just want to help him understand, help him deal with the fallout of being nearly kidnapped, nearly killed-- by one of his heroes! Gods only know what kind of poison Rose will fill his mind with. And I don't know what I can do, or say, to begin to fix it."

Her hand played over his chest as he talked.

“Rose seems like a pretty crazy bitch to me…but…she does seem to care about those kids. Maybe she’ll come around, once the shock of all this shit wears off. I mean, it IS pretty fucked up what's been going on around here.”

She rested her chin on his chest so she could look at him.

“And I can’t believe I’m actually suggesting this-“

She rolled her eyes.

“But even though she despises me with all the fury of hell, Sharon doesn’t hate you. Maybe she can convince Rose to let you keep seeing Jake?”

Her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

“But I wouldn’t ask her while I’m in the room.”

She took his hand in hers and kissed it, then kissed him on the lips, smiling.

“Do you want to tell me about him? Jake? What’s he like?”

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- The White Princess's Suite

Alek: I mean, I was just going to beat the living shit out of him. You know, send a message. But then he started talking all this shit about Seph… And the Red Court doesn’t put up with that shit from some nothing member.

"Sure, sounds perfectly reasonable."

Alek told her about how her sister had stormed his room and complained, but he seemed to think that she secretly liked the fact that he flipped out and murdered a guy for having sex with her and talking shit.

This guy is a fucking psycho... and my BRILLIANT sister pissed him off.

Alek: Baby, when I’m with you, you’re always number one.

She laughed.

"Ugh, AWFUL. Is there any bitch alive that's dumb enough to fall for that line?"

She teased, her hand grasping his muscled forearm, her index finger tracing his veins. By now they'd talked their way through the time period he usually required to recover, and the conversation had turned. Time to go another round. She needed to keep him happy, since obviously she'd have to pick up the slack for Seph now.

Alek: Besides, who else am I gonna get to combine my two favorite things for me? Fucking and fighting.

She stroked his beard, grasping his chin and leaning over until their lips met.

"NO ONE, and don't you forget it."

She said, pushing on his chest to get him to roll onto his back, as she kissed his peck. She could taste the salt on his skin.

Alek: Persephone failed. Your ex is alive.

She stopped, and raised her head to look at him. His face was quite serious, but hers was a measured cool, calculating and calm.

"Do the Queens know? I think I finally got in my mother's good graces, this little hiccup could be a problem."

Alek: And eventually she’ll realize I was right about the whole thing.

"Yeah, sure, but even if she does, don't expect her to admit it or come crawling back to you with a blowjob to apologize. She's stubborn and proud. You may find it easier to let her think she won, even if WE BOTH know she royally fucked up."

She said, and her stomach growled, which made her sit up with a realization.

"Where the FUCK is my breakfast? I ordered it before you showed up.... I'm going to fucking kill the kitchen manager. Oh, you hungry?"

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

Ashley: Rose seems like a pretty crazy bitch to me…but…she does seem to care about those kids. Maybe she’ll come around, once the shock of all this shit wears off. I mean, it IS pretty fucked up what's been going on around here.

"Yeah, I can't argue with that. It just seems silly to me that we haven't come together as a group to deal with this. Instead of joining forces and becoming unstoppable, we're fracturing everywhere, it feels like."

He said in a resigned tone. He was so tired of the infighting.

Ashley: And I can’t believe I’m actually suggesting this- But even though she despises me with all the fury of hell, Sharon doesn’t hate you. Maybe she can convince Rose to let you keep seeing Jake? But I wouldn’t ask her while I’m in the room.

He shook his head sadly.

"No.... she said she tried, but obviously not hard enough. Sharon told me to stay away from Rose, the Sanctuary, and Jake specifically. She's just placating Rose now."

She kissed his hand, then his lips, and he found it was impossible not to smile, once she did. She asked about Jake, and he readjusted his pillows as he thought about the last time he'd taken Jake on a field trip, still smiling. They'd gone to the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum.

