The folly of Bianca

Status
Not open for further replies.
She pulled her sable coat closer around her against the chilly winter air. Emergency crews and police swarmed the estate, assisting those caught in the West Wing when it mysteriously collapsed, and helping the hysterical wealthiest citizens of New York find their cars. It was pathetic.

The disaster was such that the chief of police had been woken from his bed to comfort poor Ms. Ceasul. They were so very sorry but they had no idea how the supports in her home had just disappeared. They were beside themselves that someone had broken in but they had no leads as to who it was. They were falling all over themselves to apologize that her party had been ruined. And hadn’t any of her personnel seen these intruders?

“No, no one saw anything, apparently.”

We’d like to interview your security team on duty.

“Of course.” Those not under a pile of rubble right now.

Was anything taken?

“No, nothing I can’t get back.”

When the police had finally left her alone, her head of security appeared on her right shoulder.

Head of Security: “They left by car. We found the woman’s watch by the side of the road. We picked up the car the woman came in via the satellites. They’ve headed into the Catskills.”

“I’ll need to change. Assemble a team. And destroy any security footage that survived the collapse.”

She turned and strolled back into the mansion, ripping the police tape off the front door as she went. A house falling on her was the last of her worries.
 
He didn’t usually sleep much, but as he lazily opened his eyes he saw that sunlight was streaming through the small window. He rolled over onto his back and rubbed his eyes. He was alone.

He was instantly awake. He sat up in the bed. He called out.

“Delilah?!”

He breathed a sigh of relief as she came out of the bathroom already dressed. She had a pair of scissors and had started cutting the excess material off the end of the pants he’s given her the day before. He gave her an annoyed look, threw the covers off himself, and stood up.

“Jesus Christ! What are you doing?”

Delilah looked a tiny bit frazzled.

Delilah: “I’ve got to get out of here.”

“What are you talking about? What happened to ‘we can’t let Bianca track us back to the team’?”

Delilah: “She’s not found us yet and we need to get that info to Haleigh so she can study it.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down.”

He crossed the room and started to take her arm. But she pulled it sharply away.

Delilah: “No!”

She hightailed it through the door into the great room, where she started busily collecting her shoes and the remains of her dress. He followed her in disbelief.

“What the hell’s the matter with you?”

She stopped and dropped the things she was holding.

Delilah: “What’s the matter with me? What’s the matter with YOU!”

She pointed at him on the ‘you’.

Delilah: “THAT should never have happened.”

He sat down in a chair smiled his half smile at her.

“Come on, Lilah – you’re not 16.”

Her eyes got wider.

Delilah: “And what’s THAT supposed to mean?”

He stood up again and went to her, put his hands on her arms to steady her. He tried a calming voice.

“Nothing, nothing. Come, sit down, you need to relax. You don’t have to worry about what your friends will say. They’ll understand. We’re in love and-“

Delilah shoved him away from her.

Delilah: “Oh HELL no. WE are not in anything. Last night was a mistake. One that will NEVER, EVER be repeated. Now, drive me the hell back to the city. NOW.”

His hands balled into fists at his sides, he pursed his lips, and he was silent for a moment. And then he exploded.

“Yeah? Well, you don’t have to worry about ‘last night’ every happening again, sweetheart, because I wouldn’t touch you if the only other alternative was sheep!”

She had crossed the room as he said that and made it to the door. She turned back, eyes flashing.

Delilah: “Oh yeah? Well, I had SUSPECTED that about you ALL ALONG!”

“Oh you’re so clever. Did Morgan teach you that one along with the rest of her man-hate?”
 
“You leave Morgan out of- shh!”

Maxim: “Don’t you tell me to shush-“

“No, really, SHH!”

She had heard something echo out in the snow. She crouched down, carefully moved the curtain aside and peeked out the front window.

“Soldiers, coming from the east. Forty or fifty. Armed.”

Maxim: “Aw, fuck.”

Maxim ran to the kitchen table that still held an ungodly assortment of guns and other paraphernalia. He started loading himself up with as much as he could carry.

Maxim: “Well, darlin’, looks like you’re gonna get your wish. Cause neither of us will probably live long enough to have another one night stand.”

He came back across the room to the other side of the door from Delilah, holding a M16 in his hands.

Maxim: “They’re getting closer. Got a plan?”

“Yeah – stay out of my way.”

Bianca’s guards were coming across the snow in neat lines. Easy pickings. She flew open the door.

Maxim: “What the hell are you DOing? Are you insane, you’ll get yourself killed.”

Delilah stood in the doorway and threw her hands out in front of her, erecting a shield of blue light in front of her just as the guards began to pepper the cabin with bullets. She looked down at Maxim, still crouched beside her, raised her eyebrows and gave him a look that said, “I told you so.”

