The sum of all fears PART 1

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in the arena

:: Alison had reached her brother. he was badly hurt, his body, his SPIRIT, his psyche. She, his sister could feel the pain and turmoil he was in! She didnt melt in a panic though, instead she felt herself growing cold.::

:: if this was her worst fear, then Malice had already forced her to realize it and she reacted with rage then. No, something else was here, her worst fear was just what Barbas said...that all her struggling and striving to proove her power, her effectiveness was for NOTHING.::

:: her greatest fear wasnt losing Cameron in combat or by a monster, but being POWERLESS to protect him or her friends. That she would burn herself out, as she had started SO YOUNG in defying her abusive mother to protect Cameron, and be UNABLE to act when it mattered MOST! Mike and the others never realized that when they questioned her as a precog...it hurt her more than they knew because secretly she always felt she was on the edge, ready to FALL OVER into the oblivion of failure and defeat!::

:: she felt like she had NO POWER at all...that she was naked and helpless! the howls of lost witches cry in the winds and sands as Barbas takes center stage. ::

Cameron....It's too late...i've failed...

:: just as in the other nightmare before Nicolas and then again in the alley, Alison begins to succumb. Cameron is near death, and Alison, through Barbas' touch begins to grow faint...her heart beat growing weaker. She's dying...and more than one person trapped in the serpentine stone structure can sense it.::

Verna << appearing before Alison.>>: No! Alison! It's not too late!

:: Alison barely stirs...::

You havent failed...you will FAIL if you give in! TRUST yourself! Your brother...your family are depending on you! they NEED YOU! Claudia needs you. She's no longer your enemy at this moment...but an INNOCENT being victimized! RISE UP and TURN the tide!

:: an astral hand touches Alison's hand...and heart! STOPPING the effect of death and cardiac arrest and calming her. it is the touch of maternal love and comfort...as only a mother, a grandmother and even a highpriestess witch can give::

:: as the savage nightmare of Claudia manifests for ALL to see, Alison slowly revives. her colbalt blue eyes are misty from the tears of grief and pain as she nearly died of what would have been a heart attack. she saw her brother...then the others, trapped in a tall, serpentine stone structure. Sharon was far away, unconscious and badly hurt. Alison slowly sat up. Verna's voice guided her to focus as she saw and "SAW".::

:: her mouth slightly agape as she watched Claudia's nightmare unfold. the seer was still in a slightly "altered" state after nearly dying of a heart attack. her emotions were all at once muted and disjointed. She hated Claudia for the threat the woman posed to her family, but what she saw NOW? It was not only cruel it was obscene. Whatever the woman had become as an adult...no child should have to endure what was unfolding before them now.::

:: the girls cries of help, the man smacking her and now on top of her... It made Alison stone faced with disapproval and anger. Barbas was REVELING in this! if there was a such thing as TRUE evil, this HAD to be it!

:: as Clara began to attack with all her might and anger, ALison began to have FLASHBACKS of her own, but not of her own memories, she began to have VISIONS of the past, of the night Barbas attacked Demeter and the child Persephone! But this time she saw MORE than the initial vision. Barbas had attempted to sexually ASSAULT Demeter! He wanted a demigod child...a child with the attributes of an olympian AND his own demonic heritage! Hecate, Demeter's personal friend and fellow member of the trinity of the moon had intervened while Artemis , the OTHER portion of the moon trinity got Demeter and Persephone to safety!::

:: the battle between hecate and barbas was fierce...and he spared NO savagery. so harsh, so brutal was he that Athena and other Olympians were coming to AID Hecate. Barbas brutalized her, wore her down, but when all seemed lost, she ROSE UP. having hit the bottom...there was no where to go but UP!::

:: Clara would not succeed, but she gave Alison enough time to STAND UP and get ready to TURN the tide!::

:: In this moment, just as with Dominique when her backstory was revealed, the status of "ENEMY" was no longer the first thing that came to mind when looking at Claudia. She was being brutalized in such an obscene way...this was what THE SIX were brought together for, to protect those who could not protect themselves.::

:: and now, for cameron, for her family...and even Claudia, Alison rose up silently pushing her way through the windy sands and howling spirits to reach Barbas' back.::
 
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Delilah finally stopped struggling against her bonds. She knew it was futile. She could do nothing to help.

She could only watch helplessly as Claudia's worst fears were broadcast for them all to see. And she felt sorry, so sorry for her enemy. The enemy she would have thrown to Barbas herself not so long ago. But no one deserved this. And no one deserved to have to remember it, not like this.

Clara fought valiantly against Barbas, but it wasn't enough. Delilah bowed her head.

