Come together: Rebirth

[Seer]

<< Some victories are utterly pyrrhic, and Malice's destruction is one example. Though she was seemingly dealt with [only the 2nd time since her ORIGINAL death] in the cataclysmic battle with Prophet, the events that resulted in the loss of Nicolas King, aka Rampage, were set in motion, and along the way, other injuries and casualties were sustained by all members of the Six.>>

<< the chimes of clock sound off, and with each sound, we see a member of The Six: Spellbinder. Harbinger. Prophet. Black Widow. MorningStar. Persephone. As the bells/chimes toll, We also see the image of Firebird, and finally, Rampage, the fallen member of the Six.>>

<< As the chimes/bells toll....we move across time and space, through the stars in the cosmos above, through the haunting, violent skies of the Otherplace (aka Limbo), across the mysterious, spectral lights of the Astral Plane, and finally down to Mainstream EARTH, as we zoom across the endless oceans away from Minerva's Aerie, back to the east coast of the U.S. Back to New York City, the place where the NIGHTMARE began.>>

<<How many times have the The Six, those past and present, hoped to wake from the nightmare? how many times was their hope in vain?>>

<< Six months have passed since the the destructive battle that ended with the destruction of Malice, and the loss of Nicolas King.>>

<< And while perhaps the greatest threat that loomed over the Six's lives has seemingly been dealt with, the cost that came with it is still being felt.>>

<< In NYC. Spellbinder and Firebird reside in the mystical and architectural wonder that is the Sanctum Sanctorum, which sits on the grounds that were once home to Illustra, Inc. Spellbinder, still suffering from the shocking injury inflicted upon her by Talisman , as well as a broken heart and spirit, is basically catatonic and bedridden, following the death of her champion and fiancé, Nicolas King, aka Rampage. She is cared for, round the clock, by her sister, Firebird, aka Blaze Victory, with regular visits from their mother, Shadow Weaver, aka Karen Victoria. The sisters have not seen or spoken to any other member of the Six for the past six months, with Firebird barring ANYONE other than Karen and her fiancé, Michael Armstrong, aka Arsenal, from the Sanctum Sanctorum.>>

<< The Sanctum Sanctorum is a very curious place, it is a house of mystery, intrigue, magick and DANGER. Anyone who is NOT blood related to Spellbinder will not have access to this place, and anyone who tries will experience unexpected consequences in the form of mystical defenses built into the very building itself. >>

<< Blaze has proven to be a most competent and adept care giver, but neither she, nor Shadow Weaver can bring Morgan back to full consciousness, and her condition has either "maintained" or declined over the past six months, leaving Blaze with a growing sense of dread over what is going to happen to Morgan, and worse, that she is powerless to stop it.>>

<< After the events at Minerva's Aerie, six months ago, Harbinger has closed the island, and the palatial estate, off from all outsiders, save Karen and Michael, who live there with her. She granted grace to her friend, Persephone, allowing her extra time, given her personal circumstances, and she allowed Zach to remain, in order to work through unfinished business with Persephone, but after that? That was it. Harbinger was as closed off from the rest of them as Morgan and Blaze were. The Keeper of Time was heartbroken over Nicolas' loss, and her hatred of Talisman, coupled by Prophet's insistence that neither Alison, nor Karen & her daughters exact their revenge on the woman, had driven a wedge between the brother and sister. >>

<< Persephone knew she was on "borrowed time" with Harbinger, but there was an unspoken bond between the goddess and the telekinetic witch, one that was cemented when they fell into a stepping disc and wound up in Firebird's native, dystopian timeline, surviving events that would leave them traumatized, forever changed, and forever bonded, and so, inspite of Harbinger closing off her borders, Persephone knew that Harbinger would not force her out of Minerva's Aerie, and that grace also extended to Zach Armani, aka Orion.>>

<< Prophet was left with no one to turn to but Black Widow, a woman who found herself cut off from her sisters (a revelation that was still so surreal for her, and others to ponder) as well as Harbinger. Black Widow was the one who delivered the final blow to Set (who was possessing Nicolas' body and powers) with Spellbinder's Soul Sword. She did what she had to do to save herself, her team, and the WORLD, but that didn't make it any easier for her. Through it all, she managed to find her way back to Prophet, the two of them had bonded in the EARLIEST days of the Six, when things were so dark, volatile, and uncertain. In a way, it seems so...poetic, that they should find themselves in each other's much needed embrace NOW of all times, even if the path was illuminated by the broken hearts, and betrayed souls of individuals like Alycia Barnett, aka Artemis III. Black Widow was finally FREE of her mother, Malice. And now she and Prophet, both cut off from their families and friends, have once again turned to one another during this time.>>

<< MorningStar returned to NYC, and for the first time in quite a while, she found herself alone, free to make her own way, choose her own path. the rest of the Six seemed to have pulled so far apart from each other as time passed, moving further and further from that life altering event. She was alive, so was Bishop, and so was her daughter, who was still in Otherplace (aka Limbo), still in the care of the powerful, immortal weather witch, Ororo. Whatever else Delilah Trelevan may have lost, one very important thing she still has, is the gift sent to her by way of Tinker, Spellbinder's enchanted Siamese cat. The holoempathic crystal key that both she and Bishop received following the Dreamtime Event. It allowed her to see, and FEEL the essence of her daughter, Alexia Morgana even as the baby remained with Ororo. It was a special gift, it was comforting, reassuring, but nothing could replace the feeling of a mother holding her child in her arms.>>

<< If there was anything that Delilah wanted "more than anything", it was to be reunited with her child, but so far, there was no way, mystical, technological, or scientific, to negate the fatal effect that would result from physical contact between Delilah and her baby daughter.>>

<< Everything had changed, whether for good or not depends on who you take a closer look at, but one thing is clear, life must go on, and destiny has a way of asserting herself no matter how anyone may feel, whether they are ready or not.>>

<< And now we watch.>>

 

[Firebird]

NYC- Sanctum Sanctorum

:: Firebird, aka Blaze Victory, stands silent in the Area of Consecration inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. She'd just completed another round of care for her sister, Morgan Victoria, and the cats.::

:: She had some time to herself now, but she didn't want to sit, so she took her time walking around various parts of this dwelling, until she found herself on the third floor of the Sanctum Sanctorum, now standing in front of the Window of Worlds, more than a mere (large) circular window to the outside world, it's a powerful mystical viewing lens that allows the person looking in it to see ANYWHERE they can imagine!::


:: That's just one of MANY amazing features in this place, the seat of Spellbinder's magickal power as this world's Sorceress Supreme::

:: This place was unlike anything Blaze Victory had ever known in her native timeline. The Morgan there was a "lesser" version of Spellbinder, and was killed when Mystech, backed by the federal government, cracked down on mutants and metahumans.::

:: But through an unimaginable turn of events, that began with the arrival of mainstream Harbinger and Persephone, Firebird would not only meet the crosstime alternate of her sister, she would eventually rejoin her, on MAINSTREAM earth, assuming the life of HER OWN [deceased] crosstime alternate, Foxfire, and eventually being fully integrated into this world, and the life/legacy of her alternate.::

:: There are many things about Firebird that make her stand out and apart from Foxfire. Aspects of her physical appearance, her powers and the scale/reach of those powers, her mystical accents, and more. But what remains constant is her love of her sister(s), her love of her friends and family, and her desire to protect them, and just like her alternate, Firebird remains fiercely loyal to her sister, Spellbinder, standing by her through some of the most trying times, and remaining steadfast in her support of Morgan.::

:: Blaze Victory loved Nicolas, she loved him for Morgan, she loved him for who he was. He helped her to fully integrate herself into this world, and to assume the life of her alternate. Now...he was gone. His father, the demonic god known as Set, had possessed him, and it was her OTHER sister, Black Widow, who had no choice but to strike him down with Morgan's soul sword. Blaze understood that Haleigh did what she was forced to do, but that didn't make it any less painful.::

:: In the immediate aftermath, Blaze did not approve of Haleigh and Cameron's behavior, especially AT Minerva's Aerie. She felt that it was beyond distasteful that they would relate to each other the way they did, while Nicolas' body was still warm. She also knew that Cameron and Haleigh had hurt Alycia, terribly, as they found their way back to each other.::

:: But before she could even say anything, Morgan's distress diverted her attention. Morgan, who had already been going through a valley following the epic battle at the Hellfire Mansion, where she was ambushed and injured by Talisman, followed by bizarre, sometimes appalling behavior and choices, had had all she could take with Nicolas' death, and she had a complete nervous breakdown, leaving her catatonic.::

:: In the aftermath of Nicolas King's death, Blaze took Morgan and evacuated her back to the Sanctum Sanctorum, FORBIDING ANYONE except their mother, Shadow Weaver, and her fiancé, Arsenal from having contact with them. ::

:: THAT was six months ago::

:: During this time, Blaze Victory, intent on protecting Morgan from anymore surprises, harm, or heart ache, locked down the Sanctum Sanctorum, activating its various levels of defenses to secure them inside, and she began performing round-the-clock care for her sister, calling upon her military skills and training (from her life in her native timeline) as well as using some potions and herbs from the apothecary inside of the Sanctum. ::

:: She attended Morgan on a very consistent schedule, day in, day out. With guidance and oversight from Shadow Weaver, who is a medical doctor, and a psychotherapist, Blaze delivered care to Morgan in a very competent manner, and all one had to do was look at her apple green eyes to see the sincerity, the DETERMINATION that she had to keep her sister together as best as she possibly could.::


:: Day in. Day out. Week after week. Month after month.::

:: Blaze Victory would care for Morgan, regularly patrol the WHOLE Sanctum Sanctorum, from top to bottom, and make sure everything was the way it was supposed to be. She would then sit by Morgan's beside, while Tinker and the small white kitten given to Morgan by Haleigh so long ago (the kitten, curiously, did not age) "checked on" their mommy, and lay with her, trying their best to comfort her with purrs and nuzzles ::

:: Blaze was dedicated, but she wasn't stupid. She included time for self care in her schedule too, making sure to eat, sleep, exercise. She knew that she'd be no good to Morgan, if she herself burned out, and when Blaze needed a respite, their mother, Karen, would come take over, while Michael and his dire wolves patrolled the Sanctum Sanctorum.::

:: Aside from Karen and Michael, Blaze hadn't seen or spoken to any of the rest of the Six in six months. Sometimes, she wondered where they were...HOW they were, especially Cameron, whom she loved dearly, and Haleigh, her OTHER sister. It seemed like only YESTERDAY when Blaze and Morgan learned the TRUTH about Haleigh Davidoff, her being the fourth daughter of their father, Christopher Victory, and ALSO the genetic daughter of Malice!? It couldn't get worse than THAT on a soap opera! Still, in light of that revelation, Blaze was ready to accept Haleigh as her sister, much to the anger of Persephone. So much happened RIGHT AFTER that, making moment in the War Room II seem almost like...an AFTERTHOUGHT, but it was a thought BLAZE hadn't forgotten, even after all this time::

:: The fact that SIX MONTHS had passed without any outside disasters, monsters, or other emergency occurring was not lost on Blaze. The biggest threat that loomed over all of them had finally been removed.::

:: Cameron had nearly died in his cataclysmic battle with Malice. He did something no one BESIDE Morgan had been able to do once before, he managed to defeat Malice and destroy her body. That victory came at a HIGH cost though. Nearly everyone, including Cameron himself, had been injured or incapacitated during the events surrounding Malice. Blaze was one of the "lucky" ones. She thought about this too. She didn't hate Cameron OR Haleigh, but she didn't approve of their behavior in the immediate aftermath of Nicolas' death either.::

:: all of that had taken a back seat to the duties in front of her.::

:: Still, in those rare, precious moments she had to herself, her mind did wander, her heart did WONDER. Where was everyone, what were they doing? is THIS how it was always going to be? Riding high TOGETHER for a while, only to be BLOWN FAR APART, possibly NEVER to find each other again?::

:: After what she'd seen in her native timeline, nothing was impossible, but after six months, with little-to-no progress in trying to help Morgan recover...she WAS starting to wonder what she would do if....::

No....I won't even THINK it....I WON'T

:: Nicolas was gone....she would NOT let Morgan leave...not without doing EVERYTHING in her power to save her!::

:: She shuts her eyes tightly and shakes her head, chasing away those "what if..." worst case scenario thoughts::

Morg will get better. She HAS to. She's strong....and she's SAFE. I'll make sure nothing or no one hurts her again!