Holding the shield up with one hand, she began firing photon blasts into the rows of guards until most of those that remained were on the run.

Maxim: “We should make a run for it. Out the back. Come on.”

He held the rifle in one hand and grabbed Delilah with the other, leading her to the back of the house. He kicked open the door and looked out. Nothing. He looked back at her.

Maxim: “Let’s go.”

But as he turned back to the open doorway, a gun was thrust hard into his ribs. Twice as many soldiers as they had faced at the front of the cabin now filed into view. The field of men parted, and Bianca approached.

Bianca: “I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”

“Diversion. Fuck me.”

The guard forced Maxim back inside. Delilah assessed the situation. She was fast, but she couldn’t guarantee the both of them wouldn’t be shot before she could do much damage. They kept the gun trained on Maxim as he was forced into a chair, and Delilah onto the couch, a ring of Bianca’s guard covering them from all angles. And Bianca herself was in the center, just where she clearly liked to be. Delilah needed to think.
 
Bianca walked slowly between her two captives, a smile playing on her lips.

“You’ve stolen something from me. I want it back.”

She sounded matter of fact, almost amused.

Delilah’s eyes narrowed up at her, like a trapped dog.

Delilah: “You stole something from Barbara Minerva.”

The name said aloud gave her pause. But only for a very split second. The dead meant nothing to her. She faced Delilah, inclining her head as she looked her over. “Lightengale” indeed.

“I only took what is rightfully MINE.”

She held up the Sword she carried in her right hand to the light.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? And it will get me everything I want. Starting with a bunch of dead mutant garbage.”

Maxim – dear, sweet Maxim – took that opportunity to make his move. He swept the legs of the guard nearest to him and grabbed his gun as he went down. He jumped up, firing off a couple rounds into guards around them then aiming at Bianca. She just laughed.

More guards collapsed on Maxim, holding his arms and forcing him to his knees. One hit him in the face with the butt of his rifle. Bianca looked down at him as he knelt before her and pursed her lips.

“Maxim my love, I feel you’ve been less than honest with me. I think you need to be punished.”

She kicked him in the face with her heeled boot as she addressed Delilah.

“How does it feel to know he’s been in my bed all this time?”

Maxim spit blood, then looked up at her and smiled. A smile filled with hatred.

“I’d rather get kicked in the face than have to share your bed again, you frigid cunt. Is that all you got?”

Bianca was furious that he would speak to her that way, but she kept her cool. She kicked him again. And again. Delilah squirmed. Good.

“Hold him.”

One of the guards held his head up. She once again held up the Sword of Anger so Delilah could see. She pointed it at Maxim’s throat.

“Tell me where my things are.”

Delilah said nothing. She was tough, Bianca had to give her that. But everyone had their breaking point.

She made a slit in his left arm – deep enough to hurt and bleed, but not enough to kill him. After all, she might want to play with him again later. He didn’t wince though. That was her Maxim. She pointed the Sword once again at his throat.

“Where are the files?”

Maxim’s face was a mess, and he was clearly feeling his wounds. But he wouldn’t back down.

Maxim: “What’s a matter, Bianca? Afraid to finish the job? Don’t tell me you care? Aw, that’s sweet.”

Now that really made her angry. She kicked him hard in the stomach.

“I don’t care about anything.”

She signaled to the guards to drop him, and he crumpled to the ground near the chair.
 
Maxim was pissed that he had fallen for such a simple tactic. Really pissed. It should never have happened and had he been thinking straight there would have been no chance. But he had been making mistake after mistake and that made him angry.

So as he sat there, watching Bianca looking so smug, he knew he had to make this count. He knew how to push her buttons, and if anyone could goad someone into a fight, it was him. He just hoped Delilah would get the picture.

His face was a swollen, painful mess, and hurt like hell. But finally she let him drop the floor, and he crumpled up behind the chair like he was really injured.

Delilah tried to get to him, but the guards grabbed her and pulled her away from him. But not before he had a chance to tip his hand to her. As all eyes were focused on Delilah, hers were on him, and he quickly opened and closed his hand. The hand that now was holding one of his specially made extreme damage grenades.
 
Delilah was genuinely concerned for Bishop. All her anger and frustration went out the window as she watched him get the crap beat out of him by Bianca and her guards. But as he showed her the grenade in his hand, she couldn’t completely keep the smile from her face. The guards pushed her back down into her seat. Her eyes turned up to the only other woman in the room.

“I feel sorry for you, Bianca.”

Bianca looked intrigued.

