The Death of Malice

[Seer]

"I'll never pause again, never stand still, til either death hath closed these eyes of mine, or fortune given me measure of revenge."

<< Six people...as polarized as the points on a pentagram. Drawn together by the vast and terrible powers that threaten this world. These men and women were HARDLY our ideal image of a hero. But they were - all of them. Spellbinder. Prophet. Black Widow. Morningstar. Persephone. Rampage. Through time and space, against all odds, logic and reason, The Six has saved the world over and over again, though "thank you" was not a word they heard often. Bonded together in their hatred of the sins of their fathers, they waged a war against MysTech and Hellfire, one that held more casualties than survivors. They have lost brothers, sisters, lover friends and often each other in their pursuit of justice. Their work was not easy, but they persisted, driven to see a future where they might be free of the trauma they had endured, thanks in large part to her. >>

<< The White Queen. Diana. The thorn in their side. A woman of myth, who's hands had altered the lives of all The Six in irreparable ways. Whatever their feelings were on each other, one thing that still united them, was their belief that she had to die. But The White Queen had proven that dying and staying dead were two entirely different things. Malice was not a threat that was easily removed, but that didn't stop everyone from trying. >>

<< For quite some time, under cloak and dagger, Cameron King and Delilah Trelaven had been coming up with a plan on their own. It was more than a plan or obession, it became their life's work. For years, they tracked her, analyzed her, deduced her weaknesses, trained their own minds and bodys to repel her power, and when they got their shot - they took it. Working in tandem, they executed an attack that it saw not just the destruction of Diana's body but of the Hellfire Mansion itself. It should have been a time of celebration. But celebration was yet another thing The Six didn't experience much. >>

<< Now? Cameron King is DEAD - his soul on The Other Side in The Further, a place that borders The Astral Plane, a desparate place for a desperate man. Malice was without a body, Hellfire was scattered to the wind. Delilah had done her part, and he felt like it was time to do his. Nobody else could destroy her in such a way that she could not return. He could not fail. For now, he waits in The Further, for the perfect moment. For the right moment, and anybody who got in his way would pay the price. >>

<< Morningstar was worried. Not about Cameron - she believed in him if only because she didn't have another choice. But not having her best friend at her side was taking it's toll. Everything she had worked for over the last few years was to ensure safety for her daughter. To ensure that she could raise her daughter without the fear of Diana at every corner. She had watched as every other person she once held close to her heart had betrayed her, had taken away her agency, had decided her fate for her. Her and Cameron's plan to kill Malice had been the one thing she'd done for herself in quite some time. If this didn't work, she felt as if she would officially have nobody - not her daughter, not Cameron, not a true friend in sight. Nothing. All she could do...was wait, and trust, and she'd had lost a hard battle on trust over the years. >>

<< Black Widow and Persephone had wasted no time seizing control of Hellfire in the wake of such a war. While Persephone seemed to take the opportunity to medicate herself from the trauma she experienced at her defecting to Hellfire, Haleigh remained as vigilant as ever, both as a way to keep busy and to separate herself from the idea that no matter what happened between Cameron and Diana, she would lose in some way. She knew the others would never understand her motivations, but her fall from Black Widow to Scion had been a renaissance for the woman, the first step in embracing who she truly felt herself to be, a world filled with advice from people who's moral compasses more reflected her own. The first time she didn't have to pretend to be a hero. Haleigh was left with more questions than answers, and the mysterious arrival of Diana in her head - something she wasn't sure was real or actual psychosis. For now, she was relieved to find a small bit of comfort in Morgan Victoria of all places. Spellbinder - her biological sister. >>