:: She said aloud, softly, as she stretches, and her apple green eyes return their gaze to the window of worlds, which shifts images and views, allowing Blaze to look at various places she's been since her arrival on mainstream earth. The view of Minerva's Aerie stays in view. Blaze knows she can't see inside, as Harbinger's own magicks would BLOCK the intrusion, but the palatial estate, the island it sits on, the never ending waters that surround it are breath taking. Blaze takes comfort knowing that her mother, and Michael are alive and SAFE there, and she knows that Alison has HER guard up, as as Blaze has HER's. The question is...which one of them would....be BRAVE ENOUGH to let DOWN their guard to one another first?::

 

[Prophet]

Galapagos Islands

It was painful to admit considering what the rest of his family was going through, but Cameron King was happier than he had ever been in his life, for a multitude of reasons. He and Delilah had done the impossible. Years of their meticulous planning had paid off. Malice was off the board. They were one step closer to reuniting his goddaughter with her mother and father. Despite his personal vendetta against Malice, his motivations in wanting her dead were equal parts pure. Delilah hadn't felt safe bringing her daughter home to a place where Diana existed. He had been able to pull off the impossible and bring hope to his best friend, that he might actually be able to protect not only her, but her daughter. After everything Delilah had given him over the years, it felt....good to finally be able to hold up his end of their friendship. Not only that, removing Diana from the equation had created a path to be at the side of the woman he loved. For the first time in their lives, there was nothing in the way. The path between them was a straight line, and he had wasted no time.

His happiness came at a great cost, and he knew that. This battle he had engaged in..this plan he had hatched so many years ago with Delilah, it had collateral damage that reached farther than he ever anticipated. Prophet and Malice's WAR on The Astral Plane had been responsible for the death and paralyzation of thousands of psi sensitives across the world. On top of that, when things got desperate, when Diana got desperate, Cameron had to evolve his tactics. Knowing that The White Queen was willing to unleash Set on the world rather than admit defeat, he accepted a gift from his mother, and while things objectively worked out in the end, he had nearly killed Dominique, and the culmination of the war against Hellfire had resulted in Rampage's death, something Cameron felt very responsible for. If only he could have just taken Diana out sooner. If only he had been strong enough to defeat her outright. He felt it was his weakness that caused Nic to die, but he also knew it wasn't that simple. However, seeing the faces of Morgan, Karen, Mike and Blaze at Nic's warrior pyre, made it very hard to face. But thankfully for him, as always, Haleigh was in a similar position. She had defected from the team, put them through hell, and delivered the killing blow to Rampage. Coupled with the revelation that Morgan was in fact her biological sister, and the trauma she felt she inflicted on The Six as a whole, she was not in a good place. But Cameron and Haleigh were used to feeling like the bad guy. It was a role they knew well, despite their best intentions. But Cameron felt resolved in the steps that he took to protect his family. He wasn't sure Haleigh did. So he made the choice to not leave her side. After everything they had gone through, one thing was clear about The Six - every single one of them needed space. But Haleigh and Cameron were done having distance between them.

In the weeks following the battle, Cameron took the position of White King of Hellfire, albeit a bit reluctantly. He understood Haleigh's reasoning for seizing control. He tried to look at it from a business perspective. Hellfire was an entity with resources and assets that would simply be foolish to leave on the table for anyone else to have, especially with so many members of the former inner circle scattered to the wind. So he treated it like a hostile takeover. In a month's time Cameron had been able to analyze the parts of Hellfire business that were above board and establised the Hellfire Trading Company, overseeing the club's trading and exports while Haleigh took care of the brass tacs. It distracted Haleigh, allowed her to operate in her shut down, more operational form, but he could feel the well of pain and trauma within her, as well as the corrupted memory of Malice that lived in her head, even spoke to her. It was the result of Haleigh's own creation...a horrifying synergy of her own tech and latent telepathic power, and Cameron resolved himself to fix it. So he tempted her with something they both had a deep love of - wetwork. Hellfire had a number of horrifying assets that should never have been allowed to see the light of day. Cameron proposed that the two of them take care of such things, and the last six months had been a whirlwind of adventure.

They travelled the world cutting out and exterminating the parts of Hellfire that did not deserve to live, carving a path through Eastern Europe, Japan and The Middle East. It was exhilirating for Cameron. When they had first reunited, Cameron wasted no time in establishing a deep PSI link between them. So much so that they now shared a part of each other's psyche. They could communicate without speaking, could sense each others emotions, memories, fears, dreams. It was intense, but it was not without it's benefits. This bond allowed them to work together in ways they had never imagined. In the field, Haleigh now not only had eyes on every remote satellite feed or security camera, but allowed her to see into the minds of the enemies on the field. In turn, Haleigh could share her own skill, allowing Cameron to do things he had never done before, such as piloting aircrafts, dismantling bombs, and wielding heavy artillery with ease. Together, they were an unstoppable circuit, and somewhere along the way of their Bonnie and Clyde like rampage, they fell into a passion and love for each other that was deeper than anything the other had experienced. And it was fucking fun. For all the work they were doing clearing out the cobwebs of Hellfire, they had so many adventures. They had visited the pyramids of Egypt, taken the casino at Monte Carlo for upwards of 7.5 million dollars, sat at a peak and watched the Aurora Borealis. Everyday he watched Haleigh become more human, become more of the woman he remembered meeting before the world of The Six consumed their lives. She was funny, she liked to dance and drink expensive whiskey. She was pensive and deep. She shared emotion. Vulnerability. These were things Cameron already was, but to get to see and experience this from her, he knew was exalted air. And he had done his best to unwravel the neurosis she had created for herself with regards to her mother, because Cameron never really cared who her mother was. In fact, it made perfect ironic sense for the woman he loved more than anything to be the daughter of the woman he hated more than anything. It was par for the course. But Haleigh was back. He could tell that she was connecting to herself again. As a woman. As a human being. So it was an easy decision for Cameron as they drove thru Las Vegas after a night of delicious food, dancing and grand larceny to pull up to the Little White Wedding Chapel on South Vegas Boulevard.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife...you may kiss the bride."

From the driver and passenger seat of Haleigh's old Astin Martin, they exchanged their vows as well as rings they had gotten from a vending machine outside of a grocery store. Haleigh Davidoff King. No three words had ever turned him on more. It was even better the next day when they awoke in their hotel room at Caesar's Palace and she didn't regret it. In fact, she was booking tickets for their honeymoon. In an ironic and beautiful twist, the two found themselves in the Galapagos. It was not the most glamorous of places, but it was beautiful and interesting. Rough around the edges and entertaining, just like them. They stayed at a fancy hotel which for the Galapagos was far below par to anything Cameron himself was used to, but he had never been happier. They had spent the last few days eating at all inclusive buffets, hanging out in crowded public pools, and taking very generic and scripted tours of the Darwin parts of the island. They made vacation friends, and drank Pina Coladas like they were water. And every morning, they woke up in each other's arms. In short - it was Heaven.

"Uggghhhh...."

Well Heaven with hangovers. Cameron groaned for a bit as he stirred in bed, kicking the stark white sheets off his naked body and pulling his wife as close to himself as humanly possible as his lips rested on her ear lobe.

"I can't believe you got me to sing karaoke...."

God she smelled so good. He kissed her earlobe and gave it a small nibble with his teeth as he flexed his arm muscles around her. Her body felt so good against his and he come to know that his bride had a unique ability to take care of morning wood. He pressed against her.

"You awake?"

 

[Black Widow]

The Galápagos Islands

Initially, after Nic’s death, Haleigh had sunk even deeper into her personal darkness. She had struck the felling blow, and even though it had been entirely necessary, her own decisions and actions haunted her. She had been mired in a pit of self-loathing that no amount of logic and reasoning seemed capable of helping her navigate. She did not know how she could have done anything any better. If she relived the events in her mind, in her memory, there was never a point she felt she could have chosen differently.

There was no escaping the fact that it was all her fault, going all the way back to her decision to defect to Hellfire. And yet, there was no way she could have done as Delilah or the others had suggested. She could not have led them to their deaths just to remain a ‘hero’. She was not a hero, and she accepted that now. That wasn’t even the part that bothered her. The thing that rendered her utterly defeated was the outcome. She had sacrificed so much of herself on the altar of Hellfire, and it would have been worth every minute if she had actually achieved her goal of protecting her family.

All of it had been for nothing. She hadn’t protected any of them. She had destroyed them all, and lost them one by one, just as her mother had said she would. It was a cold, bitter hell she found herself in. She couldn’t do anything about it, really. She just kept moving forward. The only way out was through. She was stuck just gritting it out, sustaining the fallout of her own making, with her mother haunting her all the while. None of her sisters talked to her, beyond what surface level discussion might be needed for utility. She didn’t blame them for that. It wasn’t like any of them were really in any shape to help her. But it only contributed to her sense of isolation. She began to understand how she could slide towards being more machine, and less human.

If it weren’t for Cameron, that would have been exactly what she became. He seemed to know it, and refused to allow it. He stepped up when she asked him to be her King. It was the first of many ways he supported her recovery. With him at her side, she felt safer and less vulnerable to her enemies. He was proactive about Hellfire, and together they turned the tide. She was able to go on the offensive, with his support. She began to feel like she had control again. And he was there, whenever Malice turned up in her mind, to help her slay the memory of her mother in her psyche.

She was able to take refuge in him. He understood all the things. Her choices, her reflections, her thoughts and emotions, all of it. She didn’t have to explain herself to him. He knew it all and he still loved her. It was liberating. She didn’t have say anything, she didn’t have to use any kind of strategy with him. She could just be authentic, even in her brokenness. He allowed her to be a human being in repair. All the while, they traveled the world and took action and had little escapades everywhere. She began to find happiness again, slowly at first, then steadily. She began to find joy again in the things she loved. She stopped trying to survive and began to actually feel alive again. There was humor and laughter between them. There was dancing and lovemaking and daring exploits. There was whiskey, for the pure enjoyment of it, no longer the need to dull a pain. They were two hearts beating, and one mind thinking.

So when Cameron had spontaneously suggested they elope while they were in Vegas, it had been almost as if Haleigh had thought of it herself. They laughed their way through the Tunnel of Love, yet another of their wild capers, with an under current of serious commitment that neither of them shied away from. They had been all over the world by that point, to Paris, to Buenos Aires, to Tokyo, to Moscow, to Egypt, to Prague, to London, to Sydney, to Rome. She took him far away from all those epic cities, to a little beach in the middle of nowhere. The Galápagos Islands. A volcanic archipelago off the coast of Ecuador. They stayed in a nice little boutique resort of sorts. They had a cabana all to themselves, with a deck that overlooked a private beach. There were well worn paths to common areas where there was always more food than could be eaten, free flowing drinks and live music almost every night.