Bianca: “Oh yeah, why is that?”

Delilah’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“Because you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Under the guise of doubling over in pain, Maxim slid the plate off the bottom of the grenade and stuck it to the floor under the chair. He closed his eyes and shouted to her.

Maxim: “Delilah – now!”

Delilah unleashed a blinding flash of light in a ring that emanated from her body. As everyone in the room struggled to see, she grabbed the messenger bag from under the sofa. Maxim was up in a flash and grabbed her hand, leading her out the front door. He let go as she turned back inside the doorway.

“Dumbasses – all you had to do was look for it.”

She fired a laser blast behind her at those left inside, then started to run when she heard a voice behind her.

Bianca: “Weak. Pathetically weak.”

Bianca stood outside in the snow. And the bitch was mocking her. She looked at Maxim who had stopped and was motioning for her to come on. She turned back and looked at Bianca, smugly challenging her. And she knew.

This was their chance. Her chance. To protect Morgan. To protect Bishop. To be there for her team. To redeem herself.

She smiled at him, a single tear in her eye. His faced washed into confusion. She threw Maxim the messenger bag and put her hands in front of her, unleashing two photon blasts which collided several yards in front of Maxim so that he and the bag were blown backwards. And then she turned and rushed at Bianca. Bianca was caught off guard, and Delilah barreled into her pushing her back inside the cabin.

And then the cabin exploded in a ball of fire.
 
His heart stopped. He was sure of it. It all happened so fast, but it seemed like it took forever. One second he was holding her warm, soft hand in his, leading her to safety. And then she had stopped. Smiled at him. Saved him. And gone knowingly to her death for the second time because of him. All because of him.

He screamed. It was a sound like nothing human.

He tried to run into the building, but the propane tank for the generator had gone up, and the flames were too hot and too high for him to get anywhere near it. The guards that had survived the inferno were running away. He just sank to his knees and prayed one of them would shoot him.

He heard sirens in the distance. He struggled to stand. There was one thing he had to do.

He picked up the bag from the melting snow and hiked across the field to where the SUV still was parked. He got in, and made the drive back to her city.

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

Hours later, he stopped the battered SUV outside the Parthenon. He didn’t bother to park, just left it in the street. He left the driver side door ajar.

He entered, moving to the secure elevator, his face blank. He punched the guard that tried to stop him in the face. He rode up, to the floor where he knew they’d be.

Arriving at the Six’s meeting room, he strode in like he owned the place. He dumped the contents of the bag in the middle of the table as the faces of the rest of the Six watched.

He walked over to where Morgan stood, looked her straight in the eye, the sadness washing over him now that he had completed Delilah’s final mission for her. He sank onto his hands and knees.
 
It had been a couple of hours worth of monitoring and waiting. Nothing had happened--everything was quiet at the cabin Delilah and Maxim were at. Either Bianca was biding her time or she wasn't as smart as she made herself out to be. Excusing herself from the group, Ava needed to clean up and get out of her once beautiful royal blue gown. Such a waste.. she thought to herself as she pealed the fabric off her dry blood covered bodies and hopped into the shower.

Roughly a half hour later Ava returned to the war room wearing her battle uniform noting that everyone was still in the same position as when she left.

"Still nothing?"

Haleigh shook her head and Ava sighed. Waiting was the worst part. She was too impatient for this shit....but before she could even suggest just going to retrieve them as Nicolas has suggested before, Haleigh's monitors began to beep. Multiple dots appeared on the screen surrounding the cabin. Coming up behind her sister, Haleigh pulled up a live feed of the cabin just as Delilah kicked open the front door and sent a massive light wave to the guards destroying them all. But unbeknownst to her, there were more guards in the back of the cabin. Continuing to watch the feed as Delilah and Maxim were both captured, Ava shook her head.

"I don't care if Delilah is trying to keep Bianca away from us. We need to go down there NOW."

What seemed like only seconds later, one camera picked up Maxim and Delilah running out of the cabin, Delilah tossing a bag at him, then her running full force into Bianca, pushing her into the cabin, and the cabin exploding. Ava's eyes widened in horror.

"Tell me someone still has a read on her?!"

Between Alison, Nicolas, and Haleigh, ANY ONE of them should be able to easily pick up Delilah if she were alive....but none of them were saying anything.
 
