What's the matter with Rose?

[MorningStar]

Charope – Infirmary

“It’s going to take her a while to figure out she didn’t actually kill me. But tell the truth: you just want to keep me naked in bed for a while longer.”

“Yeah, in your dreams, buddy.”

She told him about Andrew, which felt right at this time where it hadn’t that morning. It felt like the air was cleared between them.

He didn’t want her to stay – she started to protest that of course she would stay with him. But he made a convincing argument: she did actually want to check on Sharon.

“But listen, when I get out of here…I’d like to take you to dinner. I’ll pick you up, nice restaurant, a suit, the whole 9.”

She looked at him skeptically.

“I don’t think you own a suit.”

“Well I will buy one. I’m rich now, haven’t you heard? And there’s something I want to show you.”

Another skeptical look went his way.

“And no, that is not a euphemism for my penis. Though if you’re game…But seriously, please?”

She thought about it for a moment, then tried to look like she was only doing it because he was lying in a hospital bed, not because she really wanted to. Which she did.

“Oh, alright. But ONLY if you stay here, in bed, until you’re cleared to go. Is that a deal?”

He nodded.

“Okay, then. Well I will be back to check on you.”

She stood up to go, then turned back and leaned down to kiss his cheek.

 

[Titan]

Spectra

More people kept arriving, including Vivica, who burst onto the scene like a diva on the red carpet.

“Hey Andrew! I'm glad you’re here!”

“Alright, Viv?”

Thank god she was here. He also nodded to Rich, who had also joined the party.

"I need a drink. STAT."

She needs tranquilizers, more like, judging by how up Blaze already was. As they took their seats at a table in the Starlight Lounge, he just ordered a pint, and was content to watch the goings on around him.

"If this is your first time meeting Drew here, then you must not know how HE came to meet Sally Spectra?"

He shook his head.

“It’s not that much of a story. I got her out of the way of a sign that was about to fall on her, so she was kind enough to give me a job here.”

I have a partnership with Sally and Zenith Group, from which my brand, Fire La Vedette- french for Fire Star or Fire DIVA, came to be."

Andrew smirked as he took another gulp of his beer.

“You DO know the French word for ‘fire’ isn’t ‘fire’, right?”

He looked over at Derek.

“If you’re in the fashion game as well, Derek, doesn’t that make you and Sally rivals?”

 

[Enchantrah]

After the positively enjoyable session of drinking and looking at Zachary Armani naked with Kelly, Helena DID need to complete some business. But it was a nice distraction to have Kelly to relax, gossip, and trade barbs with. The women certainly loosened up a bit which made Helena want to be more available to her as a fellow Queen AND friend. She suggested Kelly join her and Diana for cocktails later, there would be much to celebrate after Scion and Persephone completed their tasks.

But for now, it was time for work. Helena made her way down the Red corridor to her Rook's chambers, pausing outside the door to listen. It was quiet--a stark change to the screaming she had heard earlier.

"Hmm, tire out already sweetie? Amateur."

Rapping her knuckles against the door, Helena folded her arm across her chest, her one hand playing with the long Chanel necklace that adorned her neck.

The door opened, Helena grinning.

"Why little bear, still able to walk?"

She teased as she intertwined the pearls of her necklace around her fingers.

"I heard the screams....good job."

Brushing past him into Persephone's room, she surveyed the area. Broken dishes on the floor, wine glasses sideways on the night stands with a half gone bottle of VERY expensive wine next to them, sheets crumpled on the bed, comforter on the floor, and half eaten food on a cart from room service. Helena turned around to look at him, her brows raised in surprise.

"Impressive."

She heard the shower going in the bathroom, her Rook obviously in there. Though she came to see for herself whether Persephone was in fact PERSEPHONE, it worked out better that she could speak with her Knight about it instead.

"Tell me, is she finally fully Persephone?"

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Rook’s Quarters

He was stretched out comfortably on the bed, basking in the glow of such a release, still able to feel Persephone’s mouth on his…body. He was thinking about joining her in the shower, imagining soaping up her body…when there was a knock on the door.

Had she ordered more food? If so, good on her.

He slipped out of the bed and padded naked to the door and opened it. To find Helena standing in the doorway. His eyebrow raised in surprise. She grinned across the threshold at him.

"Why little bear, still able to walk?"

“Helena, my Queen. I've been working tirelessly in your service.”

He smiled at her playfully and kissed her cheek, before standing aside so she could enter, and making no move to cover his nakedness.

"I heard the screams....good job."

He gave her an intricate bow.

“I live to serve…”

"Tell me, is she finally fully Persephone?"

“Oh, fully.”

He crossed his arms.

“She is so much MORE than Ava was. She’s primed and ready for any task you could throw at her, no hesitation. She’ll kill now, with relish. No questions asked. No sense of guilt.”

He bowed his head.

“I should never have doubted you, Helena, I apologize. It will never happen again.”

 

[Enchantrah]

Alek: “Oh, fully.”

The smile on Helena's face grew.