She was happy, whether or not she had any right to be. But after all the suffering, after all the darkness, she appreciated the lightness of being content, with every little shred of her soul that was left to her. She appreciated every second of being with him. She loved every morning, like this one, when he kicked the sheets off before he snuggled up close and greeted her with need, the evidence of his desire pressing against her. asked if she was awake. His teeth nibbling at her ear lobe sent a thrill through her.

“Mmhmm…”

She murmured, rolling over in his arms so she could kiss him, and see the passion in his gaze. He groaned that he couldn’t believe she convinced him to sing karaoke, and she chuckled softly.

“As if I could have talked you out of it. I think you’ve been practicing for that moment for a very long time. You were a little too good at it. All the little cabana boys looked very jealous of you.”

She teased him. Her hands slid down his chest, and one found its way down his hip. Her fingertips grazed the underside of his hardened shaft, from base to tip and back again, teasing him physically now.

“How is my husband feeling this morning? Not TOO hungover, I hope.”

She kissed him passionately, her lips on his, her tongue playfully flicking into his mouth. Then her lips found his throat, and then his chest. She moved lower down his torso.

“You know, every day doesn’t have to be a volcanic jungle excursion. We don’t even have to go to the beach. We could just stay in bed and make love all day.”

She suggested casually, before kissing his tip. Her kisses then followed the same trail her fingertips had moments ago. His moans made her smile. His arousal and anticipation was more exhilarating than she could explain. Her elbows framed his legs as she settled her breasts between his thighs. Her hands clutched his hips as she took him into her mouth.

 

[Firebird]

NYC- Sanctum Sanctorum

:: More time has passed.::

:: Blaze had made her sweep of the Sanctum Sanctorum. She was moving on schedule, and before she would deliver her next round of care to Morgan, it was time for her to do her own meditation exercise to help keep her centered, clear and focused, in mind, body and soul.::

:: Unlike her sister, who, under far better circumstances, would engage in mystic rituals in her Area of Consecration, located on the highest floor of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Firebird had her own place of power and focus. It was located in the Basement level of the Sanctum Sanctorum , specifically the large, centrally located, Magickal Furnace designed by the Goddess Hestia herself! ::

:: this beautifully designed, mystical furnace housed the legendary magickal Flames of Faltine::

:: More than the mere physical elemental representation of fire or flame energy, these eternal magickal flames were born from the twinkling in Hestia's eyes. these divine, magickal flames represented the spark and power of creation, life, clarity, comfort, and....when necessary, destruction.::

:: Firebird, who's power was rooted in complete embodiment of the primal element of fire and flame energies (including magma, the geothermal power of the earth, plasma, and cosmic fire) also possessed mystical accents, which had previously been observed and even investigated by Harbinger, Rampage and Prophet. This aspect of her being is one of several key details that tied her closer to mainstream Spellbinder than her cross time alternate, Foxfire, and those mystical accents granted her privileged access and empathy to the Flames of Faltine::

:: When the mainstream Six were in Firebird's native timeline, Black Widow had taken the opportunity to access any files available on Firebird, from that timeline's mystech, and elsewhere. She learned that Firebird's intuition is such that it has been described by her native timeline's Mystech as limited precognition, allowing her to perceive the true evil/threat of any individual or object that is attempting to hide their true nature and intentions from her. This is, in fact her "mystical accent"::

:: Beside the obvious offensive applications of the Flames of Faltine, there are more important, personal and sacred benefits that come from consulting and communing with these eternal mystic flames.::

:: Blaze Victory's access and connection to The Flames of Faltine help keep her centered, clear in her vision , perception of everything around her, keeps her mind and soul aligned and focused. It allows her to "reach out", search/seek information, guidance, and even allows her to draw a form of sustenance, allowing her to carry on as she for the past six months. This also allows her to see any threats or hidden dangers in the area around her and Spellbinder.::

:: And so, Blaze sits cross legged and posed, hovering above a circle of flame on the floor below her that slowly spins clockwise, with various symbols forming in the flames at different points. ::

:: With her eyes closed, and her auburn hair flowing, she chants. the flames in Hestia's furnace expand and contract in time with Blaze's pulse and heartbeat, and with each expansion, their upward and outward reach grew.::

Sacred Fired, please, help me.

I seek answers, I seek ways and means, I seek whatever ability or POWER Is needed to RESTORE MY SISTER!

Goddess [Hestia]! Please Hear your daughter, the sun weaver, the avatar of celestial fire, hear my plea!

:: She returned to chanting, as the eternal mystic flames within Hestia's furnace seemed to respond and match Firebird's growing focus and urgency::

Sacred FIRE. I SEEK the WAYS AND MEANS!

I SEEK THE ANSWER! HELP ME HELP MY SISTER!

:: The current application of her tapping into the Flames of Faltine has great scope and potential, as she is reaching....ALL THE WAY to Hestia herself for answers, or even DIVINE intervention!::

:: The chanting grows more intense, so does her push, her desire, her urgency::

I am Firebird!

I MUST find the answer, I must find the way!

The Flames of Faltine BURN AWAY confusion and leave ONLY CLARITY!

:: the flames pulsate and expand even higher, further outward, as the mystic flame symbols now flow UP from the fire circle below the floating/hovering Blaze, and now flow AROUND her at a vertical orientation::

CELESTIAL FIRE, HELP ME!

:: THIS particular power signature , now seen circling around Firebird at a vertical angle, was one seen by members of the Six in the past, particularly during her fight with Persephone, after the goddess had followed Black Widow to the Hellfire Club. In THAT instance, Firebird was unleashing a powerful attack. In THIS instance, she is seeking something far more important::

:: The sound of magickal flame energy IGNITING in the mystic furnace is heard, as Blaze's apple green eyes SNAP OPEN.::

:: Morgan Victoria, Spellbinder, is not going to "get better", and there's no longer denying it. Blaze has seen the ultimate truth. Spellbinder is DYING of a broken heart. She has given up the will to live. Her mind and her soul are slowly but steadily shutting down, like a row of lights, flickering and fading out, one. by. one. and there's NOTHING Firebird can do to stop it, OR save her!::

:: Firebird sought the TRUTH from the Sacred Fire. The TRUTH is that SHE can't save Morgan. She CAN'T do this alone.::

:: But She will not give up....even if SHE can't. Even if Shadow Weaver can't. There IS someone who can!::

HECATE! HELP ME. HELP US! PLEASE!

:: Blaze CRIES OUT, as sparkling beads/tears shimmer and fly away from her now wide open apple green eyes::

:: As she cries out, in that moment, Blaze's voice is plaintive, ANGUISHED, and stereophonic , amplified and carried by the waves of power from the Flames of Faltine. Firebird's SHOUT/CRY is heard throughout the Sanctum Sanctorum, across the Astral Plane , and by every witch in Hecate's direct bloodline.

<< FLASH!>>

<< A rapid montage of Shadow Weaver. Harbinger. Talisman. and Amanda Sefton. ALL of "hearing" Firebird!>>

<< As SURPRISING as it is that we see AMANDA SEFTON registering Firebird's distress call to Hecate, there is ANOTHER unexpected Twist- Brenthon, aka Beto, who had a deep and abiding bond with Darkchilde, AND had encountered Spellbinder herself during a past cross time event, ALSO hears Blaze's plaintive call to Hecate!>>

:: AND there's one OTHER person Blaze didn't immediately think of or anticipate hearing her too...Haleigh Davidoff. The hybrid was, after all, Blaze AND Morgan's sister, and while she was not a magick user, her genetic link to the sisters gave her an indirect, but SOLID connection to all of this.::

:: The celestial fire symbols that were circling around Blaze at a vertical orientation FLASH as white hot as the flame energy from the stars in the cosmos, before they vanish, and Blaze herself slowly lowers to the ground, now standing upright and surrounded by the Sacred Fire, which does no harm to her body. The Sacred Flame calms her, comforts her, gently "warming away" her shimmering tears as she regains her focus and alignment::

:: Just as Morgan had HER goddess, Blaze had HER's and through Hestia's flames, She had the answer she needed::

I may not be able to stop Morgan from dying, but Hecate can save her, and I will do EVERYTHING in my power to draw the Goddess of Witchcraft here to save Morgan.

<< Firebird had received the clarity she sought. She was doing everything she could, and doing it well, but it simply would not be enough. Sometimes, there were wounds that were too much for even the most skilled and powerful among them. Not even Shadow Weaver, Spellbinder's MOTHER, could intervene. Spellbinder's heart was broken. Her soul was completely unaligned with without form. Her mind had shut down. There was WISDOM in accepting that somethings were impossible to overcome alone, and Firebird had no shame in understanding this now.>>

<< And in her effort to draw Hecate BACK to the mortal coil, Firebird would NOT face this effort alone!>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< We see Shadow Weaver, in her luxury suite in Minerva's Aerie, now JOINING Firebird's effort to beseech Hecate, as she is supported by her fiance' AND HARBINGER , who also silently joins the effort >>

:: and now? She waits.::

:: Chanting, Casting a Spell, even saying a prayer, they are all similar in a way. Once those words are uttered, once that thought or wish is sent out into the cosmos, or across the astral plane...it WILL be heard somewhere, by SOMEONE. It's just...a matter of TIME now::

:: And even as Blaze alternates between thinking it, or softly uttering, she returns to her scheduled rounds. she prepares to deliver her next in depth round of care to Morgan, and the cats. She knows that her consulting the Sacred Fire was not an exercise in futility. But she ALSO knows that Hecate, like most goddesses and other deities, respond in their own way, and in their own time. Blaze may not be able to "SEE" time as Harbinger, but the Scared Fire showed her what to do, and she knows that what she set in motion WILL eventually bring about a result, and a CONCLUSION.::

<< But nothing is ever as simple, or as cut and dry, where any member of The Six is concerned.>>

<< TIME PASSES>>

 

[Magik]

NYC- The Parthenon

SEVERAL WEEKS EARLIER

<< We see a flash of Amanda and Beto arriving in a crowded New York City street in the middle of the day. >>

<< Still reeling from the unexpected but very consequential caper with Domino and her Marauders, Amanda immediately uses her magicks to disguise herself and Beto, preventing anyone around them from possibly recognizing their true forms/identities>>

Amanda: Follow me, Beto. I know the very place.

<< Soon after, Amanda wasted no time securing herself and Beto luxury accommodations at the world reknown destination hub known as the Parthenon, a place that was as much tied to the Six's legend as it was the world of the rich, famous, jet setting movers and shakers across multiple industries>>

<< And now?>>

<< Amanda and Beto were now housed on the 93rd floor of the Parthenon. This particular floor was reserved for EITHER non-active members of the six, OR special guests w/ connections to the Six, and curiously, Amanda Sefton had no problem securing accommodation on this floor, despite NOT having a DIRECT connection to the Six, outside of [up to this point] her casual acquaintance with Spellbinder and Firebird.>>

<< SPELLBINDER.>>

STORY NOTE: For the details surrounding the growing mystery that connects Amanda Sefton to Spellbinder, AS WELL as Beto's destiny to reach Spellbinder, see the events in the Marauder's TIE-IN story

<< The jet setting, globe trotting sorceress wasted no time setting up "shop" and making herself at home. She was not the shy or "modest" type, and would've had no problem SHARING a suite with Beto, BUT for his sake, AND acknowledging the need for physical space, for any number of reasons, she made sure that they had their own separate ADJOINING luxury suites, giving them quite a bit of room, AND the option to "look in" on one another as it suited either of them. >>

<< It was quite clear that their journey together was not quite over, just yet>>

<< And They were potentially in the most ELITE company on this floor, with such fequent/and or long term guests as Fashion Maven Sally Spectra, and none other than Dominique Deveraux, aka Isis! But the world renown chanteuse, and powerful sorceress was not in HER diamond suite at this time. She, and her ward Richard had been so RECLUSIVE, following the tragic outcome in the battle against the Demonic god of destruction, Set, on Minerva's Aerie, which left Isis' nephew, and last known living relative- Nicolas King, aka Rampage, dead, and she herself had sustained serious injury. Richard Martin, aka Matrix, had taken his Queen to one of her ultra top secret safe houses to attend her while she recovered from her ordeal, at least in the PHYSICAL sense. No one had seen or heard from them, and they appeared to be virtually impossible to locate.>>

<< Still, there was growing rumors that Dominique Deveraux would be CONCLUDING her long standing, widely popular, and very successful residency at the Parthenon's Starlight Lounge, and as we all know, somewhere in a rumor, no matter how fantastic it may be, there is a solid core of TRUTH. Matrix, an ultra omnimorph, assumed the form and appearance of Dominique, and carried out her plan omega, exercising the clause in her contract to conclude her residency at the Parthenon's Starlight Lounge, and sever all business ties black Zenith Group and Black Diamond Records (Dominique's record company and vanity label).>>

<< it was another example of the ripple effects from the events at Minerva's Aerie, as Dominique Deveraux no longer wished to have anything to do with Cameron King, OR Haleigh Davidoff>>

<< Per the agreement in the contract, she WOULD perform one last "Farewell" event, but the time/place/details were to be of HER choosing, and per the REAL Dominique's orders, Matrix, acting in her stead, informed those involved that those details would be released to them soon enough.>>

<< Amanda wasted no time booking herself AND Beto a full appointment at Spectra Couture, to be outfited with whole wardrobes, complete with accessories, because WHATEVER they were going to do, they simply HAD to look their best, and beautiful, hot bodies such as theirs, deserved NOTHING but the finest to drape and adorn those bodies>>

<<Standing in front of a large, three way mirror in her VIP luxury suite, Amanda admired her self, fully nude. Within the privacy of their VIP luxury suites, Amanda and Beto appeared in their TRUE forms. >>

Hmmm, mother was right. Our bodies ARE our temples. We simply MUST take care of them, and make the MOST of the power and vitality that courses through them.

<< as she lowered her hands down to her to her waist, she snaps her fingers, and a mystic chime sounds off as her "walking" outfit immediately appears on her tall, feminine form>>

hmm. NO need to go all out on the way IN, when I will certainly be DAZZLING on the way OUT.

<< Slowly turning and giving herself a once over.>>

Beto was "nearby", going through his own ritual as they prepared to explore and partake in the delights the Parthenon had to offer, ahead of their appointments with Spectra Couture.>>

<< Nearly a YEAR ago, it would have been FIREBIRD who welcomed them to the House of Spectra, but Firebird had taken an EXTEND of leave of absence, with only Sally Spectra, and Andrew Murphy, aka Titan, Sally's right hand man, and personal body guard (who also happened to be a member of the Birds of Prey) having any idea of the TRUE reason surrounding Firebird's absence.>>

<< At that moment...Amanda felt..."HEARD" something, and it was...INTENSE.>>

HECATE! HELP ME. HELP US! PLEASE!

<< She steadied herself, as she found a nearby chair and sat down.>>

Oh....

That was...

<< She RECOGNIZED that voice, but it wasn't an "audio" sense, in the classic way>>

Beto?

<< She called out softly at first.>>

BETO?

<< A bit louder this time>>

Did you...

<< She was no novice to this sort of phenomena, she had sensed/registered distress and cries for help before, that's PARTLY what lead her to Simon Pratt in Madripoor, but there as something DIFFERENT about this. It almost seemed like...she was hearing something that WASN'T meant for her?>>

<< Or WAS IT?>>

<< she shut her sky blue eyes tight for a moment, massaging her temples>>

Hecate....the goddess of witchcraft

<< She had discussed this figure with Beto on the Marauder ship. They BOTH knew of her, and they both had some kind of CONNECTION to her, and that was part of the mystery that brought them BOTH to New York>>

Did you hear THAT?

<< She didn't even bother to look up. She knew that she could "speak" to him, verbally OR via their romani bond, and he would ALWAYS hear her, no matter where he was.>>

<< Amanda felt that she would need to "slow down", and cast a pentagram so that she could meditate and investigate what she'd just "heard", but she wanted to see if Beto had heard it too. Something told her that this call for help had been too plaintive, too intense to go unnoticed by "certain people", and if SHE heard it...there HAD to be a reason why.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Near Clandestine Intelligence

"Thank you!"

Delilah called out to the server behind the counter as she pulled the takeout bag towards her, stuffing a five into the tip jar. She juggled the other bag she was carrying along with her purse and when she got herself situated, pushed through the door onto the sidewalk. She had several blocks to go but it was worth it, and distances seemed shorter somehow on the streets of New York City.

The long walks did have the effect of giving Delilah a lot of time inside her own head. And it was sometimes difficult not to let her mind wander backwards too much. It had been six months since Nicolas's death. Six long months. Alison had basically kicked them out as soon as the wake was over - not surprising. "Okay, Set's dead, now get out." She had barely been able to look in on Dominique before she left, and she had disappeared since. Not that Delilah didn't know the avatar of Isis could take care of herself, but she had been through a lot, and Delilah was not confident that her ward Richard could see her through that alone. But there would be no telling Dominique what to do, and she would reach out in her own time...but only if she wanted to.

And then there was Morgan. Delilah knew exactly where she was. Despite the progress the two of them had begun to make at Nicolas' wake, Morgan had suffered a turn for the worse, and now Blaze was gatekeeping her and refusing to let anyone see her except her mother. It was ridiculous, but that was Blaze and her inflated sense of self-importance for you. At least Delilah knew that Karen wouldn't let anything terrible happen to Morgan without telling her. Delilah might have attempted contact by force, but the only other person she knew that could access the place where Blaze was holding Morgan prisoner was Haleigh. And she wasn't available at the moment. Delilah rolled her eyes despite walking alone down a crowded street. She wasn't sure whether she was glad this sister bullshit hadn't changed Haleigh & Morgan's relationship or angry about it. In any case, Haleigh & Cameron were gone, and so was everyone else.

In some ways, it was freeing. Her life had order, regularity, normalcy. She didn't have to spend 14 hours a day pointlessly arguing with someone. She could focus on making a life that Alexia could fit in to. And her excursion today was all part of that new life.

Delilah stopped walking as she arrived outside the building that housed Clandestine Intelligence. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Gavin, pressing the button for a video call. When he picked up, she pulled the phone way from her so he could see where she was, then held up the takeout bags in her other hand so he could see one then the other.

"Special lunch delivery! Okay, you have two options: grilled chicken Caesar salad or Dan & John's wings?"

 

[Prophet]

Galápagos Islands

Haleigh: “How is my husband feeling this morning? Not TOO hungover, I hope.”

“I’m never too hungover for my wife…and whatever she’s doing with her hand right now…”

Their mouths met, and Cameron let out a playful and deep grumble, as both of his hands moved down, firmly grabbing her ass as he pulled her closer, pulling her on top of him as she began to work her way down, kissing his neck and moving below.

Haleigh: “You know, every day doesn’t have to be a volcanic jungle excursion. We don’t even have to go to the beach. We could just stay in bed and make love all day.”

”Fuck…”

She wrapped her hand around his manhood and settled herself in. Cameron gave her a mischievous smirk as he watched her milky white and full breasts seem to be framed on either side of his member as they eyes locked. He needed no convincing, but he definitely wasn’t going to stop her from trying. He nodded to her with desperate passion, gesturing with his face that he wanted her. Her hands gripped his thighs as his body tingled with desire at her touch as she took him in her mouth.

“yes…let’s…stay in bed…”

After six months, neither of them had anything to prove to each other sexually anymore. Their very minds were as one. Before he might have stopped her flipped her over on her back, and fucked her with reckless abandon, and he still might..but if he did, he would be doing it because he wanted to please her, not convince himself he was as good as others she might have been with. So he placed his hands behind his head and let himself be pleasured by his wife. But he did believe in reciprocity, and as a telepath and empath of his level, he could make his wife cum without even touching her.

He began to stir her pleasure centers and nervous system, delicately tracing the sensation from the top of her spine, sending it down in between her legs until she was form and wet.

”God you look beautiful like that…”

Cameron began to increase sensation in her breasts as he physically moved his hands back down, placing one hand on top of her head and the other near the base of his member. He could sense the pleasure rising up with her in both her body and her minds he wasn’t going to be able to last much longer with how voracious and generous she was being. He groaned with pleasure.

”I’m gonna lose it…”

He shared the sensation he was feeling throughout his body with his wife increasing her sensitivity to chaotic levels and as he climaxed, he made sure she did too. For several moments they were simply an exchange of wanton desire and sexual energy, his chest heaving as beads of sweat dripped down his face, his breathing heavy as he groaned in pleasure. Every time with her was transcendent. Every mistake he had made leading up to her had been worth it. He wanted this forever.

 

[Tycoon]

Manhattan, NY — Clandestine Intelligence

Gavin had started his workday doing something he looked forward to every morning: following up with investors for Archangel. He liked to put his talents to use helping Delilah, and he found it rewarding to be boosting the cause of her foundation. He liked to be helping the kids, and unashamedly, he liked all the ‘reasons’ it gave him to talk to her.

After a couple hours of that, he moved on to prepare a profit/loss report for LCI, and by proxy, Clandestine. He was a figurative wizard with the books, and made sure even the sharpest forensic accountant would be unable to find any fault with their business ledgers. He was so practiced at it after all these years, it hardly required any brain power to complete, but it was a bit time consuming, all that typing and formatting of the spreadsheets.

He made sure, once every hour or so, to get out of his chair and stretch a bit. Sometimes he’d brew a cup of tea, sometimes he’d just look out the window a while. The last break, he’d been staring out over the greenery of Central Park, blowing on a cup of earl grey to cool it as he stirred the honey around, when remembered he needed to follow-up on Haleigh’s personal investment accounts, to make sure the name change had gone through correctly on all of them. So now he sat at his desk again, cross-checking the documents against the marriage certificate she’d sent him. Haleigh Davidoff King.

If it wasn’t in ink right in front of him, he might doubt the idea of Haleigh getting married. She’d backed out of the deal with Zach, after all. If that quality lad hadn’t been able to lock her down, Gavin couldn’t fathom the caliber of man who could. Anyway, it was only his business in terms of ensuring her financials were squared away, and he’d be happy when the chore was complete. His phone rang, and he was grateful for a distraction, then he discovered it was Delilah and he became even happier.

“Well, hello gorgeous.”

He said with a genuine smile. She offered him a special lunch delivery, and his choice of the meals. She was so thoughtful. He practically sprang from his chair, grabbing his keys and his wallet from his desk.

“How could I turn down Dan & John’s wings?! I’ll come down and meet you. It’d be lovely to escape the office a while.”

 

[Fathom]

Blackwell’s Island, NY — Hellfire

Heidi had not ever really believed her Queen was gone. For a long time, she’d stayed with the other Queens, thinking Malice would turn up, or that Kelly and Helena would be at the cutting edge of finding her. But lately, Heidi had grown impatient with their lack of urgency. More specifically, she’d grown impatient with Kelly’s apparent intent to pursue other interests. So Heidi bid them farewell, and split off, bringing the Leviathan to port in New York, and looking for Diana herself.

It had been a real hunt. Hellfire was not where they’d left it. When she’d finally connected with the right people, she made a swim over to Blackwell’s, to find newly renovated grounds. Even now, she wasn’t sure she was in the right place. Everyone she talked to said Diana was dead, and that Haleigh was the White Queen. Last Heidi had seen Haleigh, she’d be fighting the invaders in the White Wing, facing off against her own sister Persephone and their little mutual boy toy Alek. The Red Court had turned traitor in a big way that day.

Another frustrating error here was that everyone seemed confused when she told them she was the White Knight. Apparently there was some other knight, though this person wasn’t around to meet her. Haleigh wasn’t around EITHER, apparently she was off on some trip. Heidi finally convinced the knuckleheads in security (none of which she recognized) to take her to see the person apparently left in charge. Madam Masque was interim leader, apparently. Initially Heidi had scoffed at the news. Masque, as she remembered, couldn’t lead a fish to water.

Now that she was standing in front of her, she was just more befuddled. It was a different Nefaria girl. Heidi wondered what became of the first, but didn’t care enough to ask. She was here for Diana, and failing that, she was here to find out what Haleigh was doing to find her mother and restore her to power. Now this Nefaria seemed a bit sharper than the other, but it was not to Heidi’s benefit. The girl refused to disclose any real details, and Heidi was growing tired of explaining what should be happening.

“Look, I’m not leaving until I speak with Scion.”

Adriana: “Okay, okay. I’ll call her, but I can’t promise she’ll talk to you.”

 

[Brenthon]

NYC - The Parthenon Hotel

<< His adjustment to New York City and the world at large had been difficult. He’d been dead, and then he had been in The Arena. Despite his indentured servitude, the arena had simple rules - kill and be rewarded, or die. This, Beto could understand. They were rules he could thrive under. But the world he found himself in now had rules he didn’t understand. Amanda had been a great source of help, but Beto felt stuck and out of place. It was the first time in his life he found himself with no purpose. Much of his mortal life had been one of self preservation and survival, here? It was the opposite. He could sit and eat and fuck and drink to his heart’s content, and he had done a lot of that in the first few months. It was his chance to live like a King or a noble, or anything but a poor and often starving gypsy fortune teller. But before long, it felt empty. >>

<< There was an added sadness to find out what became of his people. They were just as persecuted and forced into the outer edges of society as they had been in his time, and there were far less of them. The Christians had domesticated them, and he found himself to be a king with no throne. With no throne and no purpose, Beto found himself spending his days wandering the city, observing all that he could, doing his best to adjust to this world. Sleep was also not a respite. Ever since setting foot in New York, his nightmares had gotten worse. Of his life after death, of his time in Hell. Of the violet eyed girl, and the white haired sorceress. Meeting Amanda had been exciting at first, had shown him he was to follow her, but for all his power and might, he still had no answers as to what he was doing here and how he got here. >>

<< He tried to be grateful to Amanda, dressing in uncomfortable clothes to sit in decadent venues, listening to the worst music he’d ever heard in his life. Some would call this peace, but to Beto, it was like everything else in his life…empty. Still, for Jimaine, he would try. She had given him hope, and he would not forget that as it was not an emotion he had experienced since coming back to life. Beto sat in his suite, in a black v neck t-shirt and pair of tight jeans that Amanda said made his “ass look amazing”. They were to go shopping, a luxury Beto had not gotten used to. Giving hordes of money just for pleasure, for things that didn’t matter. He was tying the laces on his black boots when he heard it. >>

”HECATE! HELP ME! HELP US PLEASE!”

<< A desperate cry for help from the ether. It was voice that was both unfamiliar and yet familiar at the same time. And it was not like the stray thoughts he would pick up here and there. This was the cry of a mystic, calling on an old goddess for help, something he didn’t think would even happen in a world as modern as this. Nobody worshipped the old gods here, they worshipped their phones and their televisions. Amanda called out to him and he bridged the space between them appearing to her in her suite. >>

“I heard it as well. It feels close to us yet hidden. Her voice…desperate…”

<< Almost as desperate as he felt. >>

“But why has her call reached us? What business is it of ours to answer such a plea?”

 

[Magik]

NYC- The Parthenon

Amanda called out to him and he bridged the space between them appearing to her in her suite. >>

“I heard it as well. It feels close to us yet hidden. Her voice…desperate…”

<< Almost as desperate as he felt. >>

“But why has her call reached us? What business is it of ours to answer such a plea?”

<< Amanda removed her sun glasses, setting them down on a nearby small table, next to her purse>>

"Desperate" is the right word.

<< She looked at him as he expressed the same thought she had. the cry felt close, especially to her, yet hidden.>>

In plain sight....yet not seen.

<< Both of knew something about this state of being.>>

<< Amanda looked serious as she pondered that question. why HAD that call reached THEM of all people?>>

<< During their time on Domino's ship, the Marauder, Amanda...JIMAINE had confided some things in Beto that she hadn't told anyone else, stories of destiny, dreams, visions, a woman with VIOLET EYES, visions of an eldritch dimension FULL of dark magick, images of a woman in eldritch armor, and then Amanda seeing/feeling HERSELF in a similar armor. There was some connection between her and this woman with VIOLET EYES, the same woman Beto had been having dreams...NIGHTMARES about.>>

<< She hadn't given voice to these words that her mother had been tellling her since she was an adolescent, because for the longest time, she didn't BELIEVE them to be applicable to HER, even though her mother, Margali Szardos was an immortal witch queen who had HERSELF been Sorceress Supreme 100's of years ago.>>

<< To her relief, Beto didn't look at her like she was crazy, nor did he think she was lying. In fact, SHE was unknowingly reminding HIM of the violet eyed woman who haunted his dreams.>>

<< when Amanda....JIMAINE...and Beto began "comparing notes"...strange, unusual things began happening around them, TO them. They instinctively drew closer to each other, owing to their shared romani heritage, even though they each navigated that heritage in very different ways.>>

<< Margali taught her daughter never to turn away from the strange and unusual, and to see with MORE than just her eyes. Mysteries appeared before someone for a REASON, and they were meant to be SOLVED.>>

When I arrived in Madripoor, I had an entirely different itinerary for myself, until my magicks told me Simon Pratt was in need of help. It appears something similar is happening here.

The fact that we're both somehow aware of it...means we were supposed to hear it.

Someone in this city needs help, divine intervention, apparently.

But that voice....HER [Blaze's] voice....it sounded...FAMILIAR to me.

<< Amanda said, as she looked at her own reflection in a nearby mirror. The feeling of familiarity came with a SENSATION too...a flash of HEAT, and that sensation made her think...>>

I've been to New York so many times...but there was only ONE time that I remember this place being so HOT. That night when the city was OVERRUN with magick, it was UNBELIEVABLY Hot...like Dante's INFERNO

<<FLASH!>>

New York City is on FIRE, literally and figuratively, as it is OVERRUN by DARK MAGICK

<< The skies are BLACK, screams of terror and panic fill streets as the terrified populace runs every which way, fleeing all manner of demons, as well as inanimate objects (mailboxes, trash cans, light poles, etc)- now "ALIVE" after being enchanted by dark magick, and even department store mannequins- ALSO animated by the dark magick>>

<< BUILDINGS and SKYSCRAPERS have DEMONIC VISAGES as the people trapped inside are attacked by furniture, the walls, or KILLED inside elevators>>

<< SCREAMS. TERROR. BLOOD. BROKEN BODIES. CHAOS. It is HELL ON EARTH.>>

<< And the CENTER of this demonic symphony is the INSANE Spellbinder, now full operating in her Darkchild aspect, as she unleashes the power of Limbo, the power of HECATE, on the city.>>

<< As Spellbinder conducts this unholy symphany, that seems like it could very well be the a continuation of Dante's Inferno, from atop her alter at the top of the (GROWING) Empire State building, there are scores of people on the floor/ground of the city who are being burned, crushed, and CONSUMED.>>

So hot....I remember...I was here....and that voice... HER voice....

<< Amanda's voice trails off. The "HER" being Blaze, but not Blaze Victory, aka Firebird, but rather Blaze Fielding, aka Foxfire >>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Foxfire joined in the desperate battle to STOP Spellbinder from sacrificing Cameron King, aka Prophet, in her attempt to use his body and blood to permanently bridge Limbo to Earth. During that fight, she was once again attacked by the terrifying energy creature known simply as BLACK. She and her sister had first encountered him when they were on the London based superhero team, VALIANT. During their initial encounter, Black mortally wounded Foxfire, before he was finally taken down by Spellbinder. But both Foxfire AND Black "got better">>

<< ANOTHER VIEW of the FINAL BATTLE during the Inferno Event, one previously NOT seen in the story as it originally unfolded>>

<< Foxfire and Black are locked in combat again. She remembers their last encounter and has adapted her strategy accordingly, but Black is still a fearsome, SAVAGE, MURDEROUS foe for ANYONE. >>

<< Black violently KNOCKS Foxfire off the the roof of the Empire State building, which itself has been warped by Spellbinder's dark magick, and is now GROWING to impossible heights.>>

<< UNLIKE FIREBIRD, Foxfire does NOT have the power of flight, and this fall will SURELY prove FATAL for the fire manipulating mutant. BUT salvation comes in the unexpected form of a blonde, blue eyed young sorceress, who DOES have the power of flight!>>

<< Foxfire is too winded from Black's blow to SCREAM as she falls to her impending death....BUT...>>

Amanda Sefton: GOT YOU!

<< The beautiful young sorceress exclaims as she CATCHES Foxfire mid fall, now carrying her aloft in her arms. The sorceress lands with her passenger on a nearby roof, gently laying her down and attending her.>>

Amanda Sefton: Take it easy! I'm not going to hurt you...i'm one of the GOOD guys, and from the looks of things around here tonight? More of US are needed!

<< Amanda reassures the disoriented Blaze as she immediately begins working her magicks to stabilize and heal Blaze.>>

Amanda Sefton: That is quite a nasty mark! << referring to the energy burn from Black's deadly touch>> But I can fix that. What's your name?

Foxfire: Blaze....FOXFIRE....Blaze Fielding.

Amanda: I'm Amanda Sefton, I don't have a code name, but I'm a witch...a sorceress....are you....

Foxfire: Mutant....but my sister...she's...SHE'S a witch...this is all << Blaze is still shaken and winded>> ....all her doing...she's INSANE.

<< FLASH!>> - << images of an utterly ENRAGED woman with glowing, VIOLET EYES>>

Amanda: WHAT?? You mean there is ONE WOMAN at the center of this....INFERNO...and she's YOUR sister?

Foxfire: Yeah....it's a long, fucked up story << Blaze seems more calm and lucid now>> But I HAVE to get back up there << to the top of the empire state building>>

Amanda: This sounds serious, maybe you need some HELP dealing with your sister? I can take you back and...

Foxfire: NO! << Blaze catches herself>> I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. You just saved my life, and I am TRULY grateful. But this...please believe me, when I tell you we have someone << the immortal weather witch, Ororo >> helping us...and there's SO MANY PEOPLE down below that are being hurt and killed because of this. Can you PLEASE send me back to the top of the Empire State Building, and....

Amanda: You want me to help out further down, on the ground level. That makes sense. Yes, I can get you back up there in a SNAP with my magicks, which have already restored you to full health and vitality

<< Amanda helps Blaze to her feet, and two hold hands for a moment, squeezing.>>

Foxfire: Thank you for saving me, and for sending me back.

Amanda: No worries, luv. You just make sure that you "all" get this HANDLED, and STOP your sister, before she destroys the city, and the world beyond it! I'll go down below to help save the innocents. Good luck. Blessed be!

<< The two salute one another, before Amanda TELEPORTS Foxfire BACK to to the top of the empire state building, and Amanda HERSELF flies down to ground level in the city>>

<<We know how the Final battle atop the Empire State Building ended>>

<< NOW we see images of Amanda Sefton, joining other mutants and metahumans on the street level in rescuing and protecting innocents. We see Amanda directly confronting all manner/shape/size of DEMONS, displaying her significant magickal power and competence. >>

<< It was one of the FIRST times Amanda had shown herself to be more than "just a pretty face" in the magickal world, and because of her, many innocents were SAVED that night.>>

<< Amanda remembers it all, and she never forgot that girl with the honey brown hair, and the APPLE GREEN EYES, that girl with the warm, RED aura about her. Something about the HEAT from that girl's aura that felt DIFFERENT from the UNHOLY heat around the city, and more important, the mana and power signature associated with Foxfire, RED. The same color associated with Firebird! >>

Her voice....it sounded different in that call to Hecate, and yet, it still rings true.

<< She remained seated. One of the many unique benefits between her and Beto was that after their unusual bonding experience on the marauder, with Beto knowing who Amanda's TRUE self was (Jimaine Szardos), and she knowing him for who HE really was, this allowed them to communicate on multiple levels simultaneously. It also helped that he was very worldly, well well versed, and not quick to dismiss something just because he didn't immediately know or understand it. Like Jimaine, Beto was never one to look away from a puzzle, or a mystery.>>

<< He "saw" Amanda's memories, including the impression of the demonic woman with the violet eyes! ANOTHER clue, ANOTHER link for him too>>

That wouldn't be the last time I saw that girl either. Only...the next time I saw her...she was different. She was taller, more glamorous, her hair color was different and her mana, her energy was DECIDEDLY more powerful, but her EYES, those intense GREEN eyes, they were the same. It wasn't her, but somehow....it WAS! << Foxfire/Firebird>>

And THIS time....her SISTER was with her. The woman who had brought HELL to earth was HERSELF again, and they were living their lives again. I realized I KNEW her before! She was a world famous super model, she owned a fashion empire called...."ILLUSTRA" , and apparently a sorceress as well, a POWERFUL one at that.

<< Amanda had no idea, just how CLOSE she was to a startling truth>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< XS. The always chic, glamorous HOTSPOT in NYC's night life, THE place to see and be seen.>>

<< Once, it belonged to Foxfire, NOW it belongs to Firebird, ever since the touching, emotional [family only] gathering, where Rampage, and Artemis III officially deeded full title and ownership to Blaze Victory.>>

<< Images of Amanda Sefton, moving through a sea of rich, beautiful, hot, dancing bodies at XS. Men, women, it didnt matter to Amanda.>>

<< Images of Amanda, dancing , RIGHT NEXT TO Morgan Victoria. The two witches had been side by side, and were friendly from previous encounters.>>

Somehow...no one << referring to the general populace>> Knew SHE was responsible for the Inferno Event...but years later, She, her sister, and the people she ran with....they were all exposed...OUTED...as mutants, wtiches, metahumans...by someone with a score to settle.

<< Remembering the bits and pieces she'd either heard from her mother, or from the "grape vine" in the magickal community, especially in the halls of the Hellfire Club's London Branch, OR recalling faint memories she had some remote connection to>>

She disappeared for a while, and then she was BACK again....and then...the BLUE MOON.

<< another significant event that saw all magick users, from the lowliest stage magician, to the sorceress supreme herself, struck down by the curse of the Blue Moon. Margali and Amanda/Jimaine also suffered greatly during the Blue Moon>>

My mother said....EVERY TIME this woman << with the violet eyes>> disappears, the magickal community, at ALL levels, SUFFERS, and this last time...she was gone....maybe for TOO LONG. She said that this woman has not understood just how much her actions IMPACT the magickal community

<< And even as Amanda...JIMAINE said that about Morgan, she remembered her mother saying the same thing about JIMAINE herself.>>

The voice we heard...it belongs to that woman's SISTER...even if the "pieces" of that sister are DIFFERENT now, I KNOW it's her. She's somewhere in this city, somewhere CLOSE.

We have to FIND her, Beto!

<< she slowly stands up>>

THAT'S why we heard her cry.

You and I are both haunted by visions, dreams, stories of Hecate, the Moon Goddess, AND the Goddess of Witchcraft, OR a woman with violet eyes, who is DEEPLY connected to her. I think Morgan Victoria is that woman, it's the only thing that makes sense!

<< She moves about the suite, slowly>>

And The answers we both seek lie with Hecate, and if this woman, BLAZE, is calling for her? She must KNOW that Hecate is as real as you or I. If we find HER, we'll find Hecate. Who knows, maybe WE can help Blaze with whatever problem she's facing.

 

[Brenthon]

NYC - The Parthenon

Amanda: "In plain sight...yet not seen."

"Like we are here, Amanda..."

Amanda: "When I arrived in Madripoor, I had an entirely different itinerary for myself, until my magicks told me Simon Pratt was in need of help. It appears something similar is happening here."

He was willing to take her lead here. Her arrival in Madripoor and her efforts to save Simon had caused them meet. The gypsy believed in fate, he believed in destiny. And what happened afterwards confirmed it. Their destinies were tied together, and she had more of a map than him. More knowledge. If she felt compelled by this, he would follow. He wasn't doing anything else.

Amanda: "The fact that we're both somehow aware of it...means we were supposed to hear it. But that voice...HER voice..it sounded...FAMILIAR to me."

Their connection allowed him to follow her train of thought, to see where her mind went, what she thought. He watched with intrigue. She had lived such a life where as his, while intriguing in it's own right, for the time period of which it occurred, seemed rather mundane. But the second he saw the apple green eyes of the woman in her mind, something clicked within him. Amanda plead her case.

Amanda: "The voice we heard...it belongs to that woman's SISTER...even if the "pieces" of that sister are DIFFERENT now, I KNOW it's her. She's somewhere in this city, somewhere CLOSE. We have to FIND her, Beto! ou and I are both haunted by visions, dreams, stories of Hecate, the Moon Goddess, AND the Goddess of Witchcraft, OR a woman with violet eyes, who is DEEPLY connected to her. I think Morgan Victoria is that woman, it's the only thing that makes sense! And The answers we both seek lie with Hecate, and if this woman, BLAZE, is calling for her? She must KNOW that Hecate is as real as you or I. If we find HER, we'll find Hecate. Who knows, maybe WE can help Blaze with whatever problem she's facing."

He was silent for a few moments. This was the first time in six months that the flames of what might have possibly caused Brenthon to come "back to life" had reared it's head, and he didn't want to lose it. Amanda was on the right track. She was capable. She was primed to do good. It was time for Brenthon to play his part. He walked over to the floor to ceiling windows that decorated Amanda's bedroom as he stoically looked outside, appearing to observe the city and views around him.

Brenthon was a diviner, able to divine the future, to read the signs and signals that the natural world had to offer. This was the way of the gypsy. Their culture had been taken from them. They were travellers, forced to live in spaces given to them by governments that didn't care about them, and wanted to use them for cheap labor. So their devotions and their traditions were created by whatever was available to them. Those in tune with the spirit of their people were able to use this to protect their families, to make money, and to walk The Shadowed Path. He had been born with this, able to look at the soil and tell if it was fertile. To watch the flight of the birds to see if bad weather was afoot, to see how the tea leaves landed in his cup and know if bad luck was coming. And when it became clear to him that these were gifts that a man should not possess, he used his gifts for survival.

He looked out the window and centered himself, tapping into his power. He hated many things about the city, but the one thing he enjoyed was how vibrant and alive it was. How it spoke to you if you took the time to listen. His deep brown, almost black eyes began to lighten for a moment, turning the faintest hint of bright green. He was too high up, so he began to look towards the ground astrally. His vision was taken to a series of root like cracks on the sidewalk beneath them. His link with Amanda would allow her to see what he was thinking and follow his train of thought. To a spectator, these cracks in the sidewalk meant nothing but the representation of a failing civil service, but to Brenthon, it told him something. They were like the lines on a palm, and the way in which these cracks branched out spoke to him. They showed him in his mind a family that was fractured. Scattered to the winds, which caused him to look to the sky.

Pigeons were a part of the city, as were rats. But there was something about them that Brenthon loved. They didn't belong here. But they were smart. Here they would be fed. Here, people would have no choice but to live among them because they weren't going anywhere. They reminded him of the hedge sparrows he would watch as a child. And the way that they flew spoke volumes. There was a flock flying south in the shape that resembled a star. SIX of them. Their points strongest at the ends, the ones in between desperate to keep up. A family acting as a unit but unsure of how to do so. Embarrassment. Uncertainty. One near the top with a tuft of amber like plumage reflecting against the sun. The Firebird. They flew past the top of a chimney as the swirling of smoke focused his vision further. The smoke. It both reached towards the sky, but with the wind, part of it's plumes touched the tops of the roof. Action needed to be taken. He followed a pattern of smoke until his eye settled on a rooftop below them, what appeared to be some sort of lounge with firepits throughout the area, and people gathered with drinks and food. Brenthon's eyes focused on the flames, his mind having a wave of recognition.

"The Flames of Faltine. My mentor taught me to channel them. One of the first spells I learned. We used them to keep our holds lit eternally. The Firebird is using them in another way. She's not a witch...but she is not entirely human. An elemental. In the truest sense of the word."

He could FEEL her heat on his face. And in his mind, he could see her. If had been a weaker man, he would have recoiled at the sensation, but he was not a weak man. His eyes continued to be locked into the various fire pits he was seeing below him, looking for answers. The way the various fires danced in front of him. They were telling him where to go. They were guiding him.

"They're telling me how to find her."

Brenthon had known witches and warlocks in his life who could wield fire, but this was something different altogether. This woman...this BLAZE was just that, in name and spirit. She was the living embodiment of fire. And as Brenthon's eyes flickered a brighter green he found that within these flames, as insignificant as they seemed, were part of her. She was FIRE. And when he knew that, he could SEE where she was. And his MIND fell into chaos.

<< He could SEE the Sanctum Scantorum in his mind, but it was DECIDEDLY darker and more dangerous looking to him. It reminded him of his nightmares. Of The SUMMIT of Limbo, a place he had escaped death COUNTLESS times. He saw her. The violet eyed Sorceress...ASLEEP...in STASIS..Purple lightning SCATTERED across the skies in a chaotic pattern. >>

<< The FIrebird stands against her hearth, below the ground. Desperate for change. Desperate for HELP as the flames she is consumed by only fuel her purpose. He sees himself standing over the violet eyes, watching her sleep. He reaches for her hand, her EYES jolt OPEN as a voice fills the area. >>

"I have ANSWERED your call. ALL will be revealed my child. It is TIME."

He took a few moments to compose himself. It had only been mere seconds, but to him it felt like hours. He widthrew his power to center himself as his once again deep brown, almost black eyes met wtih Amanda's SKY blue.

"The house is not far. It is protected. But you are right. This Morgan Victoria is the woman we've been seeking. She is the one that haunts my nightmares. She is the one that holds the key to your destiny. I see that clearly now. We heard this call for a reason...we need to help The Firebird in order to help ourselves...but I don't see her letting us very easily. They're exiled. No outsiders. They will not let us easily in..."

 

[MorningStar]

Manhattan, NY — Clandestine Intelligence

Gavin: “Well, hello gorgeous.”

He really had the nicest smile. It gave Delilah butterflies, especially when it was directed at her.

Gavin: “How could I turn down Dan & John’s wings?! I’ll come down and meet you. It’d be lovely to escape the office a while.”

As she waited, it occurred to Delilah how genuinely nice it was to spend time with Gavin. He paid her compliments, and they were genuine, but they weren’t adoring in the schoolboy crush way that Andrew had. And he treated her like a partner, not like something that needed to be protected, the way Maxim always had. She could just enjoy being with him – no one running off to shoot bad guys or save the world. She was the most dangerous thing in Gavin’s life. If you didn’t count the spreadsheets and papercuts. Life with him was blessedly, blessedly normal. But not boring. Never boring.

"Are you sure you're not busy?"

He had exited the building, and she went up on her toes to give him a quick kiss hello.

"I could just leave this for you if you are."

She hadn't really meant to interrupt his day, but she knew he might not stop to eat otherwise. Delilah handed him the bag of wings and sides, giving him a playful side eye with a raised eyebrow.

"But a straight-laced Finance man, eating hot wings for lunch? I thought you numbers guys were the salad type."

She grinned, grabbing his free hand with hers.

"Shall we find a bench in the park?"

 

[Black Widow]

The Galápagos Islands

The way he called her his wife was heartwarming, something Haleigh had not expected to have an effect on her. She began with a bit of foreplay, and was thrilled by his reaction. She suggested that they stay in bed today, and it didn’t take much convincing at all. She smirked at his surrender to her.

It wasn’t often that he just let her play with him. Most times he was overwhelmed by his own desire, and took charge quickly. He liked to have his way with her, and she quite enjoyed allowing it. This morning, however, he laid back, and let her have her way. That was its own kind of exciting. Of course he still fought fire with fire, toying with her in return, but he hardly even touched her. He reached out with his mind instead, and it drove her wild.

Cameron: God, you look beautiful like that…

“Mmhmm…”

She hummed in reply. He was getting close, and admitted as much. He was pushing her closer too. She reached up, her fingers finding his nipple to play with. It crossed her mind to mount him next, but no sooner did she think it than she found they were both tumbling over the edge into ecstasy. She drank him in, feeling the pleasure reverberate deep in her core. For a while, even time seemed to stand still, as she was lost in the sensation. She felt like she left this plane of existence, and went somewhere perfect.

“That was amazing…”

She said as she laid down on his chest, satiated for the moment. Later, she could mount him later. After breakfast there would be time. She already talked him into staying in bed. She lifted her hand to her ear, as if there was a phone in her grip. She called room service and after a bit, spoke into her palm.

“Dos platos de chilaquiles por favor. Si. Gracias.”

Her hand drifted back down to his chest. She rubbed his skin gently as she listened to his heartbeat. It had been racing, but was now slowing to a more normal pace. She liked to listen to the pulse of his heart, it sounded so much better to her than the beeping machine that he’d been hooked to for months while he was in his coma.

Blaze: HECATE!!! HELP ME. HELP US PLEASE!

Haleigh sat up abruptly, her gaze locking with Cameron’s. She didn’t have to ask if he heard it too. Their minds were linked. She was concerned. Blaze hadn’t spoken to her in months, but there was no doubt that was Blaze’s voice in her head.

Well…. We both knew the world would be at stake again at some point. It’s been quiet for far too long.

She thought to him. She was reluctant to even get dressed. Her ears filled with the sound of a phone ringing. It was Adriana. Her hand went to her ear again.

“What is it?”

 

[Fathom]

Blackwell’s Island, NY — Hellfire

Adriana: “Hey. I know you said not to call unless it was really important. And I didn’t want to bother you, but I’ve got a Heidi Scarborough here, claiming SHE’S the White Knight and refusing to leave until she speaks with you.”

Heidi gave the Nefaria girl a cutting look while she waited. She wasn’t too much a fan of these Italian girls. She folded her arms and took a seat nearby, crossing her legs and lounging back. The Nefaria girl listened for a bit, then nodded and put her phone on speaker, gesturing to indicate Heidi had the audience she sought.

“Scion. I heard you’ve been on a killing spree lately. Have you taken out all those who took up arms against your mother, or perhaps you’ve need of my help to finish the job.”

Haleigh>> Well I have been cleaning house, so to speak. Thanks for the offer but I’ll have to politely decline. I could definitely use your help in other ways, though.

“Could you now? Forgive my confusion, these people are saying you’ve replaced me as Knight.”

Haleigh>> Heidi, what did you expect? You were gone, without a trace. A Queen needs a Knight.”

“An interim Queen ought NOT be so quick to replace good hands. What are you doing to find and restore your mother to power?”

Haleigh>> I understand this will be difficult for you to accept, but she’s gone Heidi. It’s time to move on. As I said, I could use your help. I need a strong Rook—

Heidi scoffed at the suggestion.

“A Rook?? You insult me. I’m a Knight, and not yours anyway. If you really believe she isn’t coming back, you’re a bloody fool. While you’re busy trying to climb your way up, Princess, you ought to recall that lullaby about the rain coming down and washing the spider out.”

Haleigh>> Are you trying to intimidate me with a nursery rhyme? That’s cute. I’ve always liked you Heidi, so I’ll let you get away with it, this time. Beware, little mermaid. If you keep testing me, you will find, to your horror, that I can be as malicious as my mother. My King and I will be there in a few minutes. If you’re still there when I arrive, you’d better be waiting on your knees.

Heidi rose from her chair, a sneer on her face. She had known this place was lame when she arrived. It was a shadow of its former glory, and now she knew why. It was being run by a bunch of knock-offs.

“The next time you see me, Princess, you’ll be the one kneeling, begging for your mother’s forgiveness. I can hardly wait to see the discipline she has in store for you.”

She said, and then she sent another cutting look at the Nefaria girl. The girl just smirked back at her as she slid her phone into her pocket.

Adriana: Clever comeback there Heidi. Too bad My Queen had already hung up. Maybe you should stick around, and say it to her face.

Heidi glared at her. There was no sense wasting her breath warning the girl that she’d chosen the wrong side. Heidi turned on her heel and glided out of the room. She had wasted enough time here.

 

[Magik]

NYC- The Parthenon- 93rd floor

<< Beto was the first romani Amanda had met since her childhood in the bavarian alps with her mother, Margali Szardos. From the moment they "bumped into" each other at the infamous Arena in Madripoor, they were drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Since that time, the bond that they formed was stronger than some familial bonds that others take for granted. Amanda...JIMAINE, and Beto...BRENTHON may have come from different clans, different times, DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS even, but they had closed the gaps between them with shocking ease, and the benefits from that were felt on all levels.>>

<< Beto was truly a man apart. Not of this earth, or even this timeline, and Amanda was acting as Beto's guide to the modern world, THIS modern world. >>


<< When they truly confided in each other on the Marauder ship, It meant the world to Amanda that Beto did not think she was crazy, or LYING about the visions and dreams she'd had about the same violet eyed woman that haunted his dreams.>>

<< When they sought physical comfort and pleasure from one another, hidden away in that "Otherplace" (manifesting as the same enchanted forest where Hecate had originally cast the curse of the Red Moon, AND prophesied the coming of Morgan, Alison, Darkchilde, and Magik [who's identity had yet to be revealed to anyone in the Six's timeline]) and all felt so natural and RIGHT. Amanda was no prude by any means, but her intimate experience with Beto was unlike any other she'd enjoyed in quit some time.>>


<< As strange and unusual things began to happen to and around them, they trusted each other on an unspoken level, and where one might not be able to lead, the other would instinctively pick up. Amanda had taken the lead during the Arena caper, and now Beto was taking the lead here as this new mystery manifested before them.>>

<< Amanda stood and watched, as Beto got to work, showing more of his power, and what he could do. Amanda had identified their "quarry", and now Beto was locking in on her location in a most unique and special way>>

"The Flames of Faltine. My mentor taught me to channel them. One of the first spells I learned. We used them to keep our holds lit eternally. The Firebird is using them in another way. She's not a witch...but she is not entirely human. An elemental. In the truest sense of the word."

<< He was talking about Blaze, the woman Amanda had rescued many moons ago, during the Inferno, and yet...NOT Blaze...NOT the one Amanda had laid eyes on. THIS woman that Beto was seeing, had a far stronger mana, was far more powerful. Beto saw and confirmed what Amanda had described, referring to Blaze as the ELEMENTAL EMBODIMENT of FIRE, and calling her FIREBIRD. >>

But i remember...Blaze had identified herself as...FOXFIRE when I met her during the Inferno. something about her has changed, on a FUNDAMENTAL level. Beto confirms this

<< It wasn't hard to believe. Margali had taught Jimaine many lessons about change, flow, fluidity. Both Beto and Amanda understood how circumstances could completely change, or even ALTER a person. So whatever caused Foxfire to now be FIREBIRD was not important. What mattered was that This WAS the woman they heard, and SHE was connected to the violet eyed woman they both were haunted by.>>

Her power...it must be incredible, if she can even TAP into the Flames of Faltine, let alone MANIPULATE them.

He could FEEL her heat on his face. And in his mind, he could see her. If had been a weaker man, he would have recoiled at the sensation, but he was not a weak man. His eyes continued to be locked into the various fire pits he was seeing below him, looking for answers. The way the various fires danced in front of him. They were telling him where to go. They were guiding him.

"They're telling me how to find her."

<< Amanda continued to stand, and watch Beto. She could sense his reactions to what he was seeing and experiencing. There was a strong sense of anticipation as he was guided by those mystic flames of faltine. >>

<< Soon, his search was completed, in a way that even took HIM by surprise. Amanda jolted a bit herself as she watched him, caught up in the feedback loop of Beto's emotion/reaction>>

He took a few moments to compose himself. It had only been mere seconds, but to him it felt like hours. He widthrew his power to center himself as his once again deep brown, almost black eyes met wtih Amanda's SKY blue.

"The house is not far. It is protected. But you are right. This Morgan Victoria is the woman we've been seeking. She is the one that haunts my nightmares. She is the one that holds the key to your destiny. I see that clearly now. We heard this call for a reason...we need to help The Firebird in order to help ourselves...but I don't see her letting us very easily. They're exiled. No outsiders. They will not let us easily in..."

<< Beto was no novice, nor was he weak, or easily shaken. For him to react the way that he did, it meant this was quite serious.>>

<< Amanda's sky blue eyes widened with urgency as they stared into Beto's deep brown, almost black eyes>>

Well. Since WE were allowed to hear Firebird's call, perhaps the house that she and Morgan Victoria are in will KNOW this, and grant us entry.

<< Beto knew that Amanda was a powerful sorceress. Not only was she at the TOP of the Winding Way, but he had sensed something about her, even as she confided him the visions, the DREAMS she had of wearing eldritch armor and wielding the SOUL SWORD, that would allow her to find a way past the formidable barriers that surrounded this house of magick.>>

<< Amanda hoped that not only her power, but the many lessons she'd learned from her mother about "making a way when there IS NO WAY" would help her and Beto on what was clearly the next step of their journey.>>

It appears our itinerary has changed again, and not a moment too soon.

<< Snapping her fingers, a chime sounds off as she changes her outfit, and her appearance, RESUMING the same form and outfit she wore when they went to confront Talisman. Amanda...JIMAINE now stood before him with brunette hair and a different shade of blue eyes, It was a form that she recalled Beto finding quite visually appealing.>>

<< Amanda had inherited her mother's penchant for using her magicks to disguise herself, alter her appearance (sometimes more than once in the same day), and making it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to recognize her. Still, the bond she shared with Beto would allow him to know her no matter what form she wore.>>

We should get going.

<< Helping Firebird would help Amanda and Beto, but both the witch, and the gypsy king heard/FELT the distress in Firebird's voice, time was not on their side.>>

<< Since Beto had found not only FIrebird, but the place where she and Morgan were housed, it only made sense for him to be the one to take Amanda and himself to the doorstep of this mysterious magick "house". His was a "movement" power that could only be accessed by romani people, so carrying Amanda as his passenger would be no problem.>>

<< Once they were there, it would be up to Amanda to try to "persuade" the house to let them in, IF it didn't already know they were supposed to be there.>>

 

[Prophet]

Galapagos Islands

“That was amazing…”

She said as she laid down on his chest, satiated for the moment. Later, she could mount him later. After breakfast there would be time. She already talked him into staying in bed. She lifted her hand to her ear, as if there was a phone in her grip. She called room service and after a bit, spoke into her palm.

“Dos platos de chilaquiles por favor. Si. Gracias.”

Her hand drifted back down to his chest. She rubbed his skin gently as she listened to his heartbeat. It had been racing, but was now slowing to a more normal pace. She liked to listen to the pulse of his heart, it sounded so much better to her than the beeping machine that he’d been hooked to for months while he was in his coma.

He knew she was the right woman for him, but this moment confirmed it. Cameron had just woken up to his wife blowing him and then ordering up his favorite breakfast as she laid on his chest. Everything felt perfect.

:: Firebird sought the TRUTH from the Sacred Fire. The TRUTH is that SHE can't save Morgan. She CAN'T do this alone.::

:: But She will not give up....even if SHE can't. Even if Shadow Weaver can't. There IS someone who can!::

HECATE! HELP ME. HELP US! PLEASE!

:: Blaze CRIES OUT, as sparkling beads/tears shimmer and fly away from her now wide open apple green eyes::

It was not a telepathic message Haleigh was seeing, it was very much an intriguing distress signal. And why was Haleigh perceiving this and not him? She was possibly the least "magick powers" wise woman he knew and it was part of the reason he loved her. Alison had locked down Aerie, including the sibling bond that they shared. They could sense each other, but Cameron could NOT communicate with her. She was in mourning. But he had learned that when the witches in his life were hurt, they isolated themselves completely. In short, they were very prideful. Which led Cameron to believe this was not a message necessarily INTENDED for Haleigh. All of this of course was funneled through Haleigh and he quickly used his feelers to get a sense of things. He could sense the energy around Haleigh as well as areas as close to The Sanctum and Aerie as he could get. Whatever was happening with Blaze? Her call was going to be answered.

Haleigh: "Well…. We both knew the world would be at stake again at some point. It’s been quiet for far too long."

She was right. And he hated it. This had been the longest they had gone in quite some time without some kind of horrible disaster or upset. Cameron missed The Six, but he couldn't ignore that the time away from them had been healing. Here, with Haleigh, he could just be who he was. He had thrown his hat into the race to be The Six's Champion, and he had been successful, but he could resolve himself to feel what it had cost him at the moment. If he went back, he had to be that Cameron, and secretly he was a bit worried that he was heading towards some kind of failure, considering how great his life was right now.

He wrapped his arms around Haleigh and squeezed her as tight as he could, because he kind of got a kick out of how hard he could hug her, and because he wanted to savor this moment. Whatever the matter was seemed more than pressing. And he didn't want her to go alone.

"I guess you're right...."

She immediately took a call from her phone, but that only turned him on more. The way in which she shifted into business mode so effortlessly, like a well oiled and precise machine. He could do the same thing in a different way in his professional life. One of his fantasies was that she was a rival business partner of his. That they would sit across from each other in a boardroom and play "war games" before shoving all the office equipment off the table and taking her in front of the rest of the board. She continued.

Haleigh: "Are you trying to intimidate me with a nursery rhyme? That’s cute. I’ve always liked you Heidi, so I’ll let you get away with it, this time. Beware, little mermaid. If you keep testing me, you will find, to your horror, that I can be as malicious as my mother. My King and I will be there in a few minutes. If you’re still there when I arrive, you’d better be waiting on your knees."

He preferred to first try and contact Blaze, but if she needed to knock a few heads together at Hellfire, he would join her. It was still not the most comfortable thing for him to be White King. To occupy a position in Hellfire that Malice held. Especially considering certain memories of his childhood that were slowly coming back to him through his dreams, but that was to think about another time. Right now, he didn't want Hellfire in the hands of anybody else. It had to be watched as meticulously as Blaze was watching Morgan in New York. Once slip and you could lose everything. This was it. They were really going back. He watched Haleigh begin to dress herself, and it damn near made him angry. Still, he exhaled deeply. This wasn't going to be easy for either of them, but at least they knew they wouldn't be alone. He was not quite sure, however, that he was ready.

"Can we at least eat our damn chilaquiles first?!"

 

[Black Widow]

The Galápagos Islands

He hugged her tightly, after Blaze’s distress call broke through their reverie. She liked the feel of his arms around her, the strength with which he wanted to keep her there. She wished they could stay in bed, like they’d planned, but if something happened to Blaze because she ignored the call, it would be one more thing she could never forgive herself for. She wasn’t looking forward to returning to the real world, but she took solace in the fact that he wasn’t going to let her go back alone.

Another call came in, a more traditional phone call. It was Adriana, who apparently had Heidi in front of her, demanding to talk. Heidi was a very valuable asset, and now that she’d resurfaced, Haleigh could see the merit in bringing her into the fold. It would be even better if she could turn Heidi against the deposed former Queens, and get the lead on Helena’s whereabouts. Maybe then at least Ava would forgive her. She couldn’t play that card right away, though. She got up and started getting dressed as she talked to Heidi.

First she needed to recruit the water elemental. It wasn’t going well. Fathom had a hard-on for Malice that wasn’t going away, and Haleigh mis-stepped a bit with the Rook offer. She’d forgotten just how vain Heidi was. She suppressed a sigh as she buttoned her jeans, and then pulled a black Guns N Roses tshirt on. Heidi lobbed a not-so-veiled threat, one that Haleigh laughed off as ‘cute’. She delivered a much more direct threat of her own, and suggested that if Heidi was brave enough to still be there when she arrived in a few minutes, she’d better be on her knees. Then she ended the call, done with the discussion.

She raised an eyebrow at her husband’s boardroom fantasy, a smirk creeping across her face as she added to it in her mind. She’d be wearing a skirt suit, and nothing underneath, which he would discover quickly as he bent her over that conference table and hiked her skirt up to reveal a bare ass. She was still so wet from before, and turned on again now to the point of aching for him. She knew she should stop the fantasizing here, and get them back to business. But this was so much more enjoyable than worrying about whatever strife was at home. So instead she imagined the shocked and scandalized faces of the hypothetical board members, and how loudly she’d moan as he took her from behind. She gave him a wicked smile, as her eyes locked with his across the room. She didn’t think he’d be able to resist her ass next. Not when she was thinking of how good it would feel when he spread her buttocks and thrust himself inside. She shuddered in anticipation. She very nearly wanted to bend over for him right then and there. She was tormenting herself as much as him. She threw his pants at him.

“Save that for later, stud. We’ve got the rest of our lives to fuck each other silly.”

She pulled her socks on then, and her boots, lacing them up, pushing the fantasy to the back of her mind so she could focus on the task at hand. They’d stop by Hellfire first, in case Heidi needed to be dealt with, and to check on things, in case she needed to task any of her court with something to help put out whatever Blaze’s fire was today. She didn’t have much to go on, other than the desperation in Blaze’s ‘voice’. Of course, Blaze could get to sounding like that when she thought there was a fashion emergency, and it wasn’t like she’d actually even called Haleigh.

Cameron: Can we at least eat our damn chilaquiles first?!

He asked in frustration. She looked up at him gently, understanding exactly where he was coming from. There was a knock at the door.

Girl: ¿Señor y señora King? Su desayuno está aquí.

Haleigh answered the door, saying thank you and trading a wad of cash as a tip for the tray of food. Of course they could eat first. They were probably going to have to go save the day, they needed some sustenance. She tried to enjoy it as best she could, despite the duty hanging over their meal. When they were done, she took his hand, and brought them both to Blackwell’s. She found Adriana by way of her phone’s location, in the main entrance hall of the new Hellfire mansion.

“Is Heidi still here?”

 

[Madame Masque]

Blackwell’s Island

Adriana had been sitting in the best booth of the Blind Tiger, a little speakeasy type establishment she’d set up on Blackwell’s Island just across the courtyard from the new Hellfire Mansion (which happened to be the old Asylum). She was watching a few of her hand-picked escorts rehearsing a burlesque number, while discussing the black-market prices of a few important commodities with her consigliere, Ettore. It had really been a normal morning for her, yet another day of her holding down the fort in her Queen’s absence. Then in came one of the guardsmen, to tell her about a visitor. Heidi Scarborough. Adriana knew of her. They hadn’t really met, but Heidi’s reputation was quite legendary. So Adriana rose from her usual spot, and walked across the courtyard to the mansion, letting herself into the entrance hall where Heidi was waiting, flanked by a few guards she seemed to be impatiently tolerating.

It was a shame she was such a pain to deal with. After attempting at first to assuage her, to deal with it herself without disturbing her Queen, Adriana finally gave in and called Haleigh. She listened in mild amusement as Haleigh and Heidi had their phone exchange. Heidi was egregiously haughty, going so far as to threaten Haleigh, and then even try to get in a final dig at the end, but alas, Haleigh had already hung up. Adriana stirred the pot a bit, daring Heidi to stick around and repeat her little comments right to Haleigh’s face. That would be a bloodbath, and Adriana was hoping to be there for it. As it turned out, Heidi wasn’t so brave as all that, and she left immediately. Haleigh turned up shortly thereafter, with that handsome new man of hers. Adriana welcomed them both back, as Haleigh asked if Heidi was still here.

“No, she practically evaporated when she knew you’d be here soon.”

Haleigh: “Where’s Savage?”

“It’s a full moon.”

She replied with a shrug. Haleigh asked if there was anything unusual going on in the city. Running the Nefaria branch of the mafia, Adriana had her pulse on the organized crime in the city. If there was any kind of ripple, she’d know of it. Right now it was just business as usual, so she just shook her head. Then Haleigh asked about Perle, which was kind of an unexpected topic.

“Oh your cat?”

Haleigh: “MY cat?”

“Didn’t you inherit her from your mother? Whatever. She’s been getting kind of anxious since you’ve been gone. Not eating as much, spending more time on shelves and banisters. Last week she got trapped in the willow tree for a while. I think Savage’s wolves chased her up there.”

Haleigh: “Well they shouldn’t be able to hurt her, with the collar Rav gave her. But it’s no good if they’re giving chase. They’re just following their animal instincts… but I can’t just let them stress her out. I’ve been thinking about rehoming her. Any idea where she is now?”

Adriana nodded nonchalantly.

“She’s been holing up in your office a lot. It became easier to close her up in there with some food and water to keep the dogs from bothering her.”