The sum of all fears PART 1

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apartment 3

[ Sharon had plopped down on her large sofa. The mutate was BEYOND through with Nicolas. He had betrayed her trust and after her time among the Amazons, she came to believe trust was one of the most VALUABLE things. She told Nicolas about the Zaccharas, who they were...why they werent to be trusted and he went behind her back and fraternized with Claudia...an ENEMY! ]

[ in the courtyard, a FRIEND was in trouble. he was DUTY bound to assist her and he did NOT! Oh yes...Sharon was THROUGH with him. ]

[ after settling her birds to sleep, she now was left with her own thoughts which churned. Ripping Claudia limb from limb; beating Clara bloody; punting Nicolas to the highest reaches of the atmosphere]

[ as the rain began to fall, Sharon quieted her spirit and her vengefull thoughts...if Nicolas was going to do what he did....then she'd do what she must. Maybe she couldnt trust ANY of them. Maybe they were ALL as weak as HE was...but could anyone be as dispicable as that cocky cow Claudia and her slimey worm of a sister, Clara?]

[ she was settling but she was FAR from finished with them...]

[ far from finished...]

[ the mutate soon fell into a rare but sometimes needed slumber on her couch, in her dark apartment with only flashes of lightening and cracks of thunder in the rain rebelling against the deceptive silence and tranquility of the apartment.]

[ her first mistake....and maybe her last]
 
the forest...

<< thunder gives way from waking reality to the dream zone...but Sharon's silver eyes pop open to find herself in the forest...the same where her cabin was...ARKLAY FOREST.>>

<< the mutate, now in her "costume" as Silver Swan finds herself very much AWAY from Melrose Place and must figure out what is going on. She won't have to wait long for answers though...as she sees the lake out in front of her, and her cabin behind her...>>
 
her nightmare

[ as soon as she realized she was laying on the forest floor...she immediately sat up..and got to her feet.]

what is THIS!?

[ it seemed to be a sunny afternoon, with a breeze in th air. the forest was not obviously touched by the T Virus outbreak from the mansion that loomed high above in the distant mountain....it seemed almost PLEASANT.]

[ she heard KIDS laughing and playing...and suddenly a small group of children came rushing by! she looked up toward the cabin and saw CAMP COUNSELORS...some standing around, some smoking...and TWO in particular having SEX on the front porch.]


how irresponsible. foolish youth....

[but what REALLY alarmed her was the sound of water splashing...and the sound of cries for help! out in the lake! a little boy...CAMERON was FAR out in the lake...and crying for help...drowning!]

Hera and Athena It's Alison's BROTHER...but he's a CHILD!

[ she gasped as she rushed up to the porch...and saw the two counselors...]

HELLO!? there's a CHILD DROWNING!

[ the two teens...one a black male and the other a white brunette female seemed too engrossed to care.]

HEY! I'm TALKING TO YOU!

[ the MALE, with a name tag that said NICOLAS on it responded after a grunt...]

Nicolas: uhh...sorry old lady, but i'm kinda BUSY right now...

[ and he proceeds on with his rather ANIMAL like sexual activity with the young woman...with a name tag on HER shirt of CLAUDIA! Sharon gasped in disbelief...]

STUPID BOY! HAVE YOU NO SHAME! NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL!? what kind of BASTARD let's his TEAM MATE....

[ Sharon GRABS his shoulder and FORCES HIM to face her...but instead his head only turns to meet her gaze...and the woman he was having sex with smiles just as wickedly...before turning into a pale looking corpse]

Nicolas: Chill out, SHARON...I'm a YOUNG MAN! I GOT NEEDS!

[ Sharon looks dismayed Nicolas laughs at her. She SHOVES Nicolas and Claudia off the porch...and she turns around to see the storm over the lake...]

the little boy!

[ rushing forward and across the grass to the pier...she reaches the edge of the pier and take off into the air, skimming the water as she streaks toward the boy.]

HANG ON...I'll save you!

[ she says defiantly as the dark storm clouds seem to billow and swell. she reaches the boy and grabs hold of his hand.]

GIVE ME YOUR HAND!

[ just under the water...she sees BARBAS...trying to drown him...trying to pull him under.]

NO! I won't LET YOU!

[ Sharon begins to exert her super strength! and is WINNING the tug of war...when suddenl Barbas looks up at her from the water...]

Barbas: BIG MISTAKE, MUTATE!

imitating Morgan's voice: THIS IS MY YARD!