Alek: “She is so much MORE than Ava was. She’s primed and ready for any task you could throw at her, no hesitation. She’ll kill now, with relish. No questions asked. No sense of guilt.”

A triumphant laugh began to rise from Helena's throat as she tilted her head back letting it fully out. THIS was what she wanted to hear. THIS was why she even CONSIDERED letting Ava into her court. THIS was the endgame all along. And it had finally come to fruition.

"Yes...yes! Perfect! The humanity was the ONLY thing holding her back, and now that it's gone? She'll TEAR them apart."

Alek: “I should never have doubted you, Helena, I apologize. It will never happen again.”

Helena watched Alek bow his head, apologizing for questioning her. Moving to him, she placed her hand on his cheek and kissed his forehead.

"My love, you should know by now I only have YOUR best interest at heart. She needed to go through a little pain so both you AND I can have our pleasure."

She gently ran her thumb along his forehead, wiping the red lipstick off.

"But if you ever question me again? I'll make sure it will be MORE PAIN next time."

She grinned as she patted his cheek.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Rook’s Quarters

Helena laughed in triumph.

"Yes...yes! Perfect! The humanity was the ONLY thing holding her back, and now that it's gone? She'll TEAR them apart."

He smiled at her wickedly, before apologizing to her. She kissed his forehead.

"My love, you should know by now I only have YOUR best interest at heart. She needed to go through a little pain so both you AND I can have our pleasure."

“I know, I know. I don’t know what got into me.”

She made a very maternal gesture of wiping her lipstick off his forehead.

"But if you ever question me again? I'll make sure it will be MORE PAIN next time."

He looked up at her.

“I’ll deal the first blow myself.”

She patted his cheek.

“So, when will you send her out to stretch her legs?”

 

[Enchantrah]

Alek: “I know, I know. I don’t know what got into me.”

Helena gave him a knowing look. They both knew EXACTLY what had gotten into him, and she was in the other room showering as they spoke.

"Uh huh."

Alek was a loyal man, but he was also A MAN. He enjoyed sex, enjoy the female forum, and like most men, enjoyed a damsel in distress. Since the moment Ava entered their halls, she was in over her head and Alek was there to help soften the blow. Now that Ava was gone and Persephone was in full bloom, he had a women who matched not only his sexual prowess, but his desire for power and blood. Two women, one body, one very happy Knight.

As she warned him about his wavering loyalties, Alek quickly snapped back in line.

Alek: “I’ll deal the first blow myself.”

"I KNOW you will. Don't misinterpret my fondness for you, Aleksander. I gave you EVERYTHING and I can take it AWAY just as quickly. You are MINE, my darling. NOT HERS."

Alek was like a son to Helena, but like most wayward boys, he needed to be reminded of just who brought him into this world of power and prestige. The look on his face indicated he understood, causing Helena to smirk.

"I'm glad we're on the same page."

Now that the messy bits were out of the way, Helena began to casually walk around the room, passing the cart of food as she went.

Alek: “So, when will you send her out to stretch her legs?”

Picking up a grape, she popped it into her mouth as she looked at the bed.

"Oh VERY soon."

Dragging her finger along the satin red sheets, it hooked the strap of Persephone's black bra. Holding it up, she turned back to Alek.

"I have a task lined up for her later this evening."

Letting the bra drop to the floor, she grinned.

"A very PERSONAL one to Ava. A little test to see if she's truly gone."

Her heeled shoes clicked along the dark mahogany floors, walking back towards Alek. Helena moaned with delight.

"It should be deliciously fun to watch."

Patting him on the chest as she walked past him, Helena moved to Persephone's dresser.

"So if you have anything left in you little bear, do it now. She'll be QUITE busy later."

She picked up a necklace from the dresser examining it.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Rook’s Quarters

"I KNOW you will. Don't misinterpret my fondness for you, Aleksander. I gave you EVERYTHING and I can take it AWAY just as quickly. You are MINE, my darling. NOT HERS."

“Absolutely. You know you are the only queen of my heart.”

"I'm glad we're on the same page."

He exhaled, having that same feeling of being called onto the carpet as he did as a boy.

"I have a task lined up for her later this evening. A very PERSONAL one to Ava. A little test to see if she's truly gone."

He wasn’t worried. He had seen for himself the change that had come over Ava. She wouldn’t fail Helena. In fact, he suspected she would be even more impressive than Helena would expect. She had been to him.

"So if you have anything left in you little bear, do it now. She'll be QUITE busy later."

He smiled and raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“The question isn’t whether I have anything left, it’s whether she’ll have enough energy for your ‘task’ afterward. Perhaps I should suggest she take a nap?”

He laughed.

“After I join her in the shower, of course.”

Helena was examining one of Persephone’s necklaces.

“It suits you.”

 

[Enchantrah]

Alek: “The question isn’t whether I have anything left, it’s whether she’ll have enough energy for your ‘task’ afterward. Perhaps I should suggest she take a nap?”

He was a cocky bastard and Helena LOVED it. Laughing, she looked over at her Knight shaking her head.