"He's awesome, full of positive energy, and he gets excited and happy about everything. A couple of months ago I took him out to Pier 86, to see the USS Intrepid -- the aircraft carrier, and the submarine, the USS Growler. I think he was most amazed by the space shuttle Enterprise though. He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up-- [chuckling] Of course, he's eight. All eight year olds want to be superheros and astronauts when they grow up. But he's really quite sharp. He could do anything he applied himself to. I was thinking about getting him a telescope for his birthday this year..."

He stopped for a minute, staring at the ceiling.

He almost didn't make it to his birthday this year...

He shook that thought away. It didn't do any good to go to dark places. Jake was going to be okay, and Zach was GOING to find a way to get Rose to lift the ban.

"Do you like kids? You should meet him, he'd love you."

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire Mansion - Red Rook's Quarters

Persephone: "That poses the question...how did you come to be here? You certainly don't seem like the type of person...to end up in the Hellfire Club..."

"Yes...I guess mine is a story of revenge. But nothing is really that simple..is it?"

Persephone's eyes locked with Amanda's...almost in a transient state. She could feel Amanda's emotions, the spike of uneasiness....the withdraw....the uncertainty. She could feel there was an anger in her that drove her. Persephone's head tilted just a bit as she moved slowly towards Amanda. The connection strengthening.

"Revenge....."

She said softly, feeling Amanda's human side fighting her reptilian side. But Persephone caught a glimpse--just enough.

"For someone you loved...."

There was a spike in anger suddenly from Amanda. But there was an underlining layer of sadness, heartache, and guilt...but anger trumped everything. Persephone gently shook her head, her hand moving down the side of Amanda's face gently, sending a wave of calm to her. Reassurance that she wasn't going to use the revelation as a weapon.

"Shhhh...."

I understand....

She spoke in parcel tongue so only Amanda would understand. Persephone traced her fingers down Amanda's jaw and trailing to her neck.

More than you know.

:: She could feel the tension, the chemistry building up inside of her. Nobody had been this inside of Amanda's mind before, and it was intriguing. For all the emotions she was feeling, she retained control over herself, the human side taking control and regaining composure. She spoke coldly but evenly. ::

"I understand little of how your duality with Ava Cassadine works..but I can identify with something. Not being in control. Not being at the forefront of my life. Watching in the background..while this other part of me..a part of me that was ME...but not really..."ME" calling all of the shots. For much of my life..I've been in the background. Controlled by something I never really realized was controlling me."

"But that's what a healthy diet of heroin and crystal meth will do to you."

"I was given a lifeline...by Talisman. An opportunity..to be recreated. To perfection. The others..they find her to be neurotic. Obtuse at times. Even robotic. But I can say...experiencing her skill, the masterful way she wields a surgical knife...first hand? She's an artist. Borderline virtuoso."

[laughs]

"It sounds stupid I know. Perhaps I do read too many books. But all I know was that she changed my life. Gave me this new..durable and POWERFUL body, and all she requires is my allegiance. My unwaivering loyalty. Seems like a fair trade...for now."

:: Taking a sip of her wine. ::

"Don't get me wrong...I'm not unaware of the reason she picked me. It was smart really. Digging through the past of her would be son to find a crime he never really answered for."

:: She looked off into the distance for a moment, before meeting Persephone's eyes. ::

"Cameron King murdered my mother."

:: cocking her head to the side, and giving an almost sardonic smirk. ::

"Insert foster care system..separation from my family...and a real bad, but...[laughing remorsefully] INCREDIBLY hot boyfriend who liked to get high and hit me sometimes..and here I am."

:: Amanda rose from her seat and delicately took the glass of wine from Persephone's hand as she walked over towards the wet bar, pouring them both another glass of wine. She spoke with her back faced towards the woman. ::

"He took everything from me...and while I take responsibility for my own choices.."

:: Turning around with both glasses in hand. ::

"They were choices I never would have HAD to make if not for him."

