Shattered!

[Persephone]

:: Sharon backed Ava, a sound move on the mutate's part. With Nicolas a bay she was helped into the rotunda to get healed by Karen. Everything seemed to be working. They others were blaming Nicolas and Ava just had to stand there and look like the victim. It was classic. But suddenly the goddesses breath caught in her throat seeing Mike was ALIVE! Impossible! He was dead when she left him....he was MAULED! Suddenly everything began to slowly fall apart. Her anger level rising with every passing second. Karen quickly came to Ava's aid, healing her injuries inflicted by Nicolas, but her eyes stayed on Mike. The goddess stood there as Sharon blurted out the whole story. ::

"Please, go on Sharon. I HATE for you to hold back every detail."

:: Ava deadpanned as she pulled away from the woman. ::

"You [looking at Karen] just HAD to bring him back, didn't you?! Where the HELL did you get a necromancy spell ANYWAY?!"

:: Moreso exclaiming to herself rather than actually ASKING Karen, it hadn't dawned on Ava that once the witch turned into Shadow Weaver she would be able to access the entire Darkhold. A huge error in judgement on the goddesses part. Now Mike was alive and everyone knew his death was no accident. ::

"I won't apologize for what I did. He deserved it. NICOLAS deserved it. [looking at Mike] To know that I caused your dear friend agony to the most extreme levels is worth being caught. You should of seen him....[with a sadistic smile] it was brutal. [now turning her attention onto Karen, her eyes darkened with an almost alluring glare] You disappoint me, Karen....I thought you of all people would understand why I did this. But I suppose you're all BARK and no BITE."

 

[Black Widow]

You only PROOVE yourself to be the MONSTER half the people on this island THINK YOU ARE.

Sharon, however severe, had a point. Haleigh looked at Nicolas.... she could see SET there and it gave her pause... Nicolas could have easily killed Ava... just how much like his father WAS Nicolas? Had the rune opened a floodgate to Set that could never be properly shut? The pain caused by Set was so deep, so RECENT... that to see Nicolas like this was disconcerting. Still.... Haleigh knew that Nicolas, despite his grief-stricken tirade, had been in control of himself-- enough to STOP when Haleigh asked... and that fact reassured her somewhat.

Sharon went to take Ava to Karen for healing, saying that she'd have to tell Karen EVERYTHING. Haleigh instinctively knew that Sharon meant outing Ava to Karen. Haleigh tried to stall:

"Sharon, wait.... Sharon, just THINK about this, alright? Karen's reeling from Mike's death right now, you can't-- she's SHADOW WEAVER now, there's no telling WHAT she might do-- you're just taking my sister from one GALLOWS to the next!"

but the protests fell on deaf ears. Sharon beseeched Haleigh to keep Nicolas from doing any further damage... and left them both as she, Firebird, and Delilah took Ava to see Karen. Haleigh's breathing was labored, her mind RACED... but she had to make sure Nicolas was going to calm down before she could go to her sister.

"Nicolas.... I.... I'm sorry about Mike. He [pausing] He's alive?? How in God's name?!"

She said, as she turned and went up the Rotunda steps to find out. Karen had used a necromancy spell to restore Mike... and was now healing Ava even as Sharon OUTED her as the killer. And Ava was owning up to it!

Her own SISTER didnt seem to notice. She was too busy talking to Nicolas in telepathic rapport.

"Well what was I SUPPOSED to notice?? I'm not PSYCHIC! I knew she was ANGRY but she's never acted like THIS before!"

Haleigh quickly went to her sister's side.... and assumed her birthright.... placing herself BETWEEN Ava and those who might do her harm.... namely, Karen.

"Karen.... now.... I know you might be upset, but just take a deep breath, okay? Striking out in anger is not going to do ANYONE any good. An eye for an eye will leave us ALL blind, alright? Ava's obviously NOT herself right now."

 

[Silver Swan]

[ she did ignore Haleigh. She felt that in order to work through this, the TRUTH had to be known. She was prepared to stand in the gap to ensure no one else was harmed or killed, but even SHE knew the risk. Shadow Weaver could attack Persephone OR Rampage at this point and everything Mike had HOPED to avoid from other timelines could very well come to pass. Persephone was clearly not herself and with all the changes, all the pain and unresolved issues...this murder was proof that it was TIME to find another direction to go in.]

"Well what was I SUPPOSED to notice?? I'm not PSYCHIC! I knew she was ANGRY but she's never acted like THIS before!"

[ Sharon rolled her silver eyes.]

You were "psychic" enough to be in an almost euphoric state as soon as Nicolas touched your mind.

I saw both of you and heard EVERYTHING you said! You were talking to her in the lagoon. You saw the pain she was in...but you were too busy trying to convince yourself that your treacherous love for Nicolas was OKAY, that because he understood you and saw THROUGH you...that was more important than facing the MESS that you helped to make.

Funny how YOU wanted to condemn ME for the PSEUDO "AFFAIR" you accused ME of having with Zach and yet he wasnt even COMMITTED to you and I had no idea you ever had any inclination towards him. But You sat there in front of Ava and basically told her that the pain you and Nicolas caused EVERYONE was somehow OKAY because you LOVED him.

She is SICK with PAIN and GRIEF over the loss of ALISON, MORGAN...and the reality that her sister helped make that HAPPEN!