"I need her WALKING, so do what you will with her as long as she is able to complete my task."

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

[in a whisper] "Though naps are so boring."

Helena's eyes went back to the necklace.

Alek: “After I join her in the shower, of course.”

She grinned.

"HA! There we are. Nothing worse than a soft man, Berserker. Keep her happy, she keeps me happy. It's a wonderful circle of back scratching for everyone."

Helena closed her hand around the necklace as she turned to her Knight.

Alek: “It suits you.”

"I know."

Shoving the necklace into the pocket of her red slacks, Helena made her way over to the door.

"Screams of pleasure now! Screams of pain later!"

She opened the door, exiting the room.

"Tata for now!"

The door closed behind her, shutting hard enough for Persephone to hear in the shower and call out Alek's name.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Rook’s Quarters

"I need her WALKING, so do what you will with her as long as she is able to complete my task."

He made a face like he wasn’t making any promises.

"HA! There we are. Nothing worse than a soft man, Berserker. Keep her happy, she keeps me happy. It's a wonderful circle of back scratching for everyone."

“[with a leer] The one thing I’ve never been described as, is soft. But I am happy as always to accede to your wishes.”

"Screams of pleasure now! Screams of pain later!"

He smiled.

“Exactly how I like it.”

She exited the room with a flourish, and he heard his name coming from the shower.

He sauntered to the bathroom and entered, the steam immediately clinging to his skin. He opened the glass door, then leaned against the wall of the walk in shower.

“I heard you call my name, and I decided I wanted to hear it a few more times. Care to oblige me?”

He stepped in, closing the door behind him. His hands circled her waist and he leaned in to kiss her before moving his body around hers to stand behind her. He began kissing her neck, allowing the hot water to pour over them both as his hands moved over her body.

“We just had a visit from Helena.”

He switched to the other side of her neck.

“She wanted to see if Persephone had come out to play, and I told her she had. I expect she will send you on an errand soon, so be prepared.”

He moved back around to face her, looking into her dark eyes.

“But first…”

He kissed her mouth, hard, picking her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He pressed her back against the wall of the shower.

“I just promised I’d make sure you could walk after we’re done. I feel like that gives us a lot of leeway, don’t you?”

 

[Tachyon]

:: He cared enough to come see about her, so the least she could do was indulge him in honest conversation.::

Tachyon... Xavier...WHY are you here. REALLY. I KNOW that Alison...and AVA brought you to Zizi, but is this where you REALLY want to be? Can you REALLY see yourself working with someone like ASHLEY?

You've seen what's been happening...all the MESS that's encompassing us, and it's something WE didn't even create, but it's hurting us, driving us apart!

You can be anywhere you want to be, quite literrally in the blink of an EYE. Is THIS what you want!?

Great question. But one he was prepared for.

Well, you see-

And alarms go off. By the second chime he has checked the entire floor so fast that he still appears to be in the chair. Alycia knew what was going on and Xavier followed her down to a top notch medical facility where Isis was saving a man's life while...Delilah he was sure...looked on in horror, supported by the Silver Swan. He gasped and rose!!

I'll be damned...

Everyone began to speak of security and how this guy was a target now and needed watching. Alycia said he could stay so the next step was logical.

I will stay, buddy system right?

No argument from Alycia so he simply waited, listening to the others. He walked over to one side, whispering so Alycia could hear him.

THIS. THIS is why I am here.

 

[Matrix]

Blaze's apple green eyes glance down and spot the subtle communication. Her eyes widen for a moment. One of the skills she learned in her black ops training from her own native timeline was basic hand sign language, part of the ability to communicate silently. And so, she placed her hand down on Rich's hand and held it here for a moment, signaling him to keep his eyes look down. Then she signed the word "NO" to him. HE wasn't the problem. She then took his hand in her own soft, well manicured hand and sequeezed it, indicating she wanted him to remain. His eyes met hers and she smiled, nodding in reassurance.

I nodded, then rubbed her hand as she squeezed mine. Then it was time for eating and drinking. DF tried to joke about my food, but Vivica got him for me as Blaze squeezed her thigh. This dude did not want to be here, it was obvious. And I wished he wasn't.

The way I figured, Viv can mess with this one side and I can work on this other side and if we happen to meet in the middle I can deal with that too. Vivica is fine as hell too! I mean, when in Rome, right? I was still cool, but heating up. Lucky for me, dinner had arrived. I tickled Blaze's side on the way to accepting my plate and she jumped a little. I still owed her from last night, and I planned to pay her back in spades.