<< The scene was grim as the six watched on Black Widows monitors the cabin explode with Morningstar inside of it. In any other circumstance, Delilah would have been fine. Her unique ability to transcend light would have saved her. However neither Nicolas, Haleigh, OR Alison could not pick up any life signs that had Delilah's signature. In all intensive purposes Delilah WAS dead! >>

<< Unbeknownst to the six, right as the cabin exploded Mellenia opened a temporal wake around both herself and Delilah, safely shielding them from the explosion and transporting them to an unknown location "between time and space". Delilah WAS alive, but she certainly wasn't safe. Only time would tell what Bianca had planned for the mutant and how it would effect the six, and most importantly Spellbinder! >>

Back at The Parthenon war room

<< The hours following the explosion, Nicolas and Ava both went to the cabin in an effort to physically search for any signs that Delilah was still alive; Haleigh, Morgan, and Alison all stayed back at the war room. Haleigh used her technology to scan for any signs of Delilah, Morgan scryed for her, and Alison tried to "see" if Delilah was still somewhere in this timeline. >>

<< After hours of searching, Ava and Nicolas returned to the war room. The only silver lining was Nicolas detecting an anomaly much like the ones that were around Minerva's Mansion on the explosion site. However it didn't leave the six with much hope that Delilah was still alive....just that MELLENIA was for sure alive. >>

<< Things were about to get MUCH more complicated as the war room door opened revealing a battered Maxim. And so we watch.... >>
 
the parthenon- conference room

This is RIDICULOUS.

<< fuming.>>

We shouldve just did as Harbinger wanted and KILLED the woman. THE END.



<< she walked back and forth even as they tried to piece together things, make sense of what happened with Delilah.>>

<< Haleigh, Nicolas and Alison kept them on course as Ava gave eye witness information.>>

<< Morgan felt it was best to let Nicolas and Haleigh be more leading on this because she and Alison BOTH had such strong feelings about it...both on the subject of Bishop AND Bianca. Alison, trusting Ava's reassurance as well as Haleigh's from earlier on when she reminded the woman that she may not be ON the roster proper but she NEVER had to face something ALONE if she needed their help, kept unusually quiet for now...>>

<< until they finally 'caught up' with Delilah and Bishop at a cabin. but UNAWARE of the fact they'd been INTIMATE with one another.>>

<< it was a scene out of hell as Bianca stormed the cabin, ambushed them, STABBED Bishop!>>

Delilah!

<< Morgan shrieked, her voice CRACKING . Delilah defended herself. It reminded Morgan of Delilah back in her days on Valiant.>>

<< but it's not enough! Bianca has the hunter and killer instinct of Barbara Minerva and the unrelenting pursuit tactics of The Red Queen, Helena...the ORIGINAL mainstream version...>>


Persephone said:
"I don't care if Delilah is trying to keep Bianca away from us. We need to go down there NOW."

What seemed like only seconds later, one camera picked up Maxim and Delilah running out of the cabin, Delilah tossing a bag at him, then her running full force into Bianca, pushing her into the cabin, and the cabin exploding. Ava's eyes widened in horror.
Click to expand...

<< Morgan flinched, covering her opened mouth in HORROR as her eyes were wide and unblinking>>

....




Persephone said:
"Tell me someone still has a read on her?!"

Between Alison, Nicolas, and Haleigh, ANY ONE of them should be able to easily pick up Delilah if she were alive....but none of them were saying anything.
Click to expand...


<< Morgan didnt respond. She was in SHOCK.>>

....

Harbinger: :: with her hand to her forehead, her eyes solid white and the sound of mystic energy ringing out as she "searches" far and wide with her seer's eye.:: ::after a few moments..::

I....I can't "SEE" her! THE DEATH GLOW it ENVELOPED HER! I can't "SEE" her in this or ANY timethread relating to this caper!


<< Alison said with frustration and fear as Morgan wanted to PASS OUT.>>

what...have I allowed to happen...

<< she says as she bows her head and clasps her hands over her mouth, trembling. speaking in a muted, low tone, she felt faint.>>


Black Widow: Morgan's vitals are fluxtuating wildly...

Harbinger: I'll help her...but I need you to stay with me while Ava and Nicolas go to the cabin.


<< and so, hours pass as Persephone and Rampage search the cabin while Harbinger and Black Widow help to steady Spellbinder even as they both use their individual abilities to try to locate any sign of Delilah. If Alison saw the death glow ENVELOPE her, that meant it had TAKEN her...which meant...>>

<< but NO ONE was ready to admit that. not YET. not after everything they'd been through, not after all DELILAH had been through!>>

<< soon, Morgan slowly rose. Ava and Haleigh let her stand and she walked one way...then another...it was as though the shock was SLOWLY building in her, or was it something else.>>

This doesnt feel real, you know...

<< she says as she looks over at them.>>

It feels like there's something...MISSING. I don't know WHY but....I ....just don't....