HOW MUCH MORE DOES IT TAKE FOR THE TWO OF YOU TO REALIZE HOW WRONG YOU ARE? Nicolas is dangerous and unstable and YOU are almost USELESS right now. You're "LOVE" is causing ALL KINDS OF problems. Maybe you should just LEAVE before someone ELSE dies tonight and its on your head just like the damage to this team is.


Mike is alive. no thanks to EITHER of you.

I brought Ava here and I will stand in the gap for her.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen had heard Mike, but she didnt address it. She had heard NICOLAS when he crashed into the Rotunda but she didntd address it. It was so unexpected, so UNBELIEVABLE. THE SHOCK had left her in an almost dazed state until she demanded everyone leave and then demonstrated her upgrade in power, going to a place that Ororo had always taught her daughter was a dangerous thing to do.>>

<< the necromancy spell had worked but what consequences there were for that had yet to be revealed. the MAIN thing was that She wanted Michael back. she didnt do it for Nicols...she did it for herself...his words to her had touched her and if there was more than a little chance he was right, she felt he deserved to live to see her NOT travel the road that several of her alternates did.>>

<< but to have Nicolas AND Haleigh here??? that was the first line crossed. The second? Sharon's all too true explanation, her outing of Ava.>>

<< the doctor's perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted as her sapphire blue eyes looked at the mutate with intrigue.>>

...is that so?

<< she said coldly as Ava began on her tirade. Karen turned her head just slightly to gaze at the goddess. folding her arms as the woman spoke. she didnt move, she didnt immediately react. Ava gloated, and then had a rather cathartic release of anger, bitterness and resentment. but there WAS something wrong. She seemed almost delirious with wicked glee. This wasnt MERELY grief. the DOCTOR, the THERAPIST, the "MOTHER" in Karen wanted to reach out...wanted to understand and immediately take action to fix what was obviously broken. But the WOMAN before them was not so charitable, not now...maybe not ever again!>>

<< Mike , despite his flashes of crude, loved her...inspite of her being a witch..inspite of so MANY things. he HADNT gone the route of Christopher. DESPITE his link to Nicolas, Karen had not abandonned him. He loved her and she...despite somtimes wanting to turn him into a toad...loved him. SHE wasnt ruining anyone else's life by being with him and he was STILL HUMAN, which made him the most vulnerable of all on the island. She just NOW began to realize the gravity of what Ava had done, and what SHE had to do to fix it. Mike wanted Karen to "be the mother"...But Karen couldnt do that...not right now. This may have been the MOMENT that he had hoped to avoid but it was here just the same.>>

<< and as Sharon bashed Nicolas and Haleigh, Karen couldnt help but smirk. The mutate, who had been so distant, and seemingly objective found them as repugnant as the rest of the team. It was both telling and amusing! how nice! At least she knew that if she had to or WANTED to, she could most like get Sharon to RIP Haleigh apart :fdevil: >>

<< Haleigh immediately stepped up as Ava's older sister. But that had LITTLE impact on Karen who shifted in her pose slightly. As Sharon called Haleigh out for being short sighted and self absorbed, telling them ALL what she'd heard at the lagoon, Karen used this opportunity to subtlely maneuver past Haleigh and up to Ava.>>

....

<< her facial expression went from stone to SAVAGE as she pulled back her hand and swung with force, imitating her daughter's move as her hand was now encased in a halo of dark magick, she SLAPPED THE HELL out of Ava.>>

STUPID CHILD! If you had LISTENED TO ME at Minerva's Mansion...you wouldnt BE in this place NOW! i TOLD YOU you needed HELP THEN and THIS IS THE END RESULT! You don't need a therapist anymore...you need a LOBOTOMY!

<< Pointing at them, a jagged halo of dark magick forms around her hand.>>

Now GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT! BEFORE I KILL ALL THREE OF YOU!

<< referring to Nicolas, Haleigh and Ava. It wasnt an idle threat. The doctor's sharp tone was deadly serious.>>

and if ANY of you comes back here...by the soul of hecate...I will make SURE that you are NEVER SEEN OR HEARD FROM AGAIN!

<< it was wound after wound...for every moment the doctor FELT like she was getting better, this SINGLE EVENING was enough of a setback for a whole week! Mike said that she broke in the alternate timelines when her life was at its most stressed and despair. this certainly seemed like one of those moments. being told of how brutal she was in other timelines, killing people she once loved; her daughter and alison were gone; nicolas and haleigh were in her face; mike had been murdered by ava....what NEXT?!?>>

 

[Rampage]

"Sharon, wait.... Sharon, just THINK about this, alright? Karen's reeling from Mike's death right now, you can't-- she's SHADOW WEAVER now, there's no telling WHAT she might do-- you're just taking my sister from one GALLOWS to the next!"

Haleigh tried to apologize, but she was cut off by the realization that Mike was alive. Nicolas sensed it as soon as his mind came back, but his mind was...not right. Nicolas stayed outside, he did not need to see Mike to know he was OK, and Karen did not want him there, even a psi-screen would not hide THAT. He sent her a final message.

Hurry to her. We both know that you are not there to see Mike. When it mattered, you didn't give a damn about Mike...or me.

He waited while everything unfolded, his telepathy filling any blanks. But he could easily hear Karen's tirade and her threats.

FINE!!!! I leave him to you, Dark Mage.

Nicolas teleported FAR away...

 

[Persephone]

:: Haleigh quickly came to Ava's defense. It was unnecessary really. The goddess knew what she did and she enjoyed every sick moment of it. Standing there with her arms folded across her chest, she shifted her eyes over to Mike as Sharon began to scream at Haleigh. She stared deep into his eyes; into his SOUL, as if to say 'you were lucky this time but next time you won't be so fortunate'. She kept her narrowed midnight blue eyes even not breaking contact until she felt Karen move past Haleigh and Sharon. Blinking her stare to Karen now, she was silent, but the goddess had a feeling it was simply the calm before the storm. ::

SLAP!

:: Ava's face whipped to the side; her hair instantly hiding her face. Slowly raising her hand to her cheek, it was warm and tingly from the impact of the hit....and probably red as hell too. ::

STUPID CHILD! If you had LISTENED TO ME at Minerva's Mansion...you wouldnt BE in this place NOW! i TOLD YOU you needed HELP THEN and THIS IS THE END RESULT! You don't need a therapist anymore...you need a LOBOTOMY!

:: A low laugh came from Ava as she turned her face to look at Karen. Her brunette locks fell away from her cheek revealing a perfectly shaped red hand mark where Karen had hit her. ::

"If that's your subtle way of saying my psychotic, Karen....that's not very nice..."

:: She spoke with such a taunting tone, so calm and calculating, that it seemed she was RELISHING in all of this madness. But as calm as Ava was, standing there 'marked' by the good doctor, she suddenly became like a rabid animal, LUNDGING toward Karen with a murderous look in her eyes. Luckily Sharon was still there, grabbing Persephone before she could reach any further and hold her back. ::

"If you were ANY other woman I would KILL YOU WERE YOU STAND!"

:: As unbalanced and unreasonable as she has become, in ANY timeline Persephone always respected Karen. Protected her and loved her. Even now, as she stood there fighting against Sharon's strength, the goddess wouldn't of actually HURT Karen. She respected her and her powers. She respected her as a woman and a friend....but just the lundge TOWARD Karen alone spoke volumes on how 'deranged' she had become. ::

 

[Silver Swan]

[ Sharon was so busy screaming at Haleigh that Karen eased on by both of them and smacked the HELL out of Ava with more than physical force! so violent was the slap and Karen's now bloodthirsty demeanor that Sharon immediately turned to see her and Ava squaring off and Ava LUNGING for Karen.]


HOLD IT!


[ She orders as grabs Ava and pulls her away...restraining her as she holds her arms out at either side and keeping her from getting to Karen. Persephone struggled, but Silver Swan was stronger than her. She has no desire to harm the goddess, but she WONT see anymore violence and killing. Ava threatened Karen with such dark and vicious posture.]

CALM DOWN GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!

[ Sharon SHAKES Ava a bit, carefull not to cause a concussion but enough to get her attention!]

Don't you all see what's HAPPENING HERE!? Everyone is refusing to FACE the situation and its spilling out in ALL OTHER DIRECTIONS!

[Karen ordered Haleigh, Nicolas and Ava away from the Rotunda...and as Mike, Blaze and Delilah stepped forward to keep Karen from attacking them, Sharon firmly escorted Ava over to a chair and forces her to sit down.]

you stay here...and Haleigh i think you should just go. You were LESS than useless this evening.

 

[Firebird]

Delilah was the first person to hear Sharon's sonic scream through the dense jungle. Blaze bolted to her feet, prepared to move. "We need to move, Sharon needs us." She advised to Karen while Blaze and Delilah both heard the seriousness in Silver Swan's tone. The blonde sounded almost frantic in tone, a most unusual occurrence for the older woman.

The trio were just about to depart away when pandemonium rocked the rotunda. Then Nicolas appeared. Blaze protective stood next to Karen, wrapping her hand around the woman's arm. Prepared to restrain her when she saw a mauled body at their feet. Frowning, Blaze looked more closely while Nicolas seemed to be delirious and incoherent.

"Nicolas, calm down."

Blaze urged trying to figure this out while everything was moving extremely fast. Crouching down to the dead corpse that was beginning to register as Mike! Swallowing the lump in her throat, Blaze's chin quivered but she restrained the urge to splatter any tears. Reaching out to shut his eyes out of respect. In doing so it had triggered a premonition as Blaze's body tensed up while Sharon arrived to explain. Blaze had witnessed the three jaguars and a slight glimpse of a silhouette. The vision was too quick and it ended abruptly. Gasping out in shock and horror, Blaze stood up, touching her chest to quiet her racing heart. Still mulling over what she saw, Blaze tried to shake it off. It was awful watching him suffer like that.

GET HIM OUT OF HERE and if he resists...Sharon, KNOCK HIM OUT! I can't deal with him...

Karen's words were shook with rage. Blaze nodded still trying to shake what she witnessed. "Calm down, Nicolas. Sharon will fix him...somehow." Walking over to the younger mutant, she touched his arm. How could someone fix something like this! Blaze's head spun and the feeling of nausea was still present. Grabbing onto the side of the wall to keep herself from collapsing. The sudden force field created by Nicolas refrained from herself or the others from touching him.

"Nicolas, this will only make things WORSE!"

She cried out but his words were so full of rage, revenge, and darkness. Nicolas appeared with Ava in his arms. "Nicolas, NO! This WON'T bring Mike back, its not the solution!" Hotly yelling after to him but she fell silent when she noticed the bewitching look in Ava's eyes.

Blaze didn't bother to move, instead she watched in horror as Sharon rushed Nicolas, getting in his face and yelling back. Rushing over to Ava, Blaze’s hands gently touched her chin, “Don’t move.” Surveying the wound, she looked as though she had been brutalized. A glare was cast in Nicolas’ direction. Sharon was right, this wasn’t the answer, at all.

Delilah and Blaze would bring Ava back to Karen. “Mike?!” Almost in disbelief, Blaze looked at Karen to Mike. Noticing her crone-like hands, “Your hands....” Her knowledge of magic wasn’t great but she knew enough to know that something had changed them.

Blaze stepped away from Ava, allowing Karen to restore her to health. While Sharon offered insight on what she heard, which corresponded with what Blaze saw. This situation was turning from bad to worse.

Haleigh hotly defended her sister and Nicolas, once again. Everyone broke out in arguments while Blaze’s hands massaged her temples. Closing her eyes to try and block out each vicious insight to the other. Blaze would begin to tremble as she fought valiantly to control herself...the fire that was swelling inside her soul. Beads of perspiration trickled down the side of her forehead. Even her heart raced from one thing after the other.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!”

Roared Blaze, whose eyes snapped open with a menacing crimson hue. She growled out, stepping away from the others. “ALL of you wretched creatures call yourselves a TEAM?! How the HELL can you get over your pathic bullshit when all you do is bicker and try to hurt the other. Your no better than the MONSTERS we fight! I thought just MAYBE this team would pull their act together but I was SADLY mistaken. What I regret the MOST right now is jumping through Morgan’s stepping disk.”

Shaking her head, Firebird’s arms crossed over her chest. “Those of you who WANT to solve this situation can SHUT your hole and KNOW your role! Because I’ve seen NOTHING out of this team. MORGAN has left, ALISON has left, and while I’m at it I might just let the rest of you SLAUGHTER yourselves! What a joke...”

Nobody had ever seen Blaze cause such an outburst before, one so extreme that she trembled. A few flames had ignited along her arms.

 

[Arsenal]

Mike looked on in disbelief. His headache increased as Nicolas departed and the rest of the so-called team, so-called FAMILY went into overdrive. Karen attacked Ava who actually lunged back, Sharon attacked Haleigh VERBALLY (though she was very much on point in some ways) and Blaze went apeshit, hating that she EVER came her after all of this. Mike rolled off Karen's bed and walked over, his full height making him the tallest BY FAR in the room and his eyes full of pain and indignation. He commanded attention as he let loose, his voice now fully returned and in finest military timbre.

Karen VERNA Victoria!!! Stop it RIGHT NOW!!!

Mike looked around at everyone in the room.

ALL OF YOU!!! LOOK at yourselves. Look at OURSELVES.The power to save or destroy this world several times over, the power over life and death is in this room, but you cannot manage to deal with one another from day to day? Is it REALLY necessary for us to push one another away, threaten and KILL each other over what people who are not as blessed manage every day?

Mike looks Karen in the eyes, his gaze piercing into her soul. This man loved her very much, and he put everything he had into that look, hoping it would stay her hand.

Maladjusted, isn't that the word, Doc? MALADJUSTED.

Looks at Ava.

I forgive you. You are not well, not yourself. And while you blame Nicolas for his perceived weakness, you were no stronger in the end. And if Hades were waiting for ME, I would be VERY afraid of dying one day.
Looks at Sharon.

THANK YOU. You have fought valiantly today for us all. But do not forget, you were not so long ago the monster. And Nicolas and Haleigh as much as anyone, were there for YOU when YOU were messed up and had nowhere to turn.

He looked back at everyone, his voice now shaken a bit as he pleaded with them all.

We have all fucked up ROYALLY, me included, but there will be nothing left if we don't FIX this, feelings be DAMNED. It will be NO DIFFERENT than if we had allowed Set to win.

All of you PLEASE, for the love of...ATHENA...HECATE...whoever you respect and revere! STOP.

Mike staggered a bit, the ordeal of new life and the stress of the situation quickly taking its toll...

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the rotunda

<< Karen stepped back and swept her cape back as Ava lunged threatened her with such venom. Sharon took hold of her but the doctor and ava's eyes continued to lock in a visual standoff.>>

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!

<< The doctor lifted her hands and extends them forward, powering UP! but Sharon pulled Ava away and forced her to sit down. As Karen threatened the lives of Haleigh, Nicolas and Ava, Blaze erupted in a fit of anger and frustration...most of what she said was true...and no sooner than the fire elemental screamed for them to stop, MIKE stepped among them and COMMANDED Karen to stop!>>

<< Karen flinched with a start, her mouth open with disbelief before her face quickly returned to a look of cold disdain. She narrowed her eyes with displeasure...actually STOPPING herself from speaking any further as she realized just how far she'd gone.>>

ALL OF YOU!!! LOOK at yourselves. Look at OURSELVES.The power to save or destroy this world several times over, the power over life and death is in this room, but you cannot manage to deal with one another from day to day? Is it REALLY necessary for us to push one another away, threaten and KILL each other over what people who are not as blessed manage every day?

“ALL of you wretched creatures call yourselves a TEAM?! How the HELL can you get over your pathic bullshit when all you do is bicker and try to hurt the other. Your no better than the MONSTERS we fight! I thought just MAYBE this team would pull their act together but I was SADLY mistaken. What I regret the MOST right now is jumping through Morgan’s stepping disk.”

<< Karen stood tall with her arms folded...her lower jaw jutted out with agitation and frustration. They were right...about all of them in this room>>

goddess...what have i done...

<< she says softly as her face loses its hard, bitter expression. She unfolds her arms and she notices her hands, holding them out and looking at them...which are looking more "crone like" and still glowing...>>

where have i GONE?

<< everything from earlier FINALLY clicked for HER, notjust because Mike told her what he saw or even how logical it was, but because here she was, threatening to KILL three people, two of whom she cared very much about and saw as "children" and another, whom despite their polar opposite stance on many things, was a valued ally and trusted friend who had a good heart.>>

<< she WAS slowly descending into a dark pit.>>

<< her own awfull self reflection at that moment was interrupted as Mike staggered and Karen turned to help steady him. He was much larger...and so it was a struggle for her.>>

Micheal, please...back to bed.

<< she said softly.>>

<< to the others...>>

please...all of you, go now. Except Blaze and Delilah....

Sharon, escort Ava home....

<< Karen was about to finish her sentence, when chimes and a triumphant war horn sounded off. two distinct heralds that could only mean one thing...well TWO individuals actually.>>

 

[Persephone]

“Those of you who WANT to solve this situation can SHUT your hole and KNOW your role! Because I’ve seen NOTHING out of this team. MORGAN has left, ALISON has left, and while I’m at it I might just let the rest of you SLAUGHTER yourselves! What a joke...”

"Then fly away you flaming pigon. No one wants you here ANYWAY."

:: Ava snapped as Sharon pushed her into a nearby chair, distancing the goddess and the witch. Moving to stand up, Sharon paushed her back down prompting Ava to roll her eyes with a smile. It was like the old days. Persephone causing chaos all around her while everyone else got sucked into it like a tornado. If they weren't careful it would end up like another Mount Olympus scenerio, the one the six HADN'T been involved in. ::

"Sharon, dear....while I appriciate you babysitting me, why don't you make yourself useful and go knock her [gesturing to Firebird] around for a few minutes. She seems to be having a melodramatic moment that's not very becoming."

:: Amused by herself, Ava sat back in the chair Sharon had placed her in and crossed her legs, chuckling to herself as she looked from Blaze to Haleigh to Karen. The little canery was right about one thing....the six didn't need their enemies to destory them, they were doing it quite well all by themselves. ::

:: Mike suddenly jumped into the conversation, causing Ava to scoff in disgust. WHY! Whhhhhhhy did Karen have to bring back this free-loading neanderthal? It would of been so much better if he just remained dead. Six feet under. In hell. AWAY from this plain of exsistance. As Ava sat there, he suddenly turned to her telling her he FORGAVE her. Ava coughed out a loud laugh. ::

"You FORGIVE me? Honey, believe me when I say, I don't need to be out of my mind to want to rip your throat out again. You're a useless waste of space. And for five wonderful minutes I made this world a brighter and happier place."

:: Ava twirled one of her curled chocoalte locks around her finger causally as she gave Mike a smile. He continued to blubber on until finally staggering a bit to catch his balance. ::

"Uh oh....your boyfriend looks a little worse for the wear there, Kar--"

:: Stopping abruptly, the familiar sound of trumpts sounding caused Ava to roll her eyes shut. ::

"You've GOT to be kidding me...."

 

[Firebird]

Blaze turned to see that Mike would step in and try to soothe things over while Karen dealt with the consequence of her dark magic.

"Then fly away you flaming pigon. No one wants you here ANYWAY."

Blaze turned around to lock eyes with Persephone. She actually SMILED at her. "Is that the best you can come up with you emotional trainwreck? You're not even worth addressing at this time. You may have your sister snowballed but I don't buy into your charms."

"Sharon, dear....while I appriciate you babysitting me, why don't you make yourself useful and go knock her [gesturing to Firebird] around for a few minutes. She seems to be having a melodramatic moment that's not very becoming."

"Yes and her name is Persephone whose nothing short of a hot-mess!"

 

[Black Widow]

Hurry to her. We both know that you are not there to see Mike. When it mattered, you didn't give a damn about Mike...or me.

Oh no he didnt! Haleigh was reaching a BREAKING POINT.... and now NICOLAS of all people was going to go and say [think] something like THAT?

I BEG your pardon? I was SORRY about what happened to Mike... but I have a DUTY to my sister-- and if I RECALL CORRECTLY, when it MATTERED, you ABANDONNED both me AND Mike to bury your head in the sand and hide from your problems so FUCK you. Oh no-- wait-- [sardonic mental laugh] I ALREADY DID THAT. Here's a new one: GO FUCK YOURSELF! You wanna do something PRODUCTIVE, Nicolas?? Stop acting like a spoiled little BRAT and running away like a CHUMP! STAND HERE and FACE your problems like a MAN, and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, people won't FLIP the fuck out and KILL your best friends-- but at least if they DO, you'll BE here to protect them!!

It was harsh, but Haleigh wasn't interested in coddling him right now... he'd been the last straw.... her BITCH SWITCH had been flipped and no matter HOW much hot water it got her into, she was going to give EVERYONE as good as she GOT.

You were "psychic" enough to be in an almost euphoric state as soon as Nicolas touched your mind.

Haleigh gave Sharon an unmistakable 'excuse you' look. She'd had about enough of Sharon's preaching.

"Euphoric? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm SO sorry that I tried to find a LITTLE ray of HOPE in this SHITSTORM of a nightmare... [deadpan] MY bad."

I saw both of you and heard EVERYTHING you said! You were talking to her in the lagoon. You saw the pain she was in...but you were too busy trying to convince yourself that your treacherous love for Nicolas was OKAY, that because he understood you and saw THROUGH you...that was more important than facing the MESS that you helped to make.

"OKAY. First of all.... I saw that she was ANGRY, and I tried to TALK to her about it. You asked me a question and I ANSWERED her. I wasn't trying to CONVINCE anybody of anything. I am OKAY with the way I feel about Nicolas. SECOND of all... the way that I FEEL, has ALWAYS come second to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to do with this team, short of MENTAL COERCION. And THIRD: I am NOT the one who's been RUNNING AWAY. I have been here, the WHOLE TIME. Karen didn't want me in the Rotunda, I stayed away. Morgan doesn't want to speak to me, I respect that. But don't you DARE accuse me of not FACING my problems."

Funny how YOU wanted to condemn ME for the PSEUDO "AFFAIR" you accused ME of having with Zach and yet he wasnt even COMMITTED to you and I had no idea you ever had any inclination towards him.

"Funny how YOU wanted-- and TRIED multiple times-- to KILL me for something that I was only GUILTY OF BY ASSOCIATION. And here I was, thinking bygones could be bygones."

She said, pausing, raising her eyebrows as if to question Sharon. If the woman wanted to drudge up ancient history, Haleigh could help make sure she didn't FORGET anything.

But You sat there in front of Ava and basically told her that the pain you and Nicolas caused EVERYONE was somehow OKAY because you LOVED him.

"I NEVER said what we did was okay. From the MOMENT I came back, I've admitted that we were WRONG. I was WRONG, and I can't BEGIN to tell you how sorry I am. WORDS can't describe how badly I feel. It was NOT okay, and I've NEVER pretended it was."

She calmly responded. Sharon was sorely mistaken on more than one thing... but that's what happens when you eavesdrop and skulk in the shadows-- it's easy to misconstrue the facts. Haleigh took the time to correct her, but Karen snuck by and ASSAULTED Ava! Sharon quickly stepped in to protect KAREN... Haleigh frowned and folded her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh yeah, GREAT job standing in the gap there, Sharon. That was AWESOME."

Sharon suggested that Haleigh leave, but it was clear Haleigh wasn't ABOUT to run out of here like a dog with her tail tucked between her legs.... and she didn't care IF Karen was feeling murderous. Obviously Sharon wasn't as wonderful at protecting Ava as she mistakenly thought.

"Oh, do you now? Because I don't give a flying FUCK what you think. I'm not ABOUT to leave my sister with YOU. You're too busy distracting me with your 'crackpot' theories to be doing ANYTHING in the way of 'standing in the gap'."

Blaze positively EXPLODED, popping off at the mouth and in general just making a jackass of herself, while critisizing the way THEY were acting, and whether or not THEY were a good team or a deserving family. This is the girl who, on a whim, ABANDONNED her own family for greener pastures. Yeah, she had a soapbox to stand on alright. Haleigh rolled her eyes.

"Do I need to manifest a fire extinguisher, or are you done?"

Know her role? Did she really just go there? Haleigh raised an eyebrow.

"Are you serious? You've been here, what, like two and a half weeks? YOU have the least seniority here, little miss firefly. Maybe you should take your own advice. [shrugging] I'm just SAYING is all."

Mike stood up, interrupting them all, encouraging them all to stop fighting.

"Now THERE'S a novel idea. THANK YOU, Mike. [as an aside]Nice to have you back amongst the living."

Karen seemed to pull her shit together and calm down... she asked them all nicely to leave and released Ava to go home. Well... if Ava was leaving, then Haleigh didn't have any reason to stick around. The hybrid shrugged... and prepared to leave [as soon as she saw to it that Ava did as well]-- but chimes and a trumpet sounded off.... Haleigh sighed. That only meant ONE thing.

 

[Rampage]

I BEG your pardon? I was SORRY about what happened to Mike... but I have a DUTY to my sister-- and if I RECALL CORRECTLY, when it MATTERED, you ABANDONNED both me AND Mike to bury your head in the sand and hide from your problems so FUCK you. Oh no-- wait-- [sardonic mental laugh] I ALREADY DID THAT. Here's a new one: GO FUCK YOURSELF! You wanna do something PRODUCTIVE, Nicolas?? Stop acting like a spoiled little BRAT and running away like a CHUMP! STAND HERE and FACE your problems like a MAN, and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, people won't FLIP the fuck out and KILL your best friends-- but at least if they DO, you'll BE here to protect them!!

Nicolas stood with that. He was breathing heavily, and he was done with the bitchiness.

I beg YOUR pardon. YOU were there, and you got DICK done!! You had ONE motherfucker with you, and she killed the only person that would advocate you to Karen. THAT'S how you handle it. I will be sure to follow your shining example. Especially the part where you are trying to conceal the identity of your supposed friend's killer before he is even cold. Fuck ME? NO dear, Fuck you. Try doing NOTHING for a change, maybe you'll manage not to fuck anything up.

As soon as he sent it, he felt a pang of regret. But he was tired, tired of being last in everyone's eyes. Set offered him one thing that NO ONE else could, or ever did since his father died. He would never forsake him for anyone else. This feeling emanated to Haleigh as he grew silent, his silent apology seeping into her mind...

 

[Seer]

over the edge

<< they didnt need a common enemy to face, when they head each other to pick as targets. just as the faintest glimmer of forgiveness or communication had begun to form, it was all extinguished as Persephone, who was more hurt and in more ways than some would have thought, snapped and brutally murdered Mike. If things had been on the last two weeks, then tonight was the point of no return.>>

<< the rotunda became the scene of mind numbing drama and even though Mike was revived by Karen, it came at a deadly cost, as she seemed more murderous than ever...seemingly fullfilling the destiny that awaited all of her alternates before her that took the name Shadow Weaver.>>

<< the team was shattered, the pieces were swirling in a storm that threatened to blow them so far apart that there would be no way to heal.>>

<< the rotunda was about to get two more visitors. two who were AS OLD as this island if not older, but still looked as young and vibrant as anyone present. something had to be done, but no one seemed to be able to get to that point...everyone could use outside help sometimes....>>

 

[Black Widow]

Nicolas stood with that. He was breathing heavily, and he was done with the bitchiness.

I beg YOUR pardon. YOU were there, and you got DICK done!! You had ONE motherfucker with you, and she killed the only person that would advocate you to Karen. THAT'S how you handle it. I will be sure to follow your shining example. Especially the part where you are trying to conceal the identity of your supposed friend's killer before he is even cold. Fuck ME? NO dear, Fuck you. Try doing NOTHING for a change, maybe you'll manage not to fuck anything up.

As soon as he sent it, he felt a pang of regret. But he was tired, tired of being last in everyone's eyes. Set offered him one thing that NO ONE else could, or ever did since his father died. He would never forsake him for anyone else. This feeling emanated to Haleigh as he grew silent, his silent apology seeping into her mind...

If it was ONE thing Nicolas knew how to do, it was piss off a strong woman. Time and again, he could say precisely the WRONG thing at precisely the WRONG time.... and Haleigh wasn't having it AT ALL.

Don't you get smart with me, you sniveling ingrate, or you'll find out just WHY they call me BLACK WIDOW. I'm a patient woman, Nicolas King, but you're really pushing my limits. Try doing NOTHING? Yeah, maybe I will. Maybe the NEXT TIME you get a wild hair up your ass and start acting strange, maybe the NEXT time Alison, Ava, and yes, even MORGAN start talking about throwing you to the wolves, I'll do nothing. I mean SHIT, if only you'd given me this advice two weeks ago... then maybe I wouldn't have fucked anything up. God DAMN you, Nicolas. I was willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING. My better judgement, my standing in the Six, My LIFE.... just to save YOU. And WHAT do you do to THANK me?? You run off and play in your little sandbox. and when you decide to once again grace me with your almighty presence, you want to come back here, and tell ME who to stand by? HOW DARE YOU? No, REALLY. How can you even BEGIN to think you have any right to my loyalty? OVER MY SISTER?? I really like Mike, Nicolas, and I love you, even when you're being an insufferable prick, but I have loved my sister since she was a little bump on my mother's stomach, and I'm NOT going to apologize for trying to SAVE HER. Mike was GONE, it was too late to help him. But it wasn't too late to help HER. When the line is drawn, Nicolas, without fail, I will protect my little sister from Karen, from YOU, from ANYONE who would do her harm, if it takes my very LAST breath, SO HELP ME GOD.

She could sense that he felt bad about what he'd said... and she thought she might know why.... he was feeling just as alone as she was, and he was afraid he'd never be a priority for anyone else. Her 'tone' softened... it wasn't as harsh, but it remained firm.

I wonder, if the situation were reversed, what would you do? Mike's the closest thing you have to a brother. Don't you understand my position? Hell, you don't even LIKE Ava. You want to know a secret? I could say almost the same thing about you, Nicolas. I haven't known you all your life.... I haven't loved you as long, but without a moment's hesitation, I would protect you from any enemy, or any friend, including my sister. Just because I protect Ava from YOU doesn't mean I'm CHOOSING her OVER you, Nicolas. Can I not love you BOTH? Want you BOTH to be safe and happy? It doesn't mean you aren't important to me, Nicolas, but the person in DANGER is going to be the person I defend. Look.... Nicolas... I don't know what else to say to you. I really wish you would cowboy up.... I really wish you were here, standing NEXT to me..... but you're not, so.... I guess... if you ever need to talk, you know how to reach me.

 

[Rampage]

That was easy enough.

Nicolas whispered in her ear as his astral form hovered by her right ear.

Trust me...its almost as good as the real thing. Look...Haleigh, I understand that blood is thicker than water...I just wish we all could be close, and I guess now, more than ever, those hopes are placed in YOU. You know what? Fuck it, here goes...

Nicolas appeared beside her and a bit behind, his markings absent, even as horns and chimes herald a VERY special coming. Nicolas actually stopped breathing as he waited to see what would happen NOW, knowing EXACTLY who was to come...

 

[Hecate]

surveying the damage

[ the chimes concluded and in a swirl of violet orbs, Hecate appeares. Wearing her outfit [see the banner] complete with strappy, open toed high heels, a "modern invention" that she throughly enjoyed, the crone of the moon and the goddess of witchcraft took a moment to toss her flowing blonde hair back.]

[ clearing her throat]

Can't a goddess enjoy a semi peacefull and carefree existence beyond the narrow and rather droll mortal coil and physical realm without you squabbling so much that it would wake the DEAD FROM THE PITS OF TARTARUS!?

[ she looks around for a moment...]

Oh this won't do. If we're going to address this, you're ALL going to be here.

[casually twirling her hand]

NICOLAS

[ a rushing wind/spatial vortex opens as she TELEBLINKS Nicolas into the rotunda.]

so nice of you to join us. considering that most of this is YOUR FAULT!

Oh and don't bother going anywhere. I'll just bring you back. You're father's legacy in you means NOTHING to the Olympians or Titans. Set was earthbound...hardly a threat anywhere BUT here.

Hmmm the reminds me. I MUST talk to Isis before I leave. If it werent for her, "magick" would not have survived the dawn of "intellectuals"...and I never DID get the chance to thank her for that.

[ Athena was in attendance too.]

Looks like we have a bit of a mess here. I'll handle the boy and my wayward partner in crime, Persephone.

[ taking note of her friend's OBVIOUS state of "disrepair".]

I'll let you handle this lot until i get back.


[ walking toward Persephone, she stopped at Haleigh.]

a homewrecker among a list of other things now, eh? You know...you've always been a bit of interest ever since you left the time of Mt. Olympus...did you ever check to see if you might have been a descendant of one of the many whores that Zeus cheated on Hera with?

[ she laughs haughtily as she brushes Haleigh aside and makes her way to Persephone.]

You've spent enough time around this lot for one night my dear. I'm going to fix you before you end up wearing out your welcome HERE as you did on Olympus!

You're coming with me...and so are YOU Nicolas.

[ lifting her arm and twirling her hand in a sweeping motion, wind and chimes heard the swirl of orbs and streams of light. ]

elsewhere...they find themselves in past incarnation of the enchanted forest

[ Hecate appears with Persephone facing her and Nicolas standing off to the side.]


[sigh] Persephone....

[ taking her hands into her own...]

I feel the pain, the disjointed feeling....you hurt...and i want to take that hurt away before you REPEAT your own history on Olympus!

[ she looks upon Persephone with sympathy, KNOWING that there was something very wrong.]

But first...i need you to SLEEP.

[ and with her words, go a minor spell, to put Persephone into a deep, soothing sleep. she gently lays persephone on the thick grass of the forest and turns slowly to Nicolas, her facial expression was grim.]

Now....to address you.

If you recall, I told you...on Olympus that if you hurt Morgan, MY seed...if you broke her heart...that you would answer to ME.

[ she faced him.]

There's no running NOW. Your "father" can't help you NOW...and I am NOT afraid of you by ANY stretch of the imagination.

We're going to have a little TALK!

 

[Firebird]

"Do I need to manifest a fire extinguisher, or are you done?"

Even Blaze had to smile at Haleigh's retort but she quickly bit back the expression. Shaking her head, she was obviously caught off guard by the hybrid's comment. She hadn't expected her to say anything but then again Haleigh was always opening her mouth. :hehe2:

"Are you serious? You've been here, what, like two and a half weeks? YOU have the least seniority here, little miss firefly. Maybe you should take your own advice. [shrugging] I'm just SAYING is all."

Arguing with Haleigh would be futile she was equally stubborn. Instead she took the blonde's words into perspective. It really wasn't the time or the place to start a bitch war. Instead, she let the words dissolve when she turned her attention to the echo of trumpets playing.

"What's that?"

Hecate and Athena would appear, neither woman she had encountered before. But judging from the look on the rest of the Six's face, they were familiar with these strangers.

Watching the scene unravel as Hecate first confronted Nicolas than Haleigh while Persephone was next in line.

Standing beside Karen, Blaze nodded to both strangers, "Who are they, Karen?"

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas was pulled from beside Haleigh to the front where Hecate was. He actually smirked a bit as she spoke to him. He was teleported, along with Persephone, to an ancient forest, where Persephone was made to sleep. The goddess then addressed him.

Now....to address you.

If you recall, I told you...on Olympus that if you hurt Morgan, MY seed...if you broke her heart...that you would answer to ME.

[ she faced him.]

There's no running NOW. Your "father" can't help you NOW...and I am NOT afraid of you by ANY stretch of the imagination.

We're going to have a little TALK!

Let's TALK then, Hecate.

He spoke evenly, never wavering as he met her gaze.