Useless...useless...

All she could do was think...and speak of course...and SPEAK!

"Alison! You can do it - you can beat him! We all believe in you! We know you are strong enough!"
 
It could not be going any better. The sorceress, the mutate and the soldier moved as one, and the biohazard had no chance. Dark magic, metal, and hellfire preceded them as they cleared the way into the arena clearing where the ladies decided that NOW was the time to pick up another enemy, HERE in the middle of astral hell. At this point, Mike was ready to kill them quickly just to shut the others up and get them focused when they all saw Cameron, hanging up there dying like Jesus himself. Nic, Morgan, Haleigh and Alison went to him while the other instinctively provided a shield. Mike kept quiet, his gun leveled at the trio, as he waited for them to fix him up.

Then a dust storm kicked up. he instinctively went to grab Karen's hand but they were separated and he watched the others carried up as he tried to evade the stone whatever-the-hell-it-was that was catching everyone else. Finally, a tendril grabbed him in an irresistible hold just a few feet away from Claudia.

Finally, the baddie of the hour showed up...Barbas!! He grabbed Claudia and stuck a huge needle in her brain...and then a scene of a graphic rape of Claudia as a child played out. Mike grumbled under his breath.

You are a SICK, DIRTY motherfucker.

Then the demon, almost as a response to his statement, showed how sick he was, forcing himself upon Claudia and throwing her down to rape her. What to do? Mike was held fast...nothing working but his mouth. Who could help? He saw Alison by Cameron, but her face...he'd seen that look before, from soldiers who were no good, broken.

But then he saw what he thought was a familiar shape (Karen?, no VERNA!!)...and Alison's determination seemed to return. She began to sneak up on Barbas, but he might see her. Mike wanted to help and caught her eye with a "get 'em girl" look as he decided that he would make sure the demon would not detect her approach. As she sneaked up behind him to his right, Mike was to his left, and so he did what he could to cover her. He hocked up the biggest phlegm he could muster and SPIT with perfect aim into the left side of Barbas' face.

Something in your eye, BITCH?!
 
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and it turns

<< the symphony Barbas' power was rising to a feverish climax. He attacked Claudia FIRST to humiliat her in front of ALL her enemies present and to gain the power he would not to finally take down Shadow Weaver and then Spellbinder, ending Hecate's blood line in his final, long awaited revenge.>>

<< but he made a mistake, a BIG ONE.>>

<< just as the Six and the Sistherhood were able to come together in their shared shock and sympathy for Dominique during the the nightmare of Set, the humanity of the Six OVERRODE the disdain and hatred they had aquired for Claudia and her sister due to their (mainly Claudia's actions). Though they may not FORGIVE HER, they could see she had been damaged, broken in the worst way and what was left...well No WONDER she was that way.>>

<< Verna, unable to DIRECTLY deal with Barbas, was able to reach Spellbinder and Harbinger, keeping Harbinger of dying from a fear induced "heart attack" and rousing Spellbinder to use her power to faciliate the freedom of the others.>>

<< Harbinger drew closer to Barbas as Clara attempted to over power him, but in this place, she found herself burning out, not just in her powers but in her SPIRIT as Barbas began to draw her very life breath out of her in retaliation for her pestering him.>>

<< Arsenal, ever confident in his ability to infuriate ANYONE (of any background) drew Barbas attention long enough to keep him from choking Clara and not to immediately notice Alison as she was now RIGHT behind him.>>
 
the arena

Barbas: << he was so wrapped up in his influx of energy and power, he seemed LESS than moved by the outrage directed at him from his captives but when Clara attacked, it more than staggered his body, but as with Sharon, he seemed to recover with a never ending supply of resiliency.>>

Clara, poor, misguided lightning bug. You're only delaying inevitable and making me ANGRY. Your death will be AGONIZING. Your sister is but a means to an end. How fitting that she be USED once again, after all this time she spent PLAYING at being the user.


Arsenal said:
Something in your eye, BITCH?!
Click to expand...

:: the human SPIT in Barbas'. Barbas reeled from shock and surprise at the boldness...the DISRESPECT of this...HUMAN.::


:: Harbinger was in position.::

You ALMOST had me...but now..it's MY turn!