:: She handed Ava her glass and rose her glass in a cheerful spirit. ::

"And with Talisman's help...I intend to make him pay."

[clinking their glasses together]

"To revenge."

:: Taking a sip she sat down on the couch, crossing her legs once more, smoothing her short skirt against her thigh, mindlessly fiddling with her bracelet that rested on her slender wrist. ::

"So now you know any number of things that you could use against me. More so than any of the others in this place. Don't get me wrong...I don't mention this as a threat of things to come..or even request your silence. No secret is really safe here, is it.."

[in Parseltongue]

"Kore.."

:: Amanda traced the rim of her wine glass with her finger for a second before looking back up at the goddess. The Red Rook. ::

"Lost in Hell, Persephone, Take her head upon your knee; Say to her, 'My dear, my dear, It is not so dreadful here.' "

:: smirking ::

"Edna St. Vincent Millay. She was a poet. Feminist. Wrote about you quite frequently, actually. You should check her out. I'm reminded of it..because it's about sisterhood. Not in a braid each other's hair or comiserate over cosmopolitans type of way, but one of silent solidarity."

Persephone: "Well, if you need help ripping someone apart..."

:: Persephone's hand still rested on Amanda's neck for a moment. Her touch was warm. But it wasn't her incredible beauty that gave Amanda pause, made her give Persephone a second look. It was her POWER. ::

"Oh..I'm quite adept at dismemberment..and other forms of amputation..."

:: She gently placed her own hand over Persephone's and massaged it gently for a moment, before molding Persephone's hand until she was GRIPPING Amanda by the neck..Amanda's OWN incredible strength to keep it in place, wrapped around her thin and somewhat long, exposed neck. ::

"And despite my newfound virginity..I've always been a girl who likes it a bit rough."

:: she winked at Persephone and feigned a bit of the damsel in distress act, all the while holding her hand over her neck - teasing The Red Rook for a moment. ::

"So I don't need help ripping anybody apart...but..I could use a little stimulation around here."

:: She could feel Persephone move closer to her as he placed her index finger on her lips, lingering for a moment. ::

"Ah ah ah...Not just in THAT way. Though...you are one of the more appealing prospects that lives in these walls."

:: Amanda felt somewhat of a kinship with Ava. Both of them were fatally attractive, highly intellectual women with a deep understanding of what it meant to not be in control. But the Red Rook was CLEARLY entertaining something with The Red Knight that seemed to be SPIRALING out of control..and she had only RECENTLY made an attempt to reach out to Scion. She was ready to get into the thick of things...for the sake of her court, and her own sanity. But she wasn't about to be a number on ANYBODY'S bed post. Plus, she had an enjoyment of Persephone that extended past things of a carnal nature. ::

"You have power. REAL power."

:: Her gaze smuldering at Persephone, it appeared that although Persephone had attempted to charm the snake initially, she forgot just how hypnotizing a snake could be when it found something it wanted. Her eyes flickered into her snake form for a moment. ::

"Power that doesn't just come..."

:: Grabbing Persephone's free hand, she delicately dragged it up Amanda's thigh and underneath her skirt, until she reached the sweet spot. ::

"From HERE."

:: She smiled as her mouth opened slightly, reacting to the feeling of Persephone's hands on her body. ::

"I could learn a thing or two from you, Persephone...and as long lived as you are..perhaps you could learn a little something from ME."

:: Amanda pulled Persephone's hand from underneath her skirt, and rested it on top her skirt, looking at her intensely. ::

"So maybe look me up when you require a conversation that doesn't devolve into archaic masculine rage, or petulant bitchy undertones. Lord knows I could use a change of pace."

:: She removed Persephone's hand from her neck. Smirking, she cracked her neck back and forthe with ease and in an inhuman manner. ::

"None of us can trust each other here, Persephone. All we can do is minimize the burn that every word we speak will most certainly cause."

:: Leaning back. ::

"I don't know you. I'm not your sister...and..sinful looking as you are, I'm not your lover. What I am...or could be..is a distraction. And a rather attractive one at that. Just putting it out there..."