 

[Seer]

And So

<< Isis returned to the Parthenon. Silver Swan and MorningStar left as well, to have a conversation, and Bishop was left in the capable hands and watchful eyes of Charope and Tachyon.>>

<< MorningStar and Silver Swan return to midtown where they were, approaching a curious dive near time square, a place where mutants and metahumans of all shapes, sizes and power levels, who like to drink, and enjoy room to breathe, come in. It seems like just as good a place as any for the amazon and the light bringer to talk, especially considering how agitated Sharon is and how much Delilah wants to get her mind off of recent events.>>

------------------------
<< The Parthenon>>

<< The gathering at the Starlight lounge is progressing, with Blaze and Derek "feeling each other out", while Richard attempts to feel other things under the table, and Blaze, much to Vivica's curiosity, and amusement, ALLOWS him too. >>

<< As the conversation evolves among those gathered, there will be one more arrival, the person whom Derek has been hoping to see all evening.>>

-------------------------
<< The Sanctuary>>


<< Scion has made her initial pass of The Sanctuary, the entire city block that Rose owns outright. She recognizes the security and technology that fortifies the block, and the various buildings on it, but she can't account for another layer of security that Rose has, in addition to her own psionic powers, there is the "presence" of Citadel. Scion has already crossed the point of no return with Bishop and Delilah this evening, and so now, after having pushed her adjustment reaction to that back into her psychic black box (another ability that she's apparently inherited from her MOTHER), she pushes ahead, not completely certain of what to expect as far as Rose is concerned, but unafraid to face it just the same.>>


---------------------------
<< Back at Charope, LLC>>

<< Bishop is allowed by Alycia to stretch his legs and move about the interior of the building, with some areas being secured and off limits, of course. It's his first time in this place, and its his first glimpse into Alycia's world as it is now. It's his first time REALLY being in her presence since the fall of Illustra, and her return during the Blue Moon, now an amazon, but some things, despite all the other changes, remain the same, and he senses that her accommodation of him is certainly more for DELILAH than it is for HIM. >>

<< Xavier takes this time to contact Oracle and advise her of what's happened, the attack on Bishop by Black Widow, the attack on Morningstar by Malice, and how Silver Swan, Isis and Charope helped to save Bishop's life. He adavises Oracle that he has Alycia's ear at this moment, and is assisting her with keeping Bishop safe from any further attacks.>>

<< While he is doing that, Bishop makes his way to the upper areas of the building to the floor of Alycia's office....>>


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

<< The Hellfire Mansion>>

<< Malice returns, quite satisfied with the pain and mental/emotional distress she inflicted on MorningStar, but it's just a TASTE of what's to come.>>

<< She removes her white, fur trimmed jacket and hands it off to an attending servant, striding with confidence through the upper floors of the Hellfire Mansion.>>

Telepathically to Enchantrah: Helena, it's time that we had our talk, in the catacombs. After that, we'll summon our uptight little techno sorceress. Scion should be returning fairly soon, and there's a little "HOUSE KEEPING" matter that I want to settle, with ALL the queens and king present.

 

[Persephone]

Her shower had lasted longer than anticipated after Alek had joined her. It started off with the mentioning of Helena, which would immediately dry any sane woman up, but it lead to Alek working his magic and making her feel fucking fantastic yet again. But it got Persephone thinking. Helena had plans for her--which obviously involved SOMEONE from the Six or Birds of Prey--but SHE had plans of her OWN she wanted to play out. Plans that she had already texted an associate about that would help her achieve them.

Alek was finishing up in the shower allowing Persephone to get dressed. Her hair was still slightly damp, allowing her to work it into a sleek style that looked polished yet effortless. Sliding on some nude pumps, she grabbed a hand full of blueberries and made her way to the landline club phone on her night stand. Picking it up, she popped a few berries in her mouth.

"I need my room cleaned."

Her eyes scanned around the catastrophe that was her chambers; a reminder of the hours of fun she just had with the Red Knight.

"I'll be gone within twenty minutes. I want it done before I return."

Hanging up the phone, she heard the shower shut off as she walked to her dresser and grabbed her iPhone. She saw a text from Gabriel Jerome, confirming the meeting place. Smiling, she texted back that she'd be there within the hour. The bathroom door opened and Persephone looked over to see Alek standing there, rubbing down his naked body with a towel.

"I need to head to an impromptu meeting for a little bit."

Persephone walked over to him, her heeled shoes clicking against the wood floors. She stood tall without heels on, but with them she was in direct eye line of Alek. Smirking, she raked her fingers through his damp hair, kissing him intimately for a few moments before breaking it. Her face remained close with his.

"Don't fuck the maid while i'm gone."

She grinned.

"Atleast not until I can join."

Biting his lip playfully, she soothed it with one more kiss before pulling away and walking to her dresser to grab her nude clutch.

"See you later."

Opening her bedroom door, she winked at him before exiting.

 

[Artemis]

Charope, LLC- Alycia's office suite

:: A little while later, Alycia was back in her office. Xavier was in a smaller "hotel office" down the hall, communicating with Oracle about the events that had occurred. Alycia didn't object. That was a good sign.::

:: But right now, in the relative comfort and privacy of her office suite, she stood near a window, with her arms wrapped around herself. After looking out on the street, she walked over to her desk, and found a framed picture of herself and Cameron King, during the photo shoot at Blaze's debutante party at XS. ::

:: "Young lovers"...was the caption on the picture. Alycia and Cameron looked beautiful together in that picture. They had worked together to help Blaze in such an important way, and the success of that moment, the mutual feeling of appreciation, happiness, and love, it was all captured in this moment with them together.::

It was....