<< a blast of water explodes upward as Sharon LOOSES her grip on Cameron and she is sent flying back...landing on the peer and rolling backward. She SCRAMBLES to her feet as Barbas propels up from the raging water and FIRE...as the cries of children, witches lost fills the air.>>

Silver Swan: I'm NOT AFRAID OF YOU!

<< she stands defiantly, now wearing her silver eye mask, she is in FULL battle mode.>>

Barbas: So strong...so much RAW POWER! You'll SAVE Cameron, WONT you, MUTATE!?

<< the day has turned to NIGHT as he closes in on her.>>

Silver Swan: I'll KILL YOU! HOW IS THAT?

<< the mutate charges forward...and leaps, BARRELING into Barbas like a super powered foot ball player and slamming him down to the ground, where she begins to BANG HIS HEAD into the pier. she then punches him across the face with such ferocity! a normal man or even some unprotected super powered beings would have been battered into a COMA if not DEAD by now! >>

Barbas: ooh....so STRONG...so POWERFULL! << morphing into NICOLAS>> Isnt THIS who you'd RATHER be beating the hell out of? SILVER SWAN!?

<< as Sharon gasps....the area around her INSTANTLY changes. She is now back in...THE CELL where she was REVIVED and TRANSFORMED Into the Silver Swan...she's INSIDE the stasis tube...which is quickly filling up with the nutrient liquid...and she can't BUST OUT!>>

Rick Riley: You've been a NAUGHTY BIRD...it's time to clip those wings...and make SURE you stay PUT!

NOOOO!

<< she screams so loud that it seems to FAINTLY echo in the skies of the WAKING world...enough to sound like something MORE than the wild weather.>>
 
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The Cell

<< as the Silver Swan finds herself BACK where she began her new life as a mutate....trapped in the stasis tube that is filling with liquid, she sees an impossibly alive RICK RILEY...his neck DRIPPING with blood...but his body in as great of shape as ever!>>

<< the bio system lab where she was engineered/MUTATED is full operational.>>

Rick Riley: you ESCAPED before we could COMPLETE the process, Silver Swan! You are to be what The Super Soldier and Black Widow were NOT. You are to be the ultimate weapon...subject to my EVERY command! you were not resurrected to LIVE...you were resurrected to SERVE and you will DO as I command or you will DIE and be tossed out with the rest of the BIO HAZARDS!

<< Sharon was now being subjected to NERVE GAS...>>
 
the nightmare

[ Sharon begins to PANIC ...for some, "Home" is where the heart is...but THIS is where Sharon lost MUCH of her humanity and was primed to become a PAWN of the very thing she DIED fighting against! and to see Rick Riley....NO! She WOULD NOT yield...she would NOT give in!]

No....no AMAZON ...admits defeat...until the last BREATH is crushed from her BREAST!


Release me!...LET ME OUT

[ the nerve gass sends her into FIGHT OR FLIGHT mode and she unleashes the FULL POWER of her sonic scream! that sound...a roaring jet engine, a strong woman's scream, a tornado, a locomotive at full speed....it comes together in one frenzied symphony as Silver Swan's sonic scream SHATTERS the stasis tube with EXPLOSIVE result and causes the CELL to TREMBLE violently...all glass and thin surfaces SHATTER and the air itself RIPPLES as the Silver Swan's SONIC SCREAM broadcasts across the ENTIRE area and is heard across the astral plane...by the LAST person she wants to see.]

[ the backlash frees the mutate who comes falling out and landing on the floor...looking around quickly. she gets to her feet..]

WHERE ARE YOU! WHERE ARE YOU!? COME OUT NOW! FIGHT ME!

[ barbas sits, leisurely on a platform near the ceiling of the nerve center of the Cell and claps.]

Barbas: you ARE powerfull, Silver Swan....but what good is POWER if you arent even able to trust the people you CLAIM to care about and HOPE they care about YOU!

[ he drops down with the poise of a cat and lands...before reappearing in front of her then beside her.]

Barbas: You REEK of man's science...your SOUL...your EXISTENCE is an ABOMINATION to nature. You're WORSE than Patrick Phillips or Haleigh Davidoff...the Super Soldier was a killing machine. Black Widow is an amoral freak....while YOU....you stupidly believe that you retain some of your "HUMANITY"....you are NOT human...you are the psychotic MASS MURDERERING SILVER SWAN! and You should just GIVE UP, Sharon. GIVE UP the pretense...and DIE


[ Sharon lunges forward but is GRIPPED by PAIN...that tube that Nicolas had extracted from her body..that contiained the toxic chemicals that would ultimately KILL HER...was now some how BACK...INSIDE OF HER, and pumping at FULL STRENGTH....]