<< the doors to the conference room BURST open. Morgan gasps as Harbinger and Black Widow are ready to FIRE UPON whomever it is but NO! it's not an intruder....it's...>>

BISHOP!?


Bishop said:
Arriving at the Six’s meeting room, he strode in like he owned the place. He dumped the contents of the bag in the middle of the table as the faces of the rest of the Six watched.

He walked over to where Morgan stood, looked her straight in the eye, the sadness washing over him now that he had completed Delilah’s final mission for her. He sank onto his hands and knees.
Click to expand...

....no...

<< she shakes her head.>>

no...where is she, bishop??

<< chimes sound off as she pulls him to his feet.>>

WHERE!? WHERE IS DELILAH!?

<< she remembered what Alison said...>>

WHY DID YOU LEAVE HER BEHIND! YOU PROMISED US!

<< she starts shaking him VIOLENTLY with her super strength. It wasnt even INTENTIONAL as the SHOCK FINALLY pushes through her psyche to the FRONT.>>

YOU PROMISED US!!!

<< tears streaming down her face.>>

SHE KILLED HERSELF BECAUSE OF YOU AND NOW SHE'S DEAD...BECAUSE OF YOU! AGAIN!

<< she tosses him away as she throws her hands up and looks at the ceiling.>>

oh WHY did I let ANY OF YOU talk me into this FARCE of a plan!? Like HE could protect her from somebody on par with BARBARA MINERVA!?
 
the parthenon

:: Alison was very much unhappy. this whole thing it was coming apart, just as she SAID it would but in a far worse way than even SHE foresaw. Bianca was STILL one step ahead of her due to her unique temporal nature. it was PISSING HER OFF!::

:: her gloomy countenance BROKE when the disaster at the cabin took place. It snapped her into another mode but it was already TOO LATE. the DEATH GLOW had seemingly swallowed Delilah which meant that...::

:: Alison was at a loss. She now believed more than ever that she should have went after Bianca on her own. After all, the woman STOLE from HER. But everything else, Delilah, her death, Bishop's RETURN...it all connected to this! and now they knew why! ::

:: Alison didnt like being duped OR one uped...and Bianca had managed BOTH. her own dismay and grief was matched if not SURPASSED by her growing ANGER.::

You should have just let me deal with her...MY way!

:: She and Haleigh steadied a distraught Morgan and as the hours passed...::

Harbinger: You see...there's something to be said for MY methods. I KILL the enemy before he or she can kill the ones i care about!

:: she said that to Haleigh. it was only the three of them in the room at that moment.::

At least with MY methods...the people who DESERVE to live get a decent chance!

:: Morgan stood up and walked about, speaking in a dazed sort of tone.::

Morgan...come and sit down. We havent....

:: the doors burst open and Harbinger lifts her hand, ready to strike but it's BISHOP. he comes walking in almost TOO well put together in his presentation. he throws a bag and its contents on the table. She continues to watch him intently as he goes over to Morgan...and then that moment. The look that washed over him and he drops to his knees.::

dammit!

:: Alison curses as she shuts her eyes tightly and balls her fist up. it was as though NOTHING she had said, had foreseen, had ANY impact or effect on this situation!::

:: Morgan demands an answer from Bishop, and Alison looks positively PISSED.::

OUR METHODS WOULD HAVE KEPT HER[DELILAH] ALIVE!

:: she said it aloud for ANYBODY who disagreed with HER thinking that they shouldve just summoned Bianca through magick or a disc and killed her on the spot.::

Bianca breaches the mansion, STEALS a deadly artifact and has now KILLED one of OURS. I think NOW would be LONG OVERDUE to say that she needs to be treated and handled like any OTHER deadly foe we've dealt with in the past!
 
Nicolas was waiting, sitting back as they scanned for Delilah, pinpointed her location to monitor her. the fact that she was injured and with Maxim was not a comfort for any of them at the time. Nicolas could not help but feel that this was a mistake but no one seemed to agree with his suggestion of a secondary meeting place or that Delilah needed to be retrieved. He thought it ridiculous that HE could protect her and escape better than THEY could and, while he knew she just wanted to protect them, he could not help but feel that this had as much to do with Delilah not valuing HERSELF enough, something that suicidal people often did.

He was musing that he would have preferred for Bianca to find them so they could END this when all hell broke loose at the cabin where Dee was. Troops everywhere and now Bianca and, while everyone still has the 'what the fuck' look on their faces, an explosion with Delilah and Bianca at the epicenter of it.

<< Morgan didnt respond. She was in SHOCK.>>

....

Harbinger: :: with her hand to her forehead, her eyes solid white and the sound of mystic energy ringing out as she "searches" far and wide with her seer's eye.:: ::after a few moments..::

I....I can't "SEE" her! THE DEATH GLOW it ENVELOPED HER! I can't "SEE" her in this or ANY timethread relating to this caper!