<< Spellbinder had been crippled at the hands of Talisman during The Battle at Hellfire. Without her magick, and feeling as if she had truly lost the respect of a team she had led for years, Morgan began to fall into a deep tailspin of alcohol abuse and wanton lust. For the first time in a long time, possibly ever, Morgan let go. Lashing out at her mother, her sister and her best friend, she walked down a path of destruction with a man she knew as Derek Forrester, a man who was part demon, like herself. She had let go of herself, but deep down, she still had hope. That she could fix things. That she could fix herself. And a meeting with Haleigh, a woman she had only recently found out was not just her catspaw, but her sister, that seemed to change things. At least for now. Now, she was faced with the idea that she might lose the man who loved her, a man who she had been betraying and making a mockery of for months. Still, when the opportunity came for her to be the leader they knew her to be, she reached for it. If only to cling to the things that once brought her comfort. >>

<< Rampage was not doing well. And not doing well was something that Nicolas King...didn't do well. Diana had violated his mind and stolen his power. Taken one of the things that made him who he was. His connection to Set was always on his mind, and his telepathy had always been his fail safe. His precise control of his thoughts and psyche had been the things that made him feel safe and protected. It wasn't his demigod like strength. It wasn't his axe. It was his mind. And Diana had taken that from him. Worse than that, after the battle at Hellfire, Morgan had not only withdrawn, but completely dissappeared. He knew she was going through something, but he was too. In every way he had always been there for her. Had pulled out all the stops. Had chastised and self flatulated for her. And when he needed her, she was nowhere to be found. He spent his days on Aerie, licking his wounds. Alison and Karen had been smothering him, attending to his every whim in an effort to pretend like Morgan hadn't lost her ever loving mind and abandoned him like this, but he wasn't stupid. And what was worse, he could feel Set. Getting stronger...mocking him. Something was going to happen, why else would Dominique be here? and for the first time in his life, for as strong and mighty as he was, he felt weak. He felt like a bystander. And he wasn't sure what to do. >>

<< This uncertainty didn't just extend to The Six. The Birds of Prey had been left reeling after taking down Hellfire, in different ways. In many ways, they seemed to be the heirs of the throne built by The Six. But they were different. They had a connection to life and the people around them that The Six never truly had. They had vowed to help the helpless, and just begun to get a taste of what that kind of responsibility meant. Oracle had buried Gabe, a man she had dared to love. A man who only died because she convinced him to help her team. After his funeral, she watched as her birds scattered to the wind, dealing with the grief in their own ways. John and Andrew stayed in the UK on a boys trip, Vivica headed to Miami to throw herself into work and ignore how badly she felt about the current state of things, and Ashley and Zach got engaged and were actively planning a wedding among the chaos. And then there was Jake, who was a boy for another story. With the help of their associate Jezebel, they were alerted to the threat of Cameron, Diana and Set, and while they were all but rebuked, they had reached an understanding with The Six that should the time come, they would help where they could. >>

<< Right now our heroes were part of a dangerous waiting game, preparing for things they couldn't prepare for, and hoping that their side came in clutch. Morgan, Haleigh and Delilah (swooped up in a stepping disc shortly after Morgan and Haleigh left) arrived just outside Minerva's Mansion, to inform it's residence of the current circumstances as well as their plan moving forward. It was not going to be easy or delicate. The Birds of Prey were re-convening at The Clocktower, with not much more information than when they had started. And Cameron King was still in The Further where he was about to receive a visitor he couldn't have possibly seen coming. >>

<< For decades, we have watched these heroes save the day. But something was in the air tonight, something that threatened to RATTLE The Six to the core. Possibly break them beyond repair. But still, just as we always have...we WATCH! >>

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion - Executive Study

Alison Marble leaned on the large antique mahogany desk with its intricately carved design. Her hands were placed flat on its surface, her head was bowed, her blue-black hair hanging down across her face. The ticking of the grandfather clock to her side seemed to grow louder. She had known this day was coming for a long time, but that didn't mean it weighed on her less. She was tired.

The other beings she had been allied with over the years did not understand. And no matter how many times she tried to explain it, they still didn't. And they never would. She had long since stopped trying. They didn't know how fragile time was. How much it pained her to know things before they happened, and not be able to do anything about them. She had always done the best she could, tried to save as many as she could, but still she was treated as an unfeeling monster. So be it. Her marble heart had served her well for a long time once and would again.