...wont...let you...

Barbas: Ohhh...I wont HAVE TO...you will do it FOR ME!.....time for your SWAN SONG...BYE BYE BIRDIE!


[sharon begins to choke and sputter...coughing up BLOOD! blood flows from her eyes...her nose...and her body is now WRACKED with pain as it is is broken down by the corrosive toxin inside of her....she struggles to overcome...but she can't....she's losing ...she's DYING.]

in her apartment

[Sharon convulses...VIOLENTLY...as she chokes and coughs...and her vital signs are now CRASHING.]
 
Delilah spent the afternoon doing nothing really - mostly she sat, nervous about the impending altercation that was to come. She sat on her sofa, a drink in one hand, biting the nails on the other. She stared off into the distance, not really seeing her apartment, not really seeing anything. Nothing but the question, What the hell were they going to do?

And then something intruded into her consciousness. She tilted her head slightly, inclining it in the general direction of the door. She heard...something. It took a second for her mind to process the sounds that were coming through her extra sensitive hearing.

Someone coughing. Someone choking. Something was wrong.

"Alison!"

She yelled as she rose and ran out of her door, not waiting for help, following the sounds of distress to Sharon's apartment.

She kicked in the door, and saw Silver Swan having what looked like a seizure on the floor.

Delilah knelt next to her, placing her hands on Sharon's chest trying to hold her down long enough to find the origin of her condition.

"Sharon! Sharon, can you hear me?!"

Silver Swan continued to have her violent reaction. She was in so much pain..she was dying. Delilah looked around her desperately, tears in her eyes.

Barbas: You can't save her. She's going to die, and there's NOTHING you can do about it.

Delilah's head whirled around blindly.

"Help!"

She looked back at Sharon.

"Sharon, wake up! Please!"

Her voice cracked as she looked on helplessly, paralyzed.

"Help, please, someone..."

But it came out almost at a whisper, her throat so dry, so useless...

Barbas: That's it. You are useless. You've never done anything to help them. They don't need you. They're all going to die and all you can do is watch it happen...

Delilah's eyes were wide with horror.

"No...no..."
 
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Nicolas had done all of the work he could do. Even in this economic climate, his father had done such a great job of setting things up that the company nearly ran ITSELF. He sat at his desk, wondering what to do next when he detected a disturbance...someone CLOSE, someone in trouble.

It was Sharon, and Barbas had her on his turf when Nicolas detected that he was harming her somehow. The demon sent a warning.

You have no PLACE here, she doesn't believe in you, godling. leave her to me, leave them all to me, and I will consider us even. I have some measure of respect for your father, and I have no real quarrel with either of you. Turn away and live.

Nicolas did not even need to think about it. He appeared by Sharon's side and released her from the poisons as before. However, he knew that he could not heal her and she was still in trouble here as he manifested his axe and his royal blue astral armor.

Moving Sharon behind him with a sweep of his left hand, he spoke to her once.

I've got you, Swan. When the moment arises, RUN. You are no match for him here alone. Maybe neither of us are.

Barbas was upon him immediately, the fury of the scorned demon evident as he hammered away at the young demigod.

You fool!!! You throw away your life, your heritage, your mantle for this MONSTER!! She would kill you even now for betraying a life she no longer has, for an IMAGINARY enemy. SHE would leave YOU to me if the roles were reversed!!!


Nicola shook his head.

I harmed her, wronged her, and I am responsible for how she feels now. But I will not leave her or ANY of them to you, to anyone, no matter WHAT.


Nicolas did much better this time overall, deflecting him at every turn, but the strain of not being able to attack as he protected Sharon was causing him to take damage. A punch for Sharon blocked here, or intercepted there, and he was slowly falling away a bit when he heard in desperation, another mind of the Six, calling for someone to help Sharon. He tore open a portal to the physical world where the mind was and found Delilah, wavering as she tried to rouse Sharon's physical form. They would all three be visible to her now. Nicolas spoke to her as he shielded Sharon's spirit, his own form taking punishment as he spoke to her desperately.

Delilah, you are NOT useless. YOU are one of us, and we depend on you. Sharon needs you. Snap out it!!! HERE!!!

Nicolas teleports an epi-pen to Delilah's hand.

USE it NOW!!! Pull her baAAAAUUUGH!!!

Barbas was behind Nicolas, grinning with demonic delight as he lifted the demigod off the ground with the adamantium needle used to inject Sharon with poison. The combination of sudden damage to the spine, lungs, and chest as the now-empty needle exited out the front of his chest was catastrophic, and the monster laughed as he pushed him through the closing portal and on top of both women.