:: and with a look of grim hatred, Harbinger thrusts her hands forward ala' Piper Halliwell and BLOWS Barbas apart. A stifled vocalization of protest was heard as the body was blasted apart by molecular acceleration but the way it blew apart..with dark glowing orbs now fllying about before falling into the sand and disappearing, even Alison knew he was far from finished.::

:: the sand storm weakend substantially and the temperature stabilized. Spellbinder began to use her power on OTHERS in the entrapment, mentally controlling the stepping discs. with Barbas totally tripped up for the moment, Spellbinder now had the opportunity she needed!::

::Shadow Weaver teleports Sharon to them and immediately begins to heal the mutate while Clara and Claudia can both thank Harbinger for saving them.::

Claudia, We don't like you. But we are not without our humanity..and WE have compassion for true victims. That's what sets us [ the zaccharas and the six] apart Some of us have experienced personal nightmares that we wouldnt wish on anyone and we certainly wouldnt wish what YOU experienced on EVEN you. We can help make sure you never have to relive that AGAIN.

We have less than a little time to regroup...and in order to survive, we're g oing to have to work TOGETHER. Help us and live...the alternative choice should be obvious.

:: Harbinger said grimly as she offered a hand to help the shaken woman get up. Spellbinder was even willing to heal THEM if necessary.::
 
Nicolas struggled as Barbas seemed to hold all the chips. But Alison rose, prodded by what Nicolas could see was Verna's touch. He smiled a bit as she rose to go at Barbas, but he was concerned that the demon would see her before she could attack. He held his breath as she moved, then good old Mike came through in the clutch, spitting in Barbas face...a humiliation that the demon could not ignore as he turned FULLY away from the sorceress to leer at the human. BIG MISTAKE, as Alison blew him literally apart. The demon dissipated, but Nicolas could still FEEL him permeating this place, and he knew that was only a small battle in this war. But they won it and as Morgan released him via disk, he approached Cameron, who was still sorely wounded emotionally. He placed a hand on his shoulder after he was healed as he clothed him properly via TK.

We have you back, and we are making it out of here...TOGETHER. Your will is now bolstered by my own, and I will not leave here without you.

Cameron mentally feels an influx of psychic energy as Nicolas attempts to gently heal what he can and strengthen what he cannot completely heal, allowing the telepath to do the rest...
 
As Clara launched her onslaught at Barbas, the manifestation of Trevor began to falter. It slowed and lost some of its ferocity and it began to flicker in and out of view. Johnny reached Claudia just as this began happening, and he was able to pull Claudia from Trevor and lift her up, carrying her through the sand and the weakening windstorm, off to the side and to safety.

Johnny: "Claudia…"

He didn't know what else to say, or how to say he was sorry that it'd happened to her, and since now probably wasn't the best time, he decided not to say anything at all. Some of the others from Melrose were beginning to follow Clara's attacks with some of their own, and the storm calmed. Johnny set Claudia down in the sand gently and knelt next to her. Now that the others were free, there were too many people moving around, and Johnny had lost sight of what happened to Clara. One of the scantily clad women came over to talk to Claudia, offering her a hand up and asking for her help against Barbas. Johnny kept a hand on Claudia for quick escape in case it turned out to be a guise.

Meanwhile, Clara had stretched herself far too thin. By the time she reached Barbas, she had hardly anything left to hit him with and the windy sandstorm, though not that strong anymore, was enough to cause her to stumble and ultimately, fall to her knees. Barbas was gloating now… taunting her with something… but she didn't even have the energy to be annoyed or angry, or even worried or afraid anymore. She began to slowly crawl away on her hands and knees, recognizing the time for retreat, but Barbas was draining her even further. She felt so tired…. Ready to give up. The others were freed now, they were taking over. Among them Clara could see Johnny with Claudia, now safe. Satisfied with accomplishing at least that much, Clara finally collapsed onto her side in the sand. The storm died down, the noise lessened. People were talking in the background…. Clara just wanted to sleep.
 
As Barbas continued to attack Claudia, using her fear as a means to drain away her life energy, it was actually a blessing in disguse. She was so weak she really didn't know what was happening around her. Her hearing was warped and muffled and her eyes were too heavy to open. So as Mike distracted Barbas long enough for Alison to blow him apart, Claudia slumped into the sand barely conscious.

Johnny quickly came to her aid, picking her limp body up and taking her to safety. With Barbas physically gone due to Alison, Claudia could feel herself become a bit stronger.

Johnny: Claudia...

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw a blurred image of a person next to her. Blinking slowly to try and focus, she finally saw that it was Johnny. Parting her dry lips to talk, she could see it in his eyes. The look. The look of sympathy and sorrow for what was broadcast. She hated it.....hated it. Claudia's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head, realizing--REMEMBERING--what happened. What Barbas did to her...and what he was GOING to do to her had it not been for everyone.