A crystalline chessboard stood in the room behind her, its figures having moved into unusual groupings. Alison shook her head. She had warned them, but they hadn't heeded her advice. So it had come to this grave point, just as she had known it would. The grandfather clock chimed the hour, the great gong resonating throughout the mansion. Alison's cobalt eyes opened and flicked to it, resting there for a moment. Then she rose and turned, pausing to look at the chessboard. Cameron's piece had been knocked over, but had not yet been removed from the board. She reached down and picked it up, clasping it in her hand and holding it to her heart as she closed her eyes once more.

"It should not end like this, baby brother."

Alison inhaled sharply, steeling herself for what was to come. She returned the chess piece to the table carefully, then smoothed a hand over her hair and adjusted her clothes, making sure nothing was out of place. Her eyes flashed. It was time to begin.

:: BLINK! ::

Alison is gone from the study and reappears outside the mansion, where her erstwhile teammates Spellbinder, Black Widow and MorningStar had just arrived via stepping disc.

"I've been waiting for you."

Her voice was like a stone.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower - Inside

Rae's words reverberated through Zizi as her brain furiously worked to find a solution, a course of action. They made her feel as if nothing could be done - but that was not an option. So as Zizi sat at the lowered countertop in her kitchen cutting fruit into bite sized pieces, scenarios played through her mind.

They had cleaned up the remnants of their "journey" on the roof and she had asked Ashley to bring down the chairs. She had done this grudgingly and now was lying on the couch with a cold pack on her forehead. Things were quiet as they waited for the others to return, but instead of being calming it just seemed to allow the memory of that demon's grip on her to keep stealing into her mind unbidden. Zizi involuntarily shivered. She set down the paring knife and pulled her cardigan closer around herself before taking a large pull on the straw of her Big Gulp. She'd had one delivered as soon as they'd returned. They didn't normally deliver, per se, but Zizi was a very good customer. She felt exhausted, and there was no way she was going to fall asleep any time soon.

"I just hope Zach and Vivica have more promising news than us."

 

[Rampage]

Aerie

Nicolas sat there on the armchair, pretending to read an old text. Really, he just stared at the page blankly. Dominique was there, watching him. They were all watching him, for some sign of Set or Malice. He couldn’t hear their thoughts but he knew how their minds worked. He knew they were worried even if they tried to stay calm.

Dominique had told him what could be expected, making him quite uneasy despite her attempt to downplay the threat. He was trying to be still, but his knee bounced rapidly of its own accord. Whenever people talked it was little more than empty conversation to break the tense silence. He thought if Ma offered to do or get anything else for him, he might scream at her. Mike was trying to seem chill, playing tug with one of the wolves.

This was torture, he was certain. He was restless, but there was nothing to do but wait for others to take action. He felt so helpless, and it made him angry beyond words. He was so hot, he couldn’t stand to wear a shirt. There was a light sheen on his chest, and beads of sweat rolled occasionally down the side of his face. His runes glowed on his skin, including the new ones Isis had bolstered him with. They burned like new tattoos, contributing to his discomfort.

”Perhaps I’ll go for a swim.”

He suggested, trying to sound casual. Mike rose quickly from the sofa, saying he’d grab his trunks and tag along. They weren’t going to let him be alone. Nicolas didn’t get up at first. He didn’t even think he’d enjoy a swim but if the water felt cool it might be worth the walk down to the beach.