His laugh could be heard as he faded away, at least for now.

I TOLD YOU, DEMIGOD. You should have stayed away when you had the chance. Your love for them was your undoing.
 
into apt. 3

<< Spellbinder and Firebird teleport into Silver Swan's apartment via stepping disc. BOTH women in their current costumes of choice, battle ready.>>

WHAT HAPPENED!?

<< Spellbinder shouts as she sees Delilah suffering while kneeling over a visibly endangered Sharon.>>

Delilah?

Firebird: It's Barbas...he's attacking BOTH of them!

Spellbinder: Then we've got to help them! GODDESS!!!

<< at that moment, both women were startled as Rampage came falling through some kind of RIFT!>>

Barbas said:
Barbas was behind Nicolas, grinning with demonic delight as he lifted the demigod off the ground with the adamantium needle used to inject Sharon with poison. The combination of sudden damage to the spine, lungs, and chest as the now-empty needle exited out the front of his chest was catastrophic, and the monster laughed as he pushed him through the closing portal and on top of both women.

His laugh could be heard as he faded away, at least for now.

I TOLD YOU, DEMIGOD. You should have stayed away when you had the chance. Your love for them was your undoing.
Click to expand...


Harbinger!!!

<< the other witch had arrived with Delilah. >>

Where's Black Widow! We need her!

<< Spellbinder, being between Sharon and Nicolas as among the STRONGEST of the team, immediately moves to catch Nicolas from falling DOWN on top of Delilah and Sharon! She gently lays him down on the carpet. Firebird reached Delilah, to calm her down and to jar her away from Barbas' haunting whisper. >>

He's been badly hurt....

<< Spell KNEW she had to use her magick to heal him...but FIRST she had to pull that needle OUT!>>
 
apartment 3

:: She arrived with Delilah first...seeing Sharon in dire trouble, Delilah immediately tried to awaken the mutate. Harbinger on the other hand was immediately taken aback by the thin viel that was weakening between waking reality and the dream zone in this apartment.::

::impressions of her BROTHER and just how bad of shape he was in began to creep up on her. her seer's eye detecing more and more of the grim battle that awaited them.::

We're not alone. Barbas is close...and he's got Nicolas!

Delilah....

:: Alison moves forward to try to steady Delilah and ward off Barbas::



:: Spellbinder and Firebird arrive moments later via stepping disc, ready to assist.::

Morgan watch out!

:: Nicolas emerges from a violent rift, having been cast out by Barbas ...and wounded, he's about to fall down on top of Delilah and Sharon! Morgan grabs him and lays him down while Firebird sees to Delilah.::

:: Alison, in HER current "costume" [ black, cropped leather jacket, blue corsett, black leather mini skirt and black high heeled boots] steps forward...but is halted.::

Barbas: I have your brother, Alison. and his lingering AGONY is a joy to my soul! your FAILURE is my TRIUMPH!

:: the alluring precog looked visibly distraught...as she lifted her hand, about to do SOMETHING...but....::

Spellbinder: Harbinger, PLEASE...help me!

:: Spellbinder was attempting to assist Nicolas and Alison SNAPPED out of her moment of personal doubt and despair long enough to realize that she could teleblink the needle out of Nicolas which would be LESS traumatic than Morgan YANKING it out with her physical strength...AND she could send the need into SHARON to revive HER with its last bit of contents!::

OH!

epi-pen...INJECT

:: with her hand extened out she gestures and waves ala' Prue Halliwell. a rushing, chiming sound is heard as the needle transforms into sparkling dark glowing orbs and immediately leaves Nicolas' body with NO physical trauma and rushes across the room to Sharon where it lunchings into the side of her neck, one of the FEW places on her body that was exposed.::


:: Spellbinder then immediately casts a strong healing spell as she restores Nicolas' body...and unconsciously she begins to craddle the fallen mutant in her arms. concerned about him.::

Black Widow...we need you...