:: She says with a soft, trembling voice to no one in particular::

....A LIE!

:: She lets the picture fall to the floor and then STEPS on it with her high heeled boot, CRUSHING the glass face of the frame and leaving it shattered as she makes her way over to a decorative wall case that houses her infamous, custom made, golden desert eagles.::

:: underneath that case is a shelf with a few other pictures, one of herself and Delilah, another one of herself with Haleigh Davidoff, it was taken shortly after the whole Silver Swan/Rick Riley debacle, when the seeds of recovery and reconciliation had been planted. Those seeds would bear substantial evidence of progress during the Arklay mansion caper, which was when the two women found new levels of trust, respect and CARE for one another. She takes the framed picture in her hand and studies it, studies HER.::

you bitch...

::FLASH!:

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"I don't...I just don't want to mess this up..It seems like every time I acknowledge that I have feelings for somebody...I manage to destroy any and every possibility there is for me to be happy...."

Cameron pulled back for a moment, creating a little bit of space between them.

"I need to be honest with you, and I need you to hear me and to take what I am telling you for what it is..."

He exhaled slowly and deeply.

"Haleigh..."

Cameron could feel Alycia's body tense up for a moment. He reeled her back in mentally.

"Alycia...just listen. I'm ready to go all in with you...[firmly] I MEAN it...but there are things that I need to fix with Haleigh. I'm telling you this right now because I need to know that before we go any further, that this wont become a bone of contention between us...."

"Haleigh is the only person who's had my back since the beginning. Since The Citadel...the night The Six was founded. She defended me tirelessly...and I managed to show her...what? That I would leave when things got hard? That my desire to prove myself to the others meant in a way turning my back on her? I CRASHED back into this world proclaiming my love to her while she was picking out a WEDDING venue...you need to know that while I don't have any plans to run away into the sunset with her, that the time i've spent rebuilding my life in New York, i've learned a lot of things...and one of those things...is that I will NEVER have another person like her in my life...and that it's time for me to make good on the promise that WE made each other in the Citadel...to BE there for each other..no matter WHAT..."

This was REALLY hard for Cameron to speak about with Alycia but he could tell there was already a little tension between Haleigh and Alycia about Haleigh's return and before the rumor mill got to churning he wanted to make sure that Alycia knew his intentions were pure and that he wasn't running any kind of game on her.

"I need my best friend back...and I think she needs HERS back too...and I'm telling you this because I know...given the history between Haleigh and I that it's not something that would be easy for ANY person to deal with, no matter who they are...but in changing who I am..I realized who I WAS...and if we are going to move forward...you and I..then I need to be honest...and I need to know that me being friends with Haleigh is something you can deal with..."

DON'T present yourself to her as a door mat for her to stomp all over. Remember that SHE didn't exactly make herself available to you or ANYONE ELSE on this time for quite some time. Communication works BOTH ways and for someone like her? Her powers?? It comes alot easier and in more ways than for MOST. There are gaps in your relationship...and they were NOT all caused by you. Remember that before you let her reel you in with one of her cybertronic guilt hooks.

:: Alycia said with a bitchy tone toward the end of her statement as she folded her arms and rolled her hazel eyes::

Is YOUR friendship with Haleigh something I can deal with?

:: scoffing with a laugh as she turns back to look at Cameron::

The better question to ask is, can SHE handle a real friendship with ANYONE on this team without disappearing for 6 months at a time. Can SHE handle YOU with ME. US?

You better stop looking at her as a wounded sheep and recognize her for the WOLF that she's always been.

:: Skip forward ::

Let's just say...any ILLUSION I had about where she & I stood as so-called friends has been shattered.

As far as I'm concerned....I don't even think she KNOWS how to be a friend to anyone for any sustained period of time. But that's just how *I* feel. That has no bearing on the situation between YOU TWO.

:elilah's words from yesterday were still in her mind. She WANTED to believe them, to let THEM be her solace, but she just felt like Haleigh still had a "use, abuse & dispose of" mentality and until she saw otherwise? She had no interest in being anywhere near Haleigh.::

I just wanted you to be aware that while you SHOULD be concerned about several things here...I think you might be off about which things those are.

Go to her, do what you need to do. Just don't over extend yourself or you may end up regretting it.

And while I am understanding...and ENCOURAGING even...I will NOT be an extra in somebody ELSE'S unfinished business.

Everyone else has grown up and moved on. It's time she did the same.

:: The feminum bracelets on the amazon's wrists shimmer, as her smooth hands are now TREMBLING and gripping the framed picture tightly::

But I was wrong...they made a fool of me. I TRUSTED them that bastard [Cameron]...that BITCH [Haleigh] ....and they made a FOOL of me....

AND HE HAS NO REGRETS!?