 

[Spellbinder]

Island of Aerie

<< Whatever confidence she had in her ability washed away as the women arrived in Aerie, just outside the front of Minerva's mansion. Morgan did NOT want to be here. She didn't need to have magick to feel that familiar energy of her friends and family. It was no longer comforting to her, in fact it turned her STOMACH. Still, she had been making a lot of bad choices lately, and she decided that despite how hard this was going to be for her, she might want to try a RIGHT decision on for size (Size 0 btw). >>

<< But there weren't just ghosts inside the mansion, there was one standing next to her - Delilah. But in this case, she guessed that Delilah would think HER to be a ghost - and she would be right. Morgan had a fleeting moment of clarity after the battle, where she reached out Delilah, wanting to repair things - but it had been pure bravado. She didn't want to face her family and she certainly didn't want to have to stand in Limbo while Delilah sobbed over a daughter that was only there BECAUSE of her, so she ignored her. Spellbinder exhaled deeply, turning to face Delilah. >>

"Sorry for the short notice - but I felt it best to rip off the bandaid. I've teleported us outside because I figured it might give us a few seconds to go over your meeting with the Birds of Prey befo--"


Alison: "I've been waiting for you."

<< It hurt to see Alison, for a MULTITUDE of reasons. Partly because she was a bit ashamed at how she had acted in the aftermath of the battle at Hellfire. She had been so angry, at EVERYONE, and she reached a point where she just kind of felt like SCORCHING the EARTH, except that she couldn't anymore. She wanted to OBLITERATE Talisman, she wanted to FEAST on her bones for taking such a cheap shot. She expected her best friend - the KEEPER OF TIME to have her back, not console her and offer NOTHING in the way of solutions. They had been inseparable for years, always sharing the burden of the choices they made in times when the team NEEDED a leader. She respected Alison's gifts, respected that she was often put in impossible situations due to her power, but she really did assume that when it came to Morgan, after everything they'd gone through together, after how intertwined they had become, Alison would give a middle FINGER to time and destiny and do what it took to protect her. She knew it was petty, and she knew that Alison couldn't "see" Talisman due to her being a temporal anomaly, but she was still angry. She'd separated herself from everyone, Morgan included. Resolved to just live out her days on Aerie as a shut in. They'd taken so much SHIT from the team over the years, but they'd ALWAYS been stronger. They didn't hide - well at least not forever. When they were NEEDED, they SHOWED UP, often doing what the others just honestly couldn't. Alison should have been by her side in battle. She could have prevented ALL of this, especially considering what happened to her BROTHER. She had intervened in fate before, SURELY this was worth taking whatever complaints the others had about it!? WHY was she STILL HERE?! She felt her blood begin to boil. >>

"And I HAVEN'T been, BITCH."

"Hello, Harbinger."

<< Her icy violet eyes met Alison's cobalt blue, returning Harbinger's steel back to her. She may not have been sorceress supreme, but she would always be a supermodel, and there was not a glance or glare that she hadn't mastered. >>

"I was just about to ask Delilah how her meeting with Zach and Vivica went."

"Or did you want to fast forward to the part where you tell us EVERYTHING we're missing?!"

 

[Recall]

Back To The Clocktower

Citadel: "Now arriving at Clocktower Station!"

Danny whisked Zach and Vivica back to The Clocktower and into the main space of The Clocktower as Vivica immediately found a couch and let out an exasperated sigh.

"The Six can eat a dick, I swear to GOD!"

She leaned back into the cushions wanting to scream. Though she had somewhat made up with Delilah by the end of the conversation, it still had left her more than a bit annoyed, and if she was going to be treated like a child, she was going to take the opportunity to let out her frustration like one.

"I'm sure Zach can spin this a lot better, but they don't want us involved, they're mad that Rae is reaching out to Cameron, and we were explicitly told it wasn't their job to "find" work for us..."

Vivica manically got up from the couch and poured herself a proper glass of Chardonnay from a bottle she always kept in The Clocktower fridge, only now reading the energy of the room. All three of the women who had stayed at The Clocktower looked a little worse for wear. She took a delicate sip from her glass.

"I'm guessing you guys didn't fare any better?"

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Viv was still a little wound up about the meeting with Delilah. Zach had already forgiven whatever mild transgressions there were. He knew Delilah wasn’t saying these thing to them just to be mean. While it came across as condescending, Zach’s empathy gave him the insight to understand that Delilah meant well. She cared about them, and clearly didn’t want them to get hurt.