:: Alison says as she calls for Haleigh via communicator.::
 
in deeper

<< the storm is well on its way...both literally and figuratively as Sharon narrowly escapes dying in her nightmare and ultimately dying for real. Nicolas is gravely injured but with the arrival of MorningStar, Harbinger, Spellbinder and Firebird...damage control and rescue efforts are immediately underway with Spellbinder tending to Rampage; Harbinger to Silver Swan and Firebird to a shaken MorningStar.>>


<< Harbinger calls for Black Widow, Shadow Weaver and Arsenal to join them in Sharon's apartment and Shadow Weaver moves herself and Mike to avoid the storm while Black Widow arrives under her own power as well.>>

<< Nicolas will survive thanks to Morgan's spell as the sorceress craddles him [momentarily FORGETTING how much she's supposed to hate him right now] and Sharon, while badly shaken and nearly killed, soon begins to come around under the helpfull and watchfull eye of Harbinger. Nicolas saved her in the nightmare, but would she realize that? Would that even change how she now felt about him?>>

<< Barbas wasnt through yet...and the Six were now being forced to cross the line that he drew in front of them. Thier lives, Cameron's life and the accharas were now hanging in the balance.>>

at the Roosevelt

<< The Zaccharas seem to be settled into their evening, despite the storm raging outside.>>

<< but as Clara and Claudia move about their large suite, the phone begins to ring....and will continue to ring until it is answered....who could be calling them? who even knew they were there?>>
 
After cleaning up Clara and explaining how the Nicolas situation came about, Claudia decided to head out to buy a couple of outfits for herself and her sister that would last through the weekend. Gone for only about an hour, it was enough time to give Clara and Johnny some much needed alone time, and for Claudia to get inside before the massive storm struck LA.

Holding a few bags from Kitson, Claudia opened the door to her suite wearing an entirely different outfit from what she left in. Dressed in buisness attire before, the brunette decided to throw together a casual outfit and wear it out of the store so she would be more comfortable throughout the day.

"Jesus, it's like a freakin' monsoon out there."

Closing the door behind her, she carried the bags into the livingroom and threw them onto the couch.

"I JUST reached the main doors when it started to downpour."

Tossing her purse next to the bags, she began to shuffle through what she bought: a few pairs of jeans, some casual t-shirts/tank tops, a few 'dressy' shirts, bras, underwear, sleepwear, and some shoes.

"I picked you up some things I thought you would like. I figured this would be a good start."

As Claudia began pulling out the different articles of clothing to show her sister, the hotel phone began to ring. Not really thinking anything of it, she figured it was room service wanting their order for dinner. Reaching over to the end table where the phone was sitting, Claudia picked it up and put it to her ear.

"Hello?"
 
It was as if reality itself split apart, and suddenly Nicolas was standing before her, shielding Sharon’s astral self, also broken and bloody. And standing on his other side was Barbas!

“No…” she said again.

She just stared down at the epi-pen that appeared in her hand. Too scared to move.

Barbas stabbed Nicolas – and even from where she was standing it looked like the damage was irreparable.

“Nicolas!”

She screamed.

The others arrives and intervened, saving Nicolas and Sharon. Delilah sank to the floor, the look of horror morphing into a blank stare that saw nothing but her failure.
 
MP -apartment 3

:: Kneeling down beside Delilah, Alison, in a rare display, wrapped her arms around Delilah as Firebird did her best to calm the mutant.::

It's okay....we're here now....TOGETHER!

You KNOW what Barbas said isnt true.


:: The precog said this to Delilah and HERSELF. In her mind, she was ALREADY looking ahead. She was thinking about what she'd have to do to save Cameron and GODDESS HELP anyone who either GOT IN HER WAY or seemed to be LESS than contributing to the effort. Delilah and Morgan may be softening on Nicolas even at the moment but Alison kept her distance on that. She'd ALREADY tried giving him the benefit of the doubt and he pulled the rug out from under her.::

We have to go now...we have to go and get him before he gets US!

:: she said as she waited for the others to arrive.::
 
in deeper!

at the Roosevelt:

<< the storm seems to intensify as the POWER now fluxuates at the Roosevelt. as Claudia answers the phone, she is greeted by the painfull sound of adamantium nails scraping across a board surface. the sound is unusually AMPLIFIED and directed through the phone.>>

Sharon: You thought we were FINISHED!? You're going to DIE!

You're... GOING ....TO... DIE!!!

<< Sharon's SCREAM causes the phone to EXPLODE in Claudia's hand as the hotel BLACKS OUT.>>

<< the darkness is briefly immobilizing and the thunder crashses with resounding effect around the hotel. Claudia, Clara and Johnny will soon REALIZE thanks to flashes of lightning...that the suite is now populated with glow red eyed birds...crows, sparrows and other bird types. after a few brief flashes...the birds ATTACK with such ferocity that hasnt been seen since the Silver Swan's FIRST rampage.>>

<< the suite hems the three in...and there is NO immediate escape as the birds bite, stab, claw and beat at their targets.>>

Silver Swan: KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!

Spellbinder: STOP!

<< an eldritch chime sounds off in the air as Spellbinder, as she appeared in her FINAL form during the INFERNO appears, completely covered in eldritch armour, with only her demonic , glowing red eyes shining through the slit in the featureless eldritch face armour, she also sports an armour covered tail and grips the soul sword. the light from the flame of the sword casts illumination around the room as the birds have seemingly disappeared!>>

Spellbinder: You can't have ALL the fun, Silver Swan.

<< Poinnting her armoured finger, a chime sounds off, followed by thunder as Claudia is blasted in her CHEST by an eldritch bolt and sent flying into a wall and held there..the HOLE in her chest growing larger as ROACHES and WORMS feast on the wound.>>

Like i told you...YOU ARE NO MATCH for me! You played with the PROS and you've LOST! now here's your PARTING GIFT!

<< HARBINGER appears behind Johnny, grabbing him and snapping his neck with one smooth move as well as using her TELEINETIC power as she then sends him flying forward into Clara and knocking the woman into Spellbinder's armoured grasp, just like in the OTHER nightmare!>>

Harbinger: You get to watch Clara DIE and know that it's YOUR FAULT!

<< Silver Swan, Black Widow, MorningStar and Firebird appear.>>

in unison: GO AHEAD! KILL THE BITCH! MAKE HER PAY FOR CLAUDIA'S TREACHERY!

<< Spellbinder casts a spell, turning Clara's lower body into that of a gnarled tree....before setting her ABLAZE with mystic flame! the flames rise up and began consuming her UPPER BODY as well.>>

Spellbinder: What NOW, bitch? let's see your precious father save you from ME....FROM HELL![

<< Spellbinder HURLS the soul sword at Claudia...the sword travels with perfect aim and the dun of flames. as it COLLIDES with her, She Claudia and Johnny find themselves BACK in Melrose Place in their recently evicted apartment. It is still storming and all three are severely shaken...the sensations of what they saw and felt were QUITE REAL.>>

<< though they may not have known it, Barbas wanted them back at MP...and now he had them there. they were ALL going down tonight if he had HIS way.>>
 
Hotel Roosevelt

Claudia explained about Nicolas… and then left to pick up a few necessities. Johnny helped Clara out of her wet clothes and helped her warm up. ;) Claudia was smart enough to take her time… and an afternoon delight was just the thing Clara needed to take her mind off everything. Of course…. It wasn't too long before life would come crashing back down on her. There was storm on the horizon, threatening and looming ever closer….. And then finally breaking violently against the windows. Laying in bed, she heard Claudia's voice from the living room.

Claudia: "Jesus, it's like a freakin' monsoon out there."

Barbas: [in Anthony's voice] "Oh, she sounds happy. You know, like she completely FORGOT that she just almost got you killed."

Clara disregarded her father's snide comment as she rose, pulling on Johnny's shirt and buttoning it up. Johnny got up as well, putting on his pants and following Clara out into the living room.

Claudia: "I JUST reached the main doors when it started to downpour."

Barbas/Anthony: "You can ignore me all you like, Princess. You know I'm right. You're in denial, JUST like she is…. And you're going to PAY FOR IT WITH YOUR LIFE."

Claudia: "I picked you up some things I thought you would like. I figured this would be a good start."

Clara nodded and picked out something to change into, as Claudia went to answer the phone. She went back into the bedroom and changed quickly… The lights were flickering and the thunder crashing and Clara scowled a bit. She'd been through more power outages this past week than she had in the last three years. The room is plunged into darkness. Clara sighs and hops into her jeans. Lightning flashes and Clara freezes. Lightning flashes again and confirms what she'd seen before… birds! She makes her way out into the livingroom, fumbling through the darkness.

"Birds…. In my room!"

Lighting crashes again… there are birds out here too! They ATTACK! Clara fights back, electrocuting the ones who swoop in with plasma energy. She closes the gap between her and where Claudia and John are and defends them too…. But then a chime sounds off…. And Spellbinder appears again. She BLASTS Claudia!

"CLAUDIA!!"

Spellbinder: "Like i told you...YOU ARE NO MATCH for me! You played with the PROS and you've LOST! now here's your PARTING GIFT!"

Barbas/Anthony: "Well, I hate to have to say I told you so…. No, wait… I'm lying. I enjoy saying it. I told you so, Princess."

A different woman appears and snaps Johnny's neck, then tosses him right INTO Clara, which knocks her RIGHT into Spellbinder's waiting grip. Sharon, Haleigh, Blaze, and Delilah are here as well…. They ALL encourage Spellbinder to KILL Clara in retribution for Claudia's actions. Johnny's dead… AGAIN and when Clara spots his slumped body…. She SNAPS, turning to face Spellbinder with a scowl.

"You want to kill me? FINE! You're ALL COMING WITH ME!!"

A shower of flaming comets and other extraterrestrial debris rains down on them, TARGETING the Six. Spellbinder lays a PAINFUL curse on Clara, BURNING her with that fire again…

But then it STOPS, as abruptly as it began. They are all alive and well…. And back in the stupid apartment. After making sure Claudia and Johnny are alright, she looks around and sighs. She didn't even care to understand what was going on.

[deadpan] "Oh look…. We're back in Hellrose Place."
 
Clara Oswald
Clara Oswald
LMAO Hellrose Place
Melrose - apt 5

They tried to relax, but Zach knew Haleigh was still disturbed about the events of the day. There was an air of uncertainty about her and she was quiet and unusually distant.

"What's going on in that head of yours?"

Haleigh: "Oh… I was just… thinking about the Zaccharas."

A thin ice subject… should he attempt to navigate it?

"You think Morgan should've killed them?"

Haleigh: "You DON'T? They've proven to be trouble. Claudia especially. And Clara…. Her powers."

Uh oh… she was getting defensive. He knew this was headed south and FAST. There was no way for him to explain Claudia to Haleigh, not after what had happened between them. It would sound like he was taking the wrong side. But he'd sensed Claudia's guilt… her shame and self loathing… the self-destruction… the inner pain she carried with her… there was a reason Claudia did the things she did, and it was probably pre-emptive. If she hurt those around her and drove them away… she'd never have to worry about being hurt herself. Zach knew this… but explaining it to Haleigh was a bad idea. He just shrugged.

"I don't know WHAT to do about them… but if the Six starts deciding who to execute…. [wary look] Karen's right. It's NOT the way to go about things."

Intercom: "Black Widow…we need you…"

Saved by the distress call. Zach stands as Haleigh does. She takes a deep breath and looks at the tv, which turns on and cycles through the video feeds.

Haleigh: [pointing at the screen shot of the Zacchara in apt 6] "They're back."

"Should we do something about it?"

Haleigh: [shaking her head] "Not yet. Family first."

She disappeared… he stayed. He would go if needed, but like Haleigh'd requested before, he wouldn't get in the way needlessly. He glanced at the television…. The screen was divided into several squares showing different parts of the complex. He could see apt 3, where Haleigh'd just joined the others, and apt 6, where the Zaccharas where. Between the anger and anxiety, there were a whole lot of negative emotions flowing through the place, and Zach tried to steady them, but it was a bit overwhelming…. There were so many affected people.
 
Melrose - Apt 5

Lost in her thoughts, Haleigh stares vacantly out the window at the storm. Barbas was a menace they needed to squash quickly, but he wasn't Haleigh's top concern anymore. The Zaccharas… before they'd been a mere annoyance, now they were a bonafide PROBLEM. The funny thing was… Claudia didn't even take first priority. It was Clara. She'd proven to be JUST as unstable and homicidal as her wacko father… and even that wouldn't be so bad, if it weren't for the effect of her powers. Haleigh didn't like it when her sole weakness was highlighted. She didn't like being crippled and weak, and she DAMN SURE didn't like admitting to everyone that the flaw existed.

In the back of her mind, the surveillance of Melrose ran uninterrupted. There was a spike in activity… people were gathering in Apt 3. Hmm… I wonder why… we're supposed to be RESTING. They appeared to be having a rather good time… drinking and laughing animatedly. They were kind of huddled together and seemed to keep glancing at the camera.

Barbas: They're gathering to talk about you behind your back… about how weak you are… they're laughing at you…. They think it's funny now… but just wait. When your weakness becomes a problem… they'll decide to be rid of you. You KNOW they won't tolerate a you being a liability.

Shove it. I'll KILL that bipolar little bitch before it gets to that.

Barbas: It's too late… you had your chance… you were too weak and sickly to do anything.

Zach: "What's going on in that head of yours?"

His voice drew her out… but she didn't turn to look at him. She kept her answer vague.

"Oh… I was just… thinking about the Zaccharas."

Zach: "You think Morgan should have killed them?"

I think I should've done it myself! She thought, but didn't say. "You DON'T? they've proven to be trouble. Claudia especially. And Clara… her powers…."

Barbas: She'll be the death of you…. And you know it, don't you?

Zach: "I don't know WHAT to do about them… but if the Six starts deciding who to execute…. [wary look] Karen's right. It's NOT the way to go about things."

Intercom: "Black Widow…we need you…"

Alison's voice sounded hurried and concerned. Haleigh suddenly got the instinctive feeling that the video feed in her head had been tampered with. She glanced at the TV, which lit up with accurate images. That goddamned Barbas… there was pandemonium in Apt 3. And then… she caught sight of movement in a darkened apt 6. The Zaccharas. She pointed at the screen.

[a bit surprised] "They're back."

Zach: "Should we do something about it?"

[shaking her head] "Not yet. Family first."

She left then, circumnavigating the storm as she went to Apt 3. She looked around at the scene…. Morgan was cradling Nicolas. Everybody looked alarmed.

"Alison…. What's going on??"

Haleigh felt guilty and ignorant for having to ask. She was way off her game. Barbas was somewhere smirking in self-satisfaction.
 
apartment 3

:: tucking some of her blue/black hair [ and the recently aquired white streak] behind her ear as Haleigh appeared, Alison looked at her grimly.::

The same thing that is going on with you. Barbas is pushing us. It's time we pushed back! We have much at stake...

Cameron

The Zaccharas have returned to MP...though not under their own power.

:: looking at Shadow Weaver::

Karen, please SCRAMBLE the powers of the Zaccharas and Johnny...

Shadow Weaver: Alison, that will leave them defenseless against Barbas...

Spellbinder: Does that really matter, mother? Those pieces of garbage deserve whatever Barbas has instore for them and we don't need them running lose and unchecked. If we can leave them here for Barbas to pick off...then we'll be doing ourselves a favor.

:: the bloodthirsty nature of Alison and Morgan was showing loud and clear at this point.::
 
Mike entered with Karen and took stock of the scene. He smiled a bit as he saw Morgan CRADLING a recovering Nicolas but it quickly faded as Alison made a request.

Karen, please SCRAMBLE the powers of the Zaccharas and Johnny...

Shadow Weaver: Alison, that will leave them defenseless against Barbas...

Spellbinder: Does that really matter, mother? Those pieces of garbage deserve whatever Barbas has instore for them and we don't need them running lose and unchecked. If we can leave them here for Barbas to pick off...then we'll be doing ourselves a favor.
Click to expand...

Karen, I understand their feelings, but do NOT do this. If we cripple them for Barbas to devour, we will be HELPING him and playing to the worst of ourselves.

Looking at Morgan and Alison.

If we MUST kill them, fine. But let's at least have the guts to look them in the face while we do it in battle. Because if we ASSIST Barbas in killing them, we will be no better than they EVER were. NO better. Please ladies, don't go down that road. That is what Barbas wants. If we become monsters to stop him, he will win in the end. Because he will always exist as long as we let ourselves succumb to that part of us. And he will be back again.
 
Almost immediately after picking up the telephone, Claudia pulled it away from her ear, hearing the loud feedback of Sharon's sonic scream. The phone shattered causing her to quickly step back. Stupid bitch... she thought to herself; the ringing in her ear MORE than apparent. And as if lack of hearing in her one ear wasn't a problem already, the lights cut out in the hotel, causing Claudia to see nothing but black.

[deadpan] "Fabulous."

Eventhough she couldn't physically see, Claudia remembered exactly where everything was positioned in the hotel room; down to what books lined the bookshelves. Easily making her way passed the coffee table and chairs that set up the livingroom, she began to head toward Clara's bedroom before stopping....a flash of lightning illuminating the room...

[confused]"...was that a duck?"

The room went dark again, but little red eyes could be seen everwhere. Lightning flashed again revealing that there WERE birds in the hotel room.

"Damn her [Sharon]."

As if on cue, the birds began to swarm and attack. Claudia quickly began to swat them away, her skill as a gymnast and martical artist helped greatly in trying to keep them at bay. However, there were so many it was nearly impossible not to get bit. But the birds were the least of her worries. Spellbinder appeared in the room, wearing her demonic armor like in their LAST dream. Then it clicked....this wasn't real. This was BARBAS. But eventhough it was a dream, it STILL hurt like a bitch. Spellbinder unleashed an eldritch bolt, hitting Claudia directly in the chest and throwing her against the opposing wall. Everything went black....

Moments later, she could hear the storm raging outside again. Opening her eyes, she was laying in their old vacent apartment at Melrose Place.

Clara: Oh look…. We're back in Hellrose Place.

"Maybe we're their worst nightmare?"

Claudia cracked a smile, making a little joke about how obsessive Barbas was with having them around the six. Getting up from the floor, Claudia brushed the dirt off her jeans and scanned her eyes around the apartment, KNOWING Haleigh already knew they were there.

Walking over to John, there was no sense of them sticking around.

"Lets go."
 
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