:: smirking and taking a sip of her wine. ::

"My Rambunctious Red Rook.."

:: leaning in. ::

"Alliteration gets me hot."

"In any case..I'm a fan of reciprocity. I want POWER...so tell me..what does PERSEPHONE want?"

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Club - The White Princess’ Suite

"Ugh, AWFUL. Is there any bitch alive that's dumb enough to fall for that line?"

He laughed.

“You’d be surprised.”

She started to touch him, a silent cue that she was ready to go again. And then she kissed him, and for a split second he tensed as the realization hit him that in their entire previous encounter, he had never kissed her on the mouth.

She pushed him onto his back, as he told her Zach was alive.

"Do the Queens know? I think I finally got in my mother's good graces, this little hiccup could be a problem."

“Yeah, they do. Persephone talked to Helena before she came to me last night.”

The memory of what had happened after that…so different from the NEXT time she had come to his room.

“She handled Helena well, but as you know, we can’t count on Helena not deciding to punish her for it later. Or Diana. Depending, of course, on what you drive them to do.”

He smugly suggested that Seph would realize she gave him all that shit about Zach for nothing.

"Yeah, sure, but even if she does, don't expect her to admit it or come crawling back to you with a blowjob to apologize. She's stubborn and proud. You may find it easier to let her think she won, even if WE BOTH know she royally fucked up."

He let his hand find her breast. It was so refreshing to see a woman who was so practical, so unfettered by her emotions. It was hot, really.

“Oh, she’ll come crawling back eventually. And there WILL be blowjobs.”

He winked at her.

“But right now…”

Haleigh sat up suddenly.

"Where the FUCK is my breakfast? I ordered it before you showed up.... I'm going to fucking kill the kitchen manager. Oh, you hungry?"

He pushed himself up onto one elbow.

“I could eat.”

He shrugged. Then he leaned in and kissed her shoulder, turning it into a gentle bite.

“I’ll call them, while you think of what you want to do to me next.”

 

[Valkyrie]

Charope, LLC - The Infirmary

"It just seems silly to me that we haven't come together as a group to deal with this. Instead of joining forces and becoming unstoppable, we're fracturing everywhere, it feels like."

“Well SOME people are hateful bitches.”

If Dominique, Alycia and Sharon weren’t so concerned with proving they were top bitch around here, this would probably be over with. As far as she was concerned? Good riddance. Recent events had only confirmed everything she had ever thought about those three.

Against her better judgment, Ashley suggested Zach have Sharon talk to Rose.

"No.... she said she tried, but obviously not hard enough. Sharon told me to stay away from Rose, the Sanctuary, and Jake specifically. She's just placating Rose now."

That pissed Ashley off.

“No THAT is bullshit. Why are we placating people who go off and do stupid things that almost get people killed? Cause we didn’t have enough people around who might go batshit crazy at any moment?”

She asked about Jake, and that brought a smile to Zach’s lips. Which was incredibly sexy.

Get a grip…you’re just having sex with him…incredible earth shattering sex…but that’s all this is…

"All eight year olds want to be superheroes and astronauts when they grow up.

Ashley thought about it.

“When I was eight, I wanted to be a raider like my father.”

But he's really quite sharp. He could do anything he applied himself to. I was thinking about getting him a telescope for his birthday this year..."

He stopped, and Ashley placed her hand on his arm and squeezed.

“You should. Don’t let Rose or Sharon stop you.”

"Do you like kids? You should meet him, he'd love you."

She laughed.

“People don’t ‘love’ me Zach. You only do because I let you do things to me when I’m naked. I doubt that will work with an eight year old.”

She thought about his earlier question for a moment.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been around children, actually. I never had any children myself. I had a lot of brothers and sisters, though, all younger than me. Mostly because my father fucked everything with a pulse but...yeah, I liked them. I liked teaching them things…”

Her mind had wandered, but she came back to the present and smiled at him.

“I’m not sure I would know what to do now though.”