Also, it was very apparent to Zach that even though Delilah said her eggs weren’t in one basket, that didn’t reflect the reality of her heart. She refused to accept the idea that Cameron couldn’t pull this off, because she couldn’t emotionally handle the idea that he might not succeed. So Zach just allowed her to rant a bit, and cling to her coping mechanisms, and he tried to be kind but firm in his own convictions.

He resolved himself to help Viv process her frustrations when they got back to the Clocktower. When he arrived there, however, the first person he looked for was Ashley, and to his immediate alarm she had an ice pack pressed to her head. He was at her side in an instant, looking her over while Viv vented her frustrations from the meeting with Delilah. He dropped his voice low as he tried to assess Ash’s injuries.

“You’re hurt?! What happened? Did you kill them? Because If not, I WILL.”

He said, one hand peeling the ice pack away as the other rubbed gently on Ashley’s back.

 

[Black Widow]

To Aerie

Their first stop was to pick up Delilah. The second she saw Delilah, Haleigh felt bad all over again. She could tell Delilah was upset, even if her former friend tried to front like she was fine.

“I’m sorry, I would’ve liked to have spared you this, but we need you.”

She tried to say, and Morgan apologized for the short notice before starting to ask about the BoP meeting, when who should intercept them but ALISON. The precog told them she’d been waiting for them, and Haleigh rolled her eyes so hard her whole head moved.

“Oh I’m SURE you have.”

Malice: Nice place they have here. Be a shame if SET happened to it.

Her mother said, slinking in through the stepping disc as it closed. Haleigh’s gaze went to Alison, trying to judge her reaction, but Alison didn’t seem to notice Diana at all. Haleigh should’ve expected it by now, really. Nobody was able to see her mother but her. She felt she was going insane and tried, for the umpteenth time, to ‘delete’ Malice from her mind, but it felt like trying to work with corrupted data. All she got was a prompt in her HUD indicating error.

HTTP 404 FILE NOT FOUND

Malice: You won’t be rid of me so easily, little girl. It’s FOOLISH to keep trying.

Haleigh sighed heavily, as Morgan asked Delilah once more about the Birds.

 

[Talisman]

Outside Cairo, Egypt

Kelly's dig had proven successful and before long, she was in her tent, cleaning and preserving The Athame of Isis, a tool she was planning on using to kill two birds with one stone. After giving Chameleon her marching orders, Talisman returned to her own private tent, spending quite a bit of time using her own magick to charge the athame and assess it's validity. It didn't take long for her to feel it's power resonating through the blade. A perverse smile crept across her lips as she daydreamed of watching Isis cry out in pain and despair, dying before she knew she had saved her precious nephew. Unlike her many counterparts in this universe, Kelly didn't always need to be the on stage for the performance. In fact, she preferred to act as stage manager. She had survived apocalypse in her own timeline, the less she put herself (at least physically) in the line of fire, the better.

There was not much time to waste, so she placed the athame in her coat pocket, and reached out with her Omni Sight, taking stock of where others on the chessboard were up to. Many had gathered at Aerie, which meant the time was approaching. Her sight shifted on Cameron King in The Further.

She had yet to interact with him since her arrival in the timeline, despite his appearance at Hellfire. And that had been intentional. The cold reception she had received from Diana when she made her presence known had caused her to seek out other avenues of protection. Talisman had no use for people emotionally, but the world around her seemed to operate from the opposite standpoint. Hellfire had been a cesspool of emotion and impulse, a fact that ultimately led to it's destruction. Still, it was clear that if she wanted to thrive here, to continue her life's work, she was going to need others, so she began to create subtle and small connections that eventually paid off. With Helena, she presented as conciliatory, as a peer, but one who gave her deference, asked for her opinion, and took her opinion seriously. With Haleigh, she played things a bit more cool. Kelly could see the value of maintaining a connection so close to her would be son, so she made sure to show Scion that she herself was cerebral and almost surgical in her approach to things, and left the door open for a possibility of partnership in the future. Cameron may have been an empath, but he certainly wore his emotions on his sleeve, to the point of which Dr. Shaw was almost in disbelief that one of her multiversal counterparts could have ever bred something so emotional, but she deduced it was simply a case of nature versus nurture, and the remnants of his father's genetics. Still, one thing she felt about him almost immediately was his passion for his family, and she knew she could manipulate it to her advantage. If she played her cards right with Cameron, he could want to protect her from those who might want her dead - and if he reunited with Haleigh, she might just back him up on the idea.