:: She SNAPS the picture frame and all with her bare hands, and flings the broken pieces in any given direction::

:: she then grabs the firepoker from the fire place and begins to SMASH, WRECK and DESTROY any picture that includes Cameron OR Haleigh in it, ANY object, ANY thing that had anything to do with her interactions/relationships with either of them.::

THEY DIDN'T REGRET IT!

:: The amazon RAGES, UNAWARE at the moment that Bishop, who was drawn to the door way of her office by the sounds of her grief, is now witnessing the fury of this amazon unleashed::

:: after a few moments of mindless rage and destruction, she flings some cards, letters, and gifts from Cameron, along with his estate papers into her fireplace, and watches them be consumed by the flames. She throws the fire poker down, and drops to her knees::

ATHENA....I HATE THEM! I HATE THEM BOTH!

:: She cries out::

I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM OR ANYONE ELSE IN THAT BUILDING!

I NEVER SHOULD'VE WENT BACK TO THEM. I NEVER SHOULD'VE TRUSTED THEM!

I HATE THEM!

::And now, while dropped to her knees, she buries her face into her hands, and slumps over, and weeps::

:: She doesn't like to fail. She doesnt like to waste her TIME, and her respect, her loyalty, her friendship, her trust, her LOVE, those are GIFTS that she was taught NOT to give FREELY, but BOTH of these people through their own individual, unique and seemingly genuine ways and efforts, WON those gifts from her, only to turn around and SQUANDER them, to make a FOOL of her, and CAMERON had no regrets, he SAID so. HALEIGH, it was almost GUARANTEED that she felt the same way.::

:: And NOW, this amazon, this woman's HEART struggles to hold itself together, as the feelings of BETRAYAL and DISRESPECT seek to tear it apart.::

:: They get to do whatever they want, and justify it with their SICK, TWISTED "need" of each other. NEITHER of them could ever have a REAL, EQUITABLE, ETHICAL relationship with anyone because those things aren't NATURAL to EITHER of them. They seek each other out because each of their selfish, twisted, amoral, fractured souls RECOGNIZE the other, and yearn to find completion in each other. NO ONE ELSE, no matter how good, decent, TRUE they are, would EVER be enough or RIGHT for them.

:: Cameron was RIGHT, he DIDN'T deserve Alycia. He didn't deserve the longsuffering loyalty and support of VIVICA, he didn't deserve the TRUST of DELILAH, he didn't deserve ANYTHING but the PAIN , UNCERTAINTY, and DANGER that was coming his way, and right or wrong, with ATHENA as Alycia's witness, Alycia VOWED in her heart to disavow Cameron completely. She would NOT come to his aid, EVER, and if he tried contacting her, she would NOT respond. If he EVER tried to invade her space again? She would NOT be responsible for her actions. ::

:: And as for Haleigh? Well, as harshly as Alycia rebuked HERSELF for going against her own life lesson: "when people tell/show you who they are, BELIEVE them", with her getting this out of her system NOW, she could go about the process of correcting THAT error. Haleigh hadn't faced someone whom she betrayed, that could HIT BACK and make it count. She hadn't faced someone who would not forget OR forgive. That was going to CHANGE.::

When revenge...equals...justice...

:: she said slowly, as she lifted her tear streaked face from her hands, and slowly stood to her face, she turned around and...::

::GASP!::

BISHOP!

:: she yelled::

How LONG have you been standing there!? how DARE you eavesdrop on me!

:: she was was in a VERY vulnerable moment, and to know that he may have seen/heard MORE than a little bit of that!? NOW she was ANGRY, and ready to LAUNCH herself upon him and attack him!::

 

[Cypher]

He waited, sitting at the small bar located at the front of the restaurant. It had been nearly a year since he had heard from Ava Cassadine, right around the time she asked him to help her merge Cassadine Enterprises with Zenith Group. A fucking stupid decision, but who the hell was he to stop her? Taking a shot of sake, Gabe pushed the porcelain cup to the bartender.

“One more.”

Rubbing the stubble that covered his jaw, he turned toward the entrance after hearing the soft chime of the door opening expecting to see her. It wasn’t—she always did love keeping him waiting. Looking back to the bartender, he graciously accepted his refilled glass.

“Thanks mate.”

Shooting that one back as well, the chimes rang again and his eyes drifted over.

“Fuck me...”

He muttered to himself. She looked like a god damn goddess in red. Gabe didn’t hide the fact that he was taking in every inch of her. How the hell did she get into that dress? Shit, how the hell could he get it OFF.

“Ava Cassadine. It’s been too long.”

Persephone: “It has.”

They embraced, his hand sliding down the contours of her bare spine made accessible by her backless dress. She was like a fine wine, and fuck did he want to taste her.

“Why did we end things again?”

Persephone: “You’re an asshole.”

They pull apart and he gives her a crooked smile.

“Oh, right.”

Placing his hand on her lower back, he grabs his laptop bag and begins to escort her to the private room in the back.

“So, what can I do for you? I gotta say, I was surprised to hear from you.”

 

[Persephone]

Persephone pulled up to the small hole in the wall Japanese restaurant right outside of Chinatown that she asked Gabe to meet her at. It was somewhere neither the Six, Birds of Prey, or Inner Circle would ever know to look. Climbing out of the car Persephone shut the door, not bothering to pay attention to the gawking looks of pedestrians as she entered the restaurant. She immediately spotted Gabe, an old employee of Ava's father who she used to intimately see off and on.

Smirking, he looked just as delicious as she remembered him being.

Gabe: “Fuck me. Ava Cassadine, it’s been a while.”

“It has.”

Hugging Gabe, she felt his hand trail down her back, coming dangerously close to her ass before stopping. She smiled.

Gabe: “Why did we end things again?”

Because Ava was a moron, but she needn’t go into the complexities of her current situation.

“You’re an asshole.”

She pulled away giving him a ‘you know why’ look. He gave her a smile.

Gabe: “Oh, right.”

Feeling his hand linger on the base of her back, he began to escort her towards the back of the restaurant to a private space he requested.

Gabe; “So, what can I do for you? I gotta say, I was surprised to hear from you.”

Pushing the lines of wooden beads out of the way as she entered the room, it was small with a single table situated in front of a red leather booth.

“I need your expertise.”

Gabe: “I gathered as much. What on?”

Slipping into the booth, Persephone placed her clutch on the table and crossed her leg at the knee as Gabe got situated next to her.

“I need you to find some kind of loophole to get Cassadine Enterprises out from under Zenith Groups control.”

She didn’t want anything to do with Cameron King or his company anymore. She planned on doing what Stavros did—selling weapons and technology to the HIGHEST bidder, who just so happened to be the Hellfire Club currently. And if she could land a blow towards Cameron in the process, it was a bonus.

Gabe: “Bored with King already? I remember someone warning you against the merger…”

“You’re being an asshole again.”

Gabe: “I like to live up to my reputation. But more importantly, what’s in it for me.”

Persephone kept her eyes locked on his as she took his hand, guiding it up her calf, to her knee, then her thigh. She separated her legs just enough to slip his hand between her legs, only a fingers length away from where he so obviously wanted to be.

“I’ll make it worth your while. AND, 5 million deposited into your off shore account by this evening.”

 

[Enchantrah]

Helena was in the process of finishing her lunch when a familiar voice rang in her head.

Diana: Helena, it's time that we had our talk, in the catacombs. After that, we'll summon our uptight little techno sorceress. Scion should be returning fairly soon, and there's a little "HOUSE KEEPING" matter that I want to settle, with ALL the queens and king present.

Placing her fork and knife down, Helena stood from the small dining table situated in her chambers and picked up her red blazer from the chaise as she went. Soft cries of muffled words were heard as she circled her bed. A handsome older gentleman was tied naked to her bed with a ball gag in his mouth, a known member of the Hellfire Club who so happened to be bored with his wife and needed a little kink to spice things up. Helena grinned down at him, her manicured red nail tracing along his collar bone.

"Shhhh."

He tried mumbling something, but it wasn't coherent.

"I need to leave for a bit."

She could hear 'no' very distinctively now.

"Oh don't you worry..."

Her hand trailed down his torso, stopping right below his belly button.

"I have plans for you yet."

Her grin grew as she patted his stomach before turning for the door. He began to muffle protests, yelling through the gag even as she departed her room. Making her way down to the catacombs, she spotted Diana alone, waiting for her. Helena held up her hand before she had a chance to say anything.

"I know you had nothing to do with what happened with Ava. I was angry....it was a trigger, but it's over with now. She's fully integrated into Persephone..."

Helena smiled deviously at her friend.

"Our plan worked perfectly."

 

[Hellion]

The Parthenon Hotel - The Starlight Lounge

:: Derek had asked a loaded question on purpose. As he stared into his eyes, he could sense the presence of incredibly strong magick around her. Her emergence after a long exile, coupled with the POWERFUL magick he sensed permeating from Morgan as well as her mother, he began to draw a few conclusions. She wasn't channeling this magick, though it was permeating around her. It was the work of some kind of POWERFUL spell, one that would be difficult even for him to pull off and his senses told him that it was tied to her BEING here. He asked her because he wanted to hear the LIE she would concoct, to use his gifts to perceive the nature of her soul. If it was there, if it was damned, if it could be saved. If Blaze was wondering if he was staring into her soul, she would be correct. He WAS. ::

Blaze's apple green eyes met that piercing stare from Derek. It was almost if he could see into her soul, but she wouldn't avert her gaze. She could "see" and sense things TOO.

Instead, she took another drink, and smiled at him, as she tilted her head

"Yes, I WAS hidden from the world, I wasn't sure it was ready for ME. "

Only Vivica would know exactly what she meant by that

"But I'm back now."

"I'm the proprietor of XS."

"Or perhaps you weren't ready for the world...possibly even dead."

[smirking]

"Ah yes. That was quite a little hotspot during my modeling days. I remember it well."

"And yes, I am proudly associated with the House of Spectra. I work with Sally, AND Morgan. I have a partnership with Sally and Zenith Group, from which my brand, Fire La Vedette- french for Fire Star or Fire DIVA, came to be. And along WITH that, a sexy burlesque inspired line inspired by the brand, designed by Sally Spectra herself! I'm also the designer and signature model for Truth or Dare accessories line through Spectra Couture. "

"I'll be having an event at XS in several weeks. The show is called "FIRE STAR", and I'll be headlining. Sally will be in town for it, (among others), You should come too, DEREK. "

"It's going to be a HELL of an event, a HELL of a night! Sexy, stylish, SINFUL...somehow, I think YOU'LL be right at home."

"Well it sounds like you've been a busy girl..and I do love a party. And I do love to sin..but let's not forget, it was a woman responsible for the ORIGINAL sin...or so the story goes. Are you trying to tempt me to eat from your tree of knowledge, Blaze? Get me into trouble?"

He shook his head.

“It’s not that much of a story. I got her out of the way of a sign that was about to fall on her, so she was kind enough to give me a job here.”

Andrew smirked as he took another gulp of his beer.

“You DO know the French word for ‘fire’ isn’t ‘fire’, right?”

He looked over at Derek.

“If you’re in the fashion game as well, Derek, doesn’t that make you and Sally rivals?”

"Well thank god he's a bit brighter than he looks."

:: Derek smiled, taking a sip of his martini, shaking his head side to side in an "eh" manner. ::

"I mean techinically...yeah, we would be rivals once my women's line launches, but...Sally tends to do things a bit different. She's not really competing with anybody but herself. We aren't trying to do the same thing..I'm pushing the envelope instead of delivering it so to speak."

 

[Cypher]

Pushing the beads to the private room aside, it was small and looked like it had diseases, but it would do. Ava took the lead and slid into the booth—he followed suit.

Persephone: “I need your expertise.”

Unzipping his laptop case, Gabe withdrew his computer.

“I gathered as much. What on?”

Placing the laptop on the table, he opened it, turning it on.

Persephone: “I need you to find some kind of loophole to get Cassadine Enterprises out from under Zenith Groups control.”

His lips upturned into a sly smile before looking at her. Ava hated being wrong, but even worse, ADMITTING it. Oh this was golden, and he was going to take full advantage of the moment.

“Bored with King already? I remember someone warning you against the merger…”

Persephone: “You’re being an asshole again.”

He grinned.

“I like to live up to my reputation.”

But even moreso, he wanted to know what HE would get out of it. Despite her being a fucking 20 on the richter scale of women, he didn’t work for free. What he did was state of the art and it came at a cost.

“But more importantly, whats in it for me.”

Her eyes were dark as she stared at him intensely. It was then he realized they seemed to be a different shade of blue….maybe it was the lighting….nevermind, she grabbed his hand and his eyes immediately flicked down to her guiding it up her leg. He tried to control his breathing as his eyes lifted back to hers, feeling her legs separate and her guide him between them. He was fully aroused now, his sight lowering back down to the space between her legs…his hand only inches away. He could feel the heat—he wanted to fucking taste her right then and there.

Persephone: “I’ll make it worth your while. AND, 5 million deposited into your account by this evening.”

He kept his gaze low.

“Done.”

He didn’t even have to look up to know she had a satisfied grin stretching from ear to ear. Fucking hell, he always thought with his dick….then again 5 million was a nice compensation as well. Two birds one fucking stone. He watched as she separated her legs a little more, allowing his hand to be free. It took him everything not to slide it the rest of the way up her dress.

“It should take just a minute.”

Persephone: “I was hoping for longer…”

Gabe withdrew his hand from Ava, a grin tugging on his lips as his eyes met with hers.

“You know I last way longer than a minute, baby.”

He turned to his computer and began to open multiple windows, typing in codes furiously. His eyes scanned the screens one by one, flipping from one page to another. In an event that Ava DID regret merging Cassadine Enterprises with the Zenith Group, he had left a small algorithm that would allow them to retract it without getting lawyers involved. It was enough of a loophole to get Ava’s company back to her with ease. And with one click of the enter button, it was done.

“Done. Cassadine Enterprises is now the free standing corporation it once was before joining Zenith Group. The paperwork just needs to be signed, then it’s official.”

Rotating his laptop to Ava.

“And because CE is no longer affiliated with Zenith, I decided to slip in a little virus to fuck with Zenith's systems. And by little, I mean BAD….Cameron's going to be lucky if he can find his Facebook profile page.”

He watched as Ava’s eyes gleamed with delight. She looked different....he couldn't put his finger on it, but it didn't matter. She was fucking gorgeous and he missed her mouth. Gabe moved his hand the length of her jaw, grasping the nape of her neck and guiding her face to his.

[whispering] “You owe me a bonus.”

His lips met with hers roughly, feeling her immediately climb on top of him. His hands went straight for her ass, slipping the hem of her dress upward as she worked on unbuckling and zipping his pants. He nearly came as she slipped her hand into them. Breaking the kiss, he extended his head back, his eyes rolling shut as she began to move rhythmically.

“Fucking hell, Cassadine….”