Slowly, and weakly, pushing herself up into a sitting position with Johnny's help, Claudia hung her head forward so her hair shielded her face as she wiped away her tears.

Alison: Claudia--

Looking up at the brunette woman, even if Claudia tried to hide it, it was evident by her red eyes that she had been crying.

Alison: We don't like you. But we are not without our humanity..and WE have compassion for true victims.

Rolling her eyes shut after hearing the word 'victim', Claudia kept them closed feeling, for the first time, very defeated.

Alison: That's what sets us [ the zaccharas and the six] apart. Some of us have experienced personal nightmares that we wouldnt wish on anyone and we certainly wouldnt wish what YOU experienced on EVEN you. We can help make sure you never have to relive that AGAIN.

Opening her eyes finally, Claudia looked up at Alison. Her pride was broken and she was humiliated. She felt completely and utterly exposed in the most painful and raw of ways.

Alison: We have less than a little time to regroup...and in order to survive, we're going to have to work TOGETHER. Help us and live...the alternative choice should be obvious.

Claudia kept her eyes fixated on Alison as she explained that they would have to work together in order to defeat Barbas. It was a large pill to swallow....placing what little pride she had left aside to take these people's offering for help. But she wanted to see Barbas pay for what he did. She wanted to watch him suffer for what he put her through. As Alison extended her hand out, Claudia hesitated for a moment before taking it; allowing her to help her up. Standing there for a moment, she gently nodded to Alison.

"I'll help in any way I can."

She said softly. Retracting her hand, Claudia took a step back, not wanting to look anymore vulnerable than she already felt. As she backed away from Alison, she finally saw Clara, laying in a heap, a few feet away. Her tear-filled eyes immediately overcome with fear.

"Clara..."

Rushing past Alison as quickly as she could, she still felt very weak and didn't move as fast as she would have liked to. Quickly kneeling down, Claudia lifted Clara into her lap, hugging her closely.

"No...no..no...come on Clara, don't do this. You need to stay awake....you need to stay with me, okay? [crying] Please don't leave me.......not like this."
 
"It's all over now, Cameron, we're here. You're safe…."

She said gently, holding his hand. Alison and Morgan were coming to help as well. Haleigh was relieved that they weren't too late…. That they had this chance to bring him back. That this whole nightmare could have a happy ending.

But it wasn't over… the whole arena was shaking. Haleigh had a distinct sinking feeling, right before she was completely BLINDSIDED with a sandstorm. It tore her away, separating her from Cameron before encasing her in a thick stone like structure. A quick test proved her powers were useless here. Some of the others struggled, in Nicolas' case quick vehemently. Haleigh sighed.

"It's no use. You're just wasting energy."

Sharon put up a valiant fight, but in the end, Barbas tossed her aside like a rag doll. Sharon didn't move again after that, but there wasn't time to worry for her. Barbas was calling their attention to Claudia.

"Oh, great…. She's our last hope? We're fuckin doom--"

She was interrupted by a blackout. What followed was a scene from Claudia's past… a brutal rape that had irrevocably changed a little girl. It was a bit hard to watch, even for the ever jaded Black Widow, it was surely something NO ONE should have to experience. It also explained a lot about Claudia and Haleigh already knew that having this displayed for all to see was spirit-breaking insult to body-breaking injury.

Clara responded with a fervor that was commendable, and ill-fated. Haleigh thought she was about to pass out, vomit violently, explode, or possibly do all three at once. The large plasma attack lit up the whole arena and caused Haleigh pain right down to her core. She squirmed, wanting desperately for it to stop, but soon Clara began to move away, towards Barbas and eventually, her powers seemed to dim…. And with them, so did Haleigh's discomfort.

[quietly] "Oh thank god."

Mike interjected in a unique manner that provoked a smile from Haleigh, despite the state of things.

"Only you, Mikey."

She said, giving him a pat on the back as Morgan released them all from the stone and Alison blew Barbas to bits…. But he was still 'around' and would recover soon. Alison explained her way through a temporary truce with Claudia, who agreed to help, and then rushed off to helped Clara, who was laying in the sand. Haleigh, still vividly remembering the last few minutes of pain and nausea, stayed where she was, a wary eye on Clara. She watched the Zacchara bodyguard/boyfriend run over to Clara as well.

Johnny: "[glancing around] She needs energy."

[begrudgingly] "What kind?"

Johnny: "Ideally? Solar. Short of that…. Electric will do. The more voltage the better."

Haleigh seemed to be considering if she really wanted to help and then finally she started towards them, shaking her head gently.

[under her breath] "I'm probably going to regret this. [regular volume, at Johnny] Move."

She knelt by Clara and Claudia, taser in hand, and paused. She remembered before that being this near to Clara had made her slightly ill…. But right now she didn't even feel any residual effect…. Likely because Clara had truly exhausted herself and her powers. Claudia, having been thoroughly humiliated already, seemed to have no problem crying in front of them. Haleigh looked at her, lips pursed, and then spoke to Claudia as if Clara wasn't laying there hanging on by a thread.

"Just so you know, you won't be getting any pity out of me. You're still a dangerous sociopathic bitch and I will still KILL you if you make any further attempts to trifle with me or ANYONE ELSE HERE. I'm only doing THIS because we're going to need all the help we can GET against Barbas."

Just in case Claudia is thinking she wants to get a sucker punch in, Haleigh keeps her gaze on Claudia as she zaps Clara with the taser, not at ALL trying to be gentle. Clara starts to stir and Haleigh makes a subtle yet hasty retreat, mentally asking Nicolas to help her out again against Clara's powers.
 
Claudia accepted the hand up and then spotted Clara and rushed to her aid, and Johnny quickly followed. Claudia was pleading with Clara to stay awake, but Clara didn't seem at all motivated to fight to stay conscious.

"Mmm…. [drowsily exhaling] Give me ten more minutes."

He had seen Clara once push her limits, simply out of curiosity and she had similarly exhausted herself, though not nearly as severely. She had been able to seemingly 'recharge' herself in direct sunlight, but had explained to him that most any external energy source would do the trick. Johnny glanced around at the congregation, all of whom seemed to be wondering how to help.

Johnny: "She needs energy."

Haleigh: "What kind?"

Johnny: "Ideally? Solar. Short of that…. Electric will do. The more voltage the better."

Haleigh came forward, somewhat reluctantly, and then practically barked at him to move, before kneeling and taking the time to launch a monologue at Claudia. If the woman hadn't been wielding a pretty powerful weapon… Johnny might have been inclined to prompt Haleigh to be expedient… but why distract her even more? She finally stops and 'administers' the voltage. To a normal person, it'd be quite painful, and incapacitating. To Clara, it was a like a jolt of caffeine and a shot of adrenaline rolled into one, and it worked quickly to revive her. Her eyes fluttered open… Claudia was holding her and crying. Clara was confused… and then she remembered.

"Claudia! Are you okay?"

She asked the same way she had earlier, after being attacked by the mansion's creatures. It seemed a knee-jerk reaction question, and not a sorry-you-had-your-innocence-stolen question. Clara DID want to know why Claudia hadn't told her… why they hadn't killed Trevor before they left New York… but with everyone standing around, all up in their business…. Now wasn't the time to talk about it. Clara looked around, then deftly changed the subject.

"Is that it, did we kill him?"

She seemed to instinctively understand that there was an active truce... since no one was scowling or trying to kill them. It made sense... Barbas was clearly a bigger bad than the Zaccharas and while Clara might've got the ball rolling against him, she knew very well that she wouldn't have been able to take him down by herself. Clara sat up slowly, nodding gently to Claudia that she was okay, rubbing the back of her neck gently.

"Mmm.... I could really use a pick-me-up right now."

Clara saw Haleigh, who was standing a bit farther away than everyone else, pull a taser out of thin air and toss it in her [Clara's] direction.

[slightly puzzled] "Thanks."

She said, as she caught the device and then calmly tased herself in the palm of her hand.
 
Nicolas was rising to check on the others after dealing with cameron when he heard Haleigh's call for help. Nicolas turned, having been too distracted by events to notice Haleigh's discomfort.

Sorry, Haleigh. This should be much better than my last effort. If you like it, we may have to make this permanent battlewear for you.

Nicolas embeds in her clothing 2 microscopically thin layers of copper that sandwich treated graphite dust. Her discomfort fades almost completely as the mutant's actions give Haleigh a futuristic level of EMP protection while she gains only about 10 pounds.

Nicolas turns and checks the others visually, mindful that things were better, but not perfect. He approaches Spellbinder.

Good job getting us out, Spell.
 
the calmer arena

<< Spellbinder glared at Claudia and Clara...but her glare softened. She couldnt mistreat them...not after seeing what CLaudia had endured in reliving her nightmare. THe woman was as much a victim as any of them!>>

<< as the truce was formed, she assisted those who needed healing, restoring their strength and insuring they'd be ready for the final battle.>>

<< they had Cameron back, that was the FIRST piece of their task completed...but now came the task of dealing with Barbas. If he could come back from Hecate and later Verna, then the best hope they had was to banish him BACK to the hell from which he came.>>

<< She knew Harbinger had a plan and that involved her and her mother!>>

<< as she checked over herself...noting her current costume and how it was definately showing signs of battle damage, the sorceress reflexively began to think about an official costume change after this nightmare. Nicolas came up to her.>>

Rampage said:
Good job getting us out, Spell.
Click to expand...

<< the witch paused for a moment.>>

Thanks...but it really wasnt all me. I was constricted so tightly, I wanted to give in...and pass out. But right when I felt myself slipping away, i felt a touch, a presence. Grammie was here! she called out to me and brought me BACK, told me that I needed to free everyone as soon as possible.

I know that mother and I will have to face Barbas...Alison told my mother that before we got here, but now...I think I'm ready. We won't be alone...will we?

<< she allowed herself to look at him.>>
 
I know that mother and I will have to face Barbas...Alison told my mother that before we got here, but now...I think I'm ready. We won't be alone...will we?

<< she allowed herself to look at him.>>
Click to expand...

Nicolas met her gaze, his eyes softened as she asked her question. It hurt a bit that she felt she HAD to ask it, but that was his fault, and so he answered her, placing a hand on her shoulder gently as he did.

NO.

<<sighs heavily>>

Morgan, I don't have the right to expect you to trust me again. I can only hope that when the time comes, you will know that I will be there for you. Because I will.

Nicolas touches Morgan's face lightly, then begins to step away to check on the others...
 
MIke's interjection got the desired result, and as Barbas turned to most likely disembowel MIke or something, Alison blew his ass to kingdom come. UNfortunately, NO ONE stayed dead, and so he stretched after Morgan released him, ready for round 12 or 15 or whatever the hell it was by now.

"Only you, Mikey."
Click to expand...

Haleigh patted his back as she walked past. He smiled back.

Hey. I piss people off. It's my SUPERPOWER.

As Mike made his way to Karen, he spied Johnny.

Hey, you need firepower? I can spare a piece.

Mike pulled a .45 and a spare clip and offered it to him. It was too late to be worried about them killing the Six. They were in this together, as Alison aptly noted.

Mike went to Karen, checking her over as he normally did when worried.

You OK Doc? We aren't out of the woods yet it appears and...I just want to make sure you're OK.
 
Haleigh, of all people, came over to where Claudia was holding Clara. She knelt down with a taser in her hand after asking Johnny what kind of jolt Clara needed in order to recover.

Haleigh: Just so you know, you won't be getting any pity out of me. You're still a dangerous sociopathic bitch and I will still KILL you if you make any further attempts to trifle with me or ANYONE ELSE HERE.

"I don't want your damn pity. Or anyone elses from your team for that matter. The only reason i'm agreeing to this truce is because I want to see that BASTARD [Barbas] go up in flames. And NEITHER of us can accomplish that alone."

Claudia may have been humilated--and been knocked down a few pegs after Barbas' little peep show--but she still had her dignity. And if Haleigh thought just because her deepest most painful secrets were exposed to the enemy that she would crumble, she was in for a rude awakening.

Watching as Haleigh jammed the taser, rather roughly, into her sister, the electrical jolt immediately worked. Claudia shut her eyes as a sigh of relief escaped her dry lips.

Clara: Claudia! Are you okay?

Nodding her head gently, Claudia hugged Clara tightly, knowing her sister wanted to ask a HELL of a lot more questions besides 'if she was alright'. Lifting her blood shot eyes [but dry] eyes to Haleigh, she gave her a 'thank you' nod.

[to Clara] "Not really, but i'll live."

Helping Clara to her feet, Claudia ran her fingers back through her wind blown ebony and white streaked locks, looking worse for the wear. With sand stuck to various parts of her damp clothing, and her black tank top ripped [because of Barbas] exposing a small section of her black bra, Claudia shook her head as Clara asked if they had defeated Barbas.

"No. He's still lurking around here somewhere..."

Her voice trailed off. The fact that he was alive and listening to them--WATCHING them at that very moment--made Claudia's stomach turn with fury. If he thought his attack would make her crumble, then he didn't know who the hell Claudia Zacchara TRULY was.
 
:: Harbinger stood still for a moment, as the others began to recover. She refused to look at Cameron for the time being. Any FURTHER sign of weakness on her part could rouse Barbas sooner than they wanted. He was alive, Nicolas used his own psi powers to help jumpstart Cameron's psychic shields and defenses so that the telepath would recover from some of the psychic damage wrought by Barbas.::

:: everyone, including the zaccharas and johnny were accounted for. Claudia maintained some measure of "pride" as Haleigh REMINDED HER that she was still on THIN ICE with them. Alison and the team could count on Haleigh to keep the enemy in check...and that was what made some of her more infuriating habits more tolerable. She may have been downright dysfuctional [werent they ALL to some degree?] but the woman cared about her family and would protect it at all costs.::

:: her time staff flashed into her hand.::

The time is coming...Barbas will strike in earnest. The FINAL blow most come from those directly descended from Hecate's blood line. Karen and Morgan. But WE...gesturing between herself and Claudia will most certainly SOFTEN HIM UP for the kill. Barbas does not know the exact nature of Claudia's power. Indeed most of you do not, But I , as a precog have seen her actions in times past and present. Many moons ago, when Ororo reached out to NEW mutants for help following the decimation of the six by Master Mold and Malice, she contacted Nicolas...and SASHA, a pop star on the west coast who was also a WATER ELEMENTAL.

:: Nicolas would remember that name, as well as that night Ororo summoned him to action for the first time::

Sasha never rendezvoused with Nicolas because she was attacked and murdered...ABSORBED by Claudia and because of that, in addition to Claudia's own natural power of absorbtion and recall, she is a water elemental.

Her power to absorb and recall is what we will need here. Barbas is not anticipating it.


Her power and the nature of it will allow her to use Barbas' own power AGAINST HIM, to bring forth HIS OWN fear and weakness. As he reels from the shock of it, I will use a spell to FORCE him to release the souls of those he has slain and gained power from this time around, including Arielle. The stress of that will leave him primed for his downfall at the hands of Shadow Weaver and Spellbinder.

The demon is ALWAYS at his most dangerous when at the END of the battle...and so the rest of us must be ready to BLOCK for Shadow Weaver and Spellbinder, to defend them against any threats that Barbas sends their way.
 
the arena

<< Shadow Weaver pointed her index finger downward and twirled it in a quick circular motion as a chime sounded off and a swirl of sparkling energy flowed up from her high heeled boots to the top of her head in the same twirling pattern. The woman restored herself in looks and vitality after healing Sharon. She was so AFRAID for Sharon, herself, ALL of them as all seemed lost but Grammie came through one last time! If her grammie, a "warrior witch" could do this, surely SHE could repay the sacrifice that Grammie made now when it would matter the most.>>

<< as Mike came near to check on her, she placed a gloved hand on his arm.>>

I am fine now, Michael. I used my magick to restore the minor injuires and bruises that came from being held in that stone prison so tightly.

<< she looked at him, her opal blue eyes said it all. She knew what was coming and she was ready, even if she had to DIE to ensure Barbas was checked, she was ready to honor her Grammie's legacy and protect her daughter.>>

Morgan may be the Sorceress Supreme of this world's time...but i am her MOTHER. I think about the fear i felt when Set took her from me back at Minerva's...how that fear motivated me to do WHATEVER it took to protect her...how THAT changed me into SHADOW WEAVER. Grammie SAID that change was part of me becoming who i am meant to be.

I've taken risks before, like when I used the necromancy spell to bring you back to life...and though it was something that defied laws of nature and safe guards, I was willing to risk that for you.


Barbas has haunted and vexed generations of people...women...witches. He killed my friend Katie when she was just a child! she never got to grow...to learn the wonderous heritage that was her's as a witch.

Grammie ensured that Barbas would not be able to find me and vex me for as long as she could...and she died because of that. He came BACK ahead of his time...because of ...<< looking at Morgan and NIcolas who were sharing a quiet, friendly...almost tender moment; then looking at Haleigh and the others>> us .


Now is my chance to repay Grammie and to protect my daughter and scores of other young witches. If i die...just promise me...that you'll help Morgan. KEEP her from losing herself in grief so that she may carry out her destiny.

<< her hair blew in the gusty, warm winds of the ancient arena and her cape billowed in that same wind as she ran her gloved hand down Mike's arm into his hand and squeezed it.>>

I know you don't want to hear me say such things...but I have to be ready for that. I have to be ready to stop Barbas...at ANY cost.
 
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Now is my chance to repay Grammie and to protect my daughter and scores of other young witches. If i die...just promise me...that you'll help Morgan. KEEP her from losing herself in grief so that she may carry out her destiny.

<< her hair blew in the gusty, warm winds of the ancient arena and her cape billowed in that same wind as she ran her gloved hand down Mike's arm into his hand and squeezed it.>>
Click to expand...

No Karen. Don't say that...

I know you don't want to hear me say such things...but I have to be ready for that. I have to be ready to stop Barbas...at ANY cost.
Click to expand...

We are ALL ready. Barbas will have to pry you from my cold dead fingers. You won't have to do this, or anything else alone. Believe that!

Mike cocked his special weapon and opened it, revealing the hellfire that burned inside it, then closed it shut with a look that told the sorceress that this mortal was as determined and dangerous as any she would ever meet.
 
in the arena!

<< for a moment, Morgan saw and felt a glimpse of the Nicolas she remembered and cared for...loved. funny how things seemed to turn out in the most unlikely of situations. Nicolas had been brave and full of valor during their time in this nightmare. Blaze and Morgan witnessed it first hand. Whatever happened after this, if they survived, though Morgan could not see herself being WITH him again in the near future, she COULD see herself being friendly with him, and even trusting him more.>>

<< that TRUST was just what Grammie wanted her to find, before it was too late! and with the Six once again coming together the way few others could in times of crisis, Spellbinder secretly felt that Barbas was about to not only have de ja vu of humiliation a'la Hecate but to find out what happens when you mess with a FAMILY. Hate is strong, Fear is even MORE powerfull but the LOVE of a FAMILY...that's something that Fear CAN"T defeat.>>

<< Morgan didnt flinch or object to Nicolas' light touch. Instead she smiled just a bit as he went to assist Haleigh, who was working to revive Clara and reminding Claudia not to try anything funny :D Morgan could hardly care about Claudia as a "threat"now. The woman's motivations were painfully revealed and suddenly, Claudia seemed less threatening and more "understood". too bad for Claudia :D>>

<< Morgan checked on Firebird and then Cameron.>>

Cameron, you're not ready to fight. You stay here, inside this pentagram of protection... << that she cast with a gesture of her hands>> no PHYSICAL force will be able to get to you and now that Nicolas has helped stabilize your psyche with his own psi powers, you can use your psychic abilities to fend of Barbas more effectively. We'll get out of here... all of us.


<< She reached her mother, who spoke with a lower tone, sounding more like Grammie than usual and posessed of a grim focus. Morgan TOO knew what could happen. If Barbas got the upper hand some how, he could very well decimate both of them. She SAW the battle between Grammie and Barbas...she KNEW how hard fought Grammie's victory was. She heard the story of Barbas' battle with Hecate and how hard fought...how GRIM that battle was. Harbinger maped out a plan to help them gain the edge of Barbas, but would it be enough? Harbinger also indicated that Rampage, MorningStar, Firebird, Silver Swan, Black Widow, Arsenal, Fusion and Johnny would be BLOCKING for them against anything Barbas caused/manifested. They were in the arena but it was STILL apart of Arklay Mansion and t here were many creatures, some known and some unknown that could appear at any given momenet.>>

Mom...we'll BOTH honor Grammie. I saw what she did for you...and had it not been for her...I wouldnt be here either. We BOTH owe our lives to her. We'll see that she gets her vengeance, we'll see that Katie AND Arielle are avenged and all the others that Barbas has harmed, killed/consumed! I am your daughter, and we are BOTH daughters of Hecate. His first defeat came at her hands, Grammie checked him in modern times and his final defeat will come from US...her bloodline. We'll have our family...[not referring to the zaccharas] to help us! NEITHER of us will die...
 
last battle

<< Harbinger revealed the origin of Claudia's water power and her own base power and how she was key to them defeating Barbas and escaping the nightmare but the moment for preparation was now passed. they would have to fight or die.>>

<< the arena DARKENS to a blackness and disaster sirens sounded off and red warning lights flashed as the arena began to quake much like it did when the mansion was about to EXPLODE. eruptions of FIRE burst forth from cracks and fissures deep in the foundation beneath the sand. MorningStar generates LIGHT to combat the darkness and Firebird keps the flames from reaching anyone physically but from those cracks...climb forth CRIMSON HEADS. groaning and growling with savage energy as the spot The Six and the Zaccharas. Some are dressed as lab workers, others various staff from around the mansion. there are DOZENS of them and they arent bothered with the usual tactics of "regular zombies" as they IMMEDIATELY attack.>>

<< possessed of greater strength and agression levels as well as physical coordination the crimson heads, with their red hued heads, blood dripping mouths and enlarged/clawed hands and feet charge with full force.>>

<< Harbinger , brandishing her time staff, directs Claudia, Karen and Morgan behind her and motions for Sharon and Haleigh to lead the others against the Crimson Heads!>>


Harbinger: Follow Silver Swan and Black Widow's lead! take them down, BY THE NUMBERS! Siren, Shadow Weaver and Spellbinder stay together and behind me! Siren...follow my directions.
 
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