From a personal standpoint, she was curious to know him. He reminded her a lot of his father, Johnathon King. She wanted to feel a swell of emotion when she thought about the man she had left Hellfire for in her native timeline, but she couldn't bare to let herself. That was another time, she had been a different woman then. Still, as she watched Cameron via her Omni Sight on The Further, she couldn't help but notice the similarities. The way he furrowed his brow, how he pursed his lips, how he smirked. Biology never ceased to amaze her, and it was these exact kind of details she could share that would have Cameron eating out of the palm of her hand, so she decided that it was time to finally, formally meet her "son" and give him a tool that would allow him to be not just the man who took down Diana, but also Set, cementing his place in history. Her cobalt blue eyes flickered with wild excitement as she took a seat at the vanity of her private tent in Egypt. Closing her eyes, her body became encased in a flickering and swirling mix of dark blue and black energies, her energy signature having taken on a different presentation as her quest of being Sorceress Supreme continued. It took her a minute to navigate The Further - a place difficult to navigate for even the strongest magick users, but before long she was able to hone in on his energy, appearing before him in the living room of what appeared to be a family home that she actually recognized. This was the same home that Kelly Shaw had grown up in - her grandmother's home. It gave her pause, but only for a moment as her face reverted to the statue like intensity that those of her bloodline were known for.

"I knew i'd find you Cameron, I just didn't anticipate it would be here of all places...."

Her stilettos clicked across the floor in an ominous tone as she walked closer to Cameron, dragging her finger along the edge of an end table, assessing it's cleanliness, the faint scratching of her adamantium nails could be heard scraping along the wood as she lifted it up, unimpressed with the results of her trial. She crinkled her nose.

"I'm sure if you knew I was coming you'd have cleaned up for me. Now, come. Give your mother a hug."

She extended her arms out to either side of herself, intrigued to see his reaction.

 

[Prophet]

The Further

He hadn't planned on such a dramatic reaction, but he was Cameron King, after all. And Rae had stoked his rage. Besides Delilah, nobody had thought more about this than him. Nobody had prepared for this like he did. He knew what he was doing, and while navigating to Diana's ultimate destination in The Further would be more difficult without Rae's help, he didn't need it. In fact, he was a bit sick of others helping him. More often than not, they used that help against him, to paint him as some kind of fucking damsel in distress. He just wanted this to be over, he wanted to get back to his body, kiss the love of his life, do a victory lap with Delilah and move on with damn life. But the ball was in Diana's court. He had exhausted the rest of her options, and all he could do was wait until she broke through to The Further and made contact with Set. And in true Malice fashion, she was taking her sweet ass time. Still, he would wait forever if it meant he could kill her. And he hadn't had a quiet moment, or a moment of rest in three months. He took it.

Cameron was homesick, and more than that the anticipation of seeing Haleigh was killing him. Diana was the final roadblock standing in their way. It felt like if he could just complete this mission, he would finally have everything he wanted - and all he had ever wanted was her. He wanted to hold her hand without it causing a nuclear meltdown. He wanted to taste her lips and not be worried it would hurt someone else he loved. He wanted to be able to love her - openly. honestly. Forever. It was a strange circumstance. He was waiting around as a spirit to essentially absorb the essence of her mother. But that was life in The Six. His mind shifted to Delilah. He hated that it had come to this. There were certain measures they had discussed putting together their plan to kill Malice that were less than ideal. This was at the top of the list. He hated leaving her with the others knowing what her relationship with the team had been as of late. They weren't going to get it. They weren't going to understand that despite how bad it looked, they had planned for this. He hoped that they would listen to her, that they wouldn't lose their minds and intervene and potentially fuck things up, but he wasn't confident. Rae's presence here a few moments go told him that things at home weren't tied up as easily as he would have liked. He worried because he loved her, but he knew she would move heaven and earth to help him complete their objective.