<< Alison said with frustration and fear as Morgan wanted to PASS OUT.>>

what...have I allowed to happen...

<< she says as she bows her head and clasps her hands over her mouth, trembling. speaking in a muted, low tone, she felt faint.>>


Black Widow: Morgan's vitals are fluxtuating wildly...

Harbinger: I'll help her...but I need you to stay with me while Ava and Nicolas go to the cabin.
Click to expand...

Nicolas wished he could be there for Morgan, but Alison had the proper plan of action and so, he stood quickly, grasped Ava's hand....

and teleported to the center of the large yard in front of the still-burning cabin.

If you can Ava, please try to locate a straggler. I would VERY much like to ask him some questions. I will put out the fire.

Nicolas leaped into the burning cabin and clapped his hands together to form a signature THUNDERCLAP, which blew the cabin fire out like a candle. The explosion destroyed a LOT of evidence and would have been sufficient to kill either of them easily, but Nicolas was not ready to throw in the towel by any measure.

First of all, no bodies. Even with the intense heat found here (in excess of 800 degrees Celsius), there was not sufficient time to completely destroy EVERYTHING. No...the bodies were simply not here, if there even WERE any. He began to scan painstakingly, by the square millimeter, hoping that Ava would find someone for him to speak with. They were good, but so was Maxim. This track-down seemed TOO easy, and he had not forgotten the transmission from the island when Maxim arrived. He wanted some answers.

Alas, those answers would not come as apparently all of her men either died here or escaped. Nodding to Ava after over an hour of searching, all he had was an anomaly much like the one at the mansion. That, and the fact that there was NO body. It was something, but not much.

They returned to the Parthenon with Morgan and Alison alternately fuming and grieving, with MAXIM tossed aside.

Bianca breaches the mansion, STEALS a deadly artifact and has now KILLED one of OURS. I think NOW would be LONG OVERDUE to say that she needs to be treated and handled like any OTHER deadly foe we've dealt with in the past!
Click to expand...

Agreed. We have sat back for too long here. We need to ACT rather than react. But there is SOME hope for Dee isn't there Ali? I found no body, no trace of either of them, but I DID find the anomaly that matches the ones at your mansion...are we SURE she is gone?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Immediately after the cabin exploded Nicolas took Ava's hand and transported them to the wreckage site. Standing in the snow covered woods wearing a tattered and bloodied royal blue ball gown, Ava's eyes scanned ground zero but saw nothing....even the cabin had been completely obliterated in the explosion.

Nicolas: If you can Ava, please try to locate a straggler. I would VERY much like to ask him some questions. I will put out the fire.

Ava nodded and began to search, but after nearly an hour of flipping over dead bodies and searching the surrounding woods, they came up with nothing. The ONLY thing they found was the same anomaly that had plagued Minerva's Mansion when they were staying there, but that only pointed to Bianca.

Returning to The Parthenon, the news was even more grim when Alison explained that Delilah's death glow completely enveloped her. Slumping against the wall, Ava simply stared blankly at the floor. How could this be happening AGAIN? Morgan began to painfully unravel and Ava couldn't bare to look up. Just HEARING her in this emotional turmoil was enough to cause the goddesses eyes to fill with tears. Morgan was a damn strong woman, and to see her in this state of anguish was heartbreaking.

"We can't give up...she could still be alive."

Her words were unconvincing, even to he own ears. But she couldn't believe--REFUSED to believe--that she was actually gone this time.

Ava's eyes lifted to the war room door as she heard foot steps coming down the hall before the door itself actually opened. Once it did, her blank stare turned cold upon seeing Bishop. Morgan began to freak out again, blaming Bishop for not protecting her. Ava just gritted her teeth; the scowl on her face turning deadly.

Alison: Bianca breaches the mansion, STEALS a deadly artifact and has now KILLED one of OURS. I think NOW would be LONG OVERDUE to say that she needs to be treated and handled like any OTHER deadly foe we've dealt with in the past!

Ava didn't even HEAR Nicolas speak thereafter, her mind only focusing on Bishop and how HE was still here and Delilah was not. In one swift motion she was on him, pushing him against the floor [since he was kneeling] with her enhanced strength and pinning him there with her hand against his throat and her body straddling his. Her razor sharp finger nails dug deep into his neck surrounding his windpipe. In one motion she could EASILY rip it from his body.

"Bianca may have done this, but YOU are the reason why Delilah is dead you sonofabitch! You KILLED HER the second you CAME BACK!"

Ava began to push her nails into his throat, blood free falling down the sides of his neck. She fully intending on ripping him to shreds.
 
Bishop didn’t struggle as Morgan pulled him from the floor.

Morgan said:
no...where is she, bishop?? WHERE!? WHERE IS DELILAH!?
Click to expand...

He shook his head.

“She…she’s…”

But he couldn’t say it.

Morgan said:
WHY DID YOU LEAVE HER BEHIND! YOU PROMISED US!
Click to expand...

“I couldn’t…She just…She was right beside me, and then...gone…”

Morgan began to shake him with her super strength. He just went limp, like a rag doll. He didn’t care.

Morgan said:
YOU PROMISED US!!! SHE KILLED HERSELF BECAUSE OF YOU AND NOW SHE'S DEAD...BECAUSE OF YOU! AGAIN!
Click to expand...

Morgan threw him down. She hadn’t said anything he didn’t already know. It was difficult for him to breathe. He pulled himself up onto his knees again.

“Kill me. Please.”

He looked around at the people that stood around him.

“Morgan…Haleigh...please…I can’t live with this. I don’t deserve to live. Please…”

Ava grabbed him, her nails like claws, drawing blood.

"Do it."

He was begging now. He had never begged for a single thing in his entire life.
 
"Looks like Bianca is going to help all the guests leave safely, and the police are there so they should keep her busy for a while."

They finally tracked Delilah and Bishop down after Haleigh had a chance to scour all the known records of Bishop's former safehouse network. Nicolas gave her the direction and area that Delilah and Bishop headed in Delilah's ride, the most conspicuous car ever engineered. From there Haleigh was able to pinpoint the most likely place that they holed up. After checking the cabin out via satellite feed and getting a visual, Haleigh remotely installed some cameras so they could at least CHECK on the two. No sooner was she done setting the cameras up than the cabin was hit by Bianca and her men. Right now they were just beating on Bishop, but Delilah's safety was definitely in question.

Ava: I don't care if Delilah is trying to keep Bianca away from us. We need to go down there NOW.

"Yeah. I'll do it. My presence will put a serious wrench in their machinations. they got guns? HA."

But as she stood to go the situation rapidly deteriorated. Like seeing a train wreck happen right before your very eyes, Haleigh watched in muted dread as Delilah pushed Bianca back into an exploding cabin.

Ava: Tell me someone still has a read on her?!

Harbinger: I.... I can't SEE her! THE DEATH GLOW ENVELOPED HER! I can't 'SEE' her in this or ANY timethread relating to this caper!

"What the fuck was she THINKING?!?"

Haleigh exclaimed, sitting back down in shock.

Morgan: What... have I allowed to happen....

Morgan's voice pulled Haleigh back out of her own self-review and forced her to deal with everything else that had to be handled, regardless of whether Delilah managed to survive the blast.

"Morgan's vitals are fluctuating wildly."

Alison: I'll help her...but I need you to stay with me while Ava and Nicolas go to the cabin.

Haleigh nodded. She wanted to go out, she wanted to have something to keep her hands and mind busy, but staying here was a decent option. she was setup here. She could search here. They didn't need to jump to conclusions, Delilah could have survived.

Bishop arrived, dumped a load of papers and discs and folders on the table, and faced Morgan. Morgan, reeling from shock and anger, shook him like something lifeless, and he didn't fight it. Morgan tossed him aside like he was nothing at all. Haleigh watched it happen without the slightest inclination to step in. Bishop WAS nothing, to her. Nothing except the human that had repeatedly cost them Delilah.

Ava: Bianca may have done this, but YOU are the reason why Delilah is dead you sonofabitch! You KILLED HER the second you CAME BACK!

Ava took her turn with Bishop, looking a breath away from killing him, and then Bishop ruined it by talking.

Bishop: Kill me. Please. Morgan... Haleigh.... please... I can't live with this. I don't deserve to live. Please... [to Ava] Do it.

Haleigh put a hand on Ava's shoulder, looking down at Bishop with disdain and disgust.

"Don't do it, Ava. This asshole doesn't deserve a quick and easy out. If she's really gone this time, he deserves to suffer her loss just like the rest of us. Besides, we have bigger fish to fry, and this is a waste of time."

She grumbled, taking her sister's arm and pulling her up to her feet. She looked back down at Bishop with a scowl.

"Now for fuck's sake, get up off the floor, you look pathetic."

She went back to table and started going through the paperwork he'd brought in, seeing what they went through SO MUCH for. It'd better be really good.
 
Nicolas did not believe it, would not. That Delilah was gone, in this way...he would need more proof. And so he did not grieve, did not react as the others. As Ava bludgeoned him, only to be talked out of it by Haleigh, he slid a chair over to Maxim and motioned for him to get in it.

Get your shit together. Whether or not Delilah is alive is in question, but any intel you have on Bianca is necessary. You sit, we sift, at some point we ask questions. But either way, you will not go quietly back to Death's arms while we avenge the woman you say you love.

He teleported a small first aid kit into Maxim's lap and motioned for the bathroom just off the room to one side.

Clean up. Get back here in better fucking shape. You have 5 minutes.

Nicolas' tone and timbre were very cold, detached. He was determined to do the job, then figure out later if he needed to grieve.
 
They wouldn’t do it, they wouldn’t let him die for his failure. He was sure Morgan would. He didn’t think he would even have to ask. But they wouldn’t show him any mercy. Not that he deserved any.

Nicolas gave him a chair and a first aid kit and told him to wash up. He tossed the kit on the table and wiped his hands over his face.

“I don’t need clean hands to tell you what I know.”

Maxim respected Nicolas’ no-nonsense attitude, and he tried to pull himself together. The piece of himself that had opened up when he met Delilah was sealed off once again, as it had when his family had been murdered. He knew he would have been better off if he had never let emotion back into his psyche.

“She must have a fucking army at her disposal. They’re well trained, well-armed – and they came out of the damn woodwork. I don’t know where she hid them – she had security details, but during my time working with her I got wind of NOTHING on this scale. And they mobilized in a matter of hours.”

He paused for a second, then indicated the dumped contents of the bag.

“That’s all that was in the safe. Files and what looks like video cards. We”

He swallowed, then continued.

“We didn’t get a chance to look through any of it, but she hoped Haleigh would be able to find something to use against Bianca. We were on our way back here with it when we were attacked. We fought them off, but we…we were so stupid…we got flanked and walked right into an ambush.”

He looked down at the ground for a second.

“Bianca had the sword she stole with her. She kept saying how it was rightfully hers. [checks his wound] She stabbed me with it and it hurt like hell. She wanted the files back, and said she wants all of you…dead. [pause] Delilah was adamant about protecting the rest of you from her. I think that’s why she… I tried to pull her out, but I was too far away. The generator went up and everything was just…gone. No one could have survived it. No one.”
 
Bishop: We Didn't get a chance to look through any of it, but she hoped Haleigh would be able to find something to use against Bianca.

"You.... didn't get a chance to look at it? The two of you were holed up there for hours, in that godforsaken cabin that doesn't have so much as a fucking telephone landline or even a fifty year old antenna TV. What the fuck DID you get a chance to do? Aside from dressing Delilah's wounds, which can't have taken all of ten MINUTES, what could possibly be more pressing than looking at the very shit that you almost just died to retrieve???"

She sorted out the paperwork at the table with a crease in her brow. Well, at least there was some good news.

"None of this is information about us. These are in depth files and tests performed on Bianca. It looks like she hired a team of specialists to try and figure out her own nature. Well, wait... here's some stuff on Morgan's Valiant days, mostly with regards to her battle with Black."
 
His eyes slid upwards to Haleigh's face as she spoke, his gaze steady, devoid of emotion.

"We had a lot to talk about, but that's none of your business."

He looked away.

"If she had anything on you all, it would have been there. So you're safe then - Bianca's dead. It's...over."

He stood up.

"I don't suppose you'll consider my debt to you paid, but nevertheless, it's time for me to go."
 
Maxim declined the cleanup, which was just as well with Nicolas. HE could sit in his own blood if he wished. Then Haleigh asked a very good question.

"You.... didn't get a chance to look at it? The two of you were holed up there for hours, in that godforsaken cabin that doesn't have so much as a fucking telephone landline or even a fifty year old antenna TV. What the fuck DID you get a chance to do? Aside from dressing Delilah's wounds, which can't have taken all of ten MINUTES, what could possibly be more pressing than looking at the very shit that you almost just died to retrieve???"
Click to expand...

Nicolas could easily guess the answer, could likely scan for 'evidence', but Maxim's answer removed any doubt in his mind.

"We had a lot to talk about, but that's none of your business."
Click to expand...

Nicolas grimaced momentarily. At least he had some honor for whatever they did share in those hours. He then got up to leave, but Nicolas was not ready for him to depart just yet.

"I don't suppose you'll consider my debt to you paid, but nevertheless, it's time for me to go."
Click to expand...

Go where? I have a strong feeling that this is not yet done...I would like for you to stay a bit longer. Thank you.

The door slamming as he spoke indicated that it was not ACTUALLY a suggestion. Nicolas turned back to see what Haleigh was working with...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top