Despite how fast his thoughts were racing, he was welcoming the break. He felt like a wildcat, with his hair constantly raised on his back just waiting for the next attack. For now, he could rest - and bide his time and power, preparing.

Talisman: "I knew I'd find you Cameron, I just didn't anticipate it would be here of all places..."

His blood ran cold, recognizing the voice instantly, but unsure if it was really her or just a phantom of the part of The Further he was in. He spun around on his feet, his eyes reaching Talisman's. She walked slowly and deliberately towards him, her heels on the hardware floor igniting an almost hypnotic tone as she walked, with Cameron taking every second to analyze her every facial feature and gesture to see if it bred familiarity within him. She taunted him, sauntering over to an end table and mocking the cleaninless of a place that no longer existed.

Talisman: "I'm sure if you knew I was coming you'd have cleaned up for me. Now, come. Give your mother a hug."

And then she extended her arms. He had seen a lot of shit in his life, but this was truly surreal. He had kept himself from looking at Talisman too hard when he was at Hellfire, more consumed with destroying Diana. She looked just like her, and he guessed that make sense because it technically was her, but her energy was so incredibly different. The mother he knew was a bit of a mess. Exhausted, messy, and not concerned with her outward appearance in the slightest. His mother was manic and aggressive, but also loving and doting when she wanted to be. This woman was so put together, so well manicured and poised. Cameron had anticipated the PSI Screen, but he hadn't anticipated not being able to read her emotions. It wasn't like some kind of PSI screen where he could perceive them just not take hold...it was as if she didn't have any to begin with. Whatever the case, and whatever small part of him that was intrigued by her arrival, he would not be distracted and he couldn't be sure she wasn't here as a backup for Diana.

"Hi, Mom."

He squinted his eyes, telekinetically hurling her across the room into an armoire as his eyes flickered with his signature electric red energy signature, watching it break under her weight as she slid down the wall in a huff. Cameron walked slowly over to her, extending his hand to help her up, one of her adamantium nails lightly slicing his knuckles as he helped her up. He withdrew his hand, sucking on his knuckle with a smirk, happy to know she wasn't afraid to bite back.

"Sorry, not much of a hugger these days. Wanna tell me why you're here?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

After being forced - again! - into manual labor and cleaning up after Rae (does the roof really need to be clean?), Ashley had collapsed onto the couch in the living area with an ice pack on her forehead and her arm draped over her eyes. She was not in a good mood. She was angry about what had happened, and even more, she was angry for being angry.

Failure was not a usual occurrence for Ashley. Especially when her opponents were clearly not a match for her strength. But still she had been bested, TWO scumbag creatures had been able to attack Zizi, AND she'd needed to ask for help to defeat something she should have been able to behead on her first strike. It had not been a good day.

But still, they had gotten through it. No one had died. So why did she feel...bad?

Oracle: "I just hope Zach and Vivica have more promising news than us."

Ashley grunted.

That was unlikely. The Six were assholes, even if no one but her seemed to realize this. Though she suspected that Zizi was coming around to her way of thinking, even if she was too kind to put it quite in those same terms. But they were as likely to accept help as an Amazon was to host a kegger for a frat house - even if it made things harder for them. Idiots.

The Clocktower's security system announced the arrival of Zach and Vivica, and in seconds she felt Zach next to her. She removed her arm from her eyes.

Zach: “You’re hurt?! What happened? Did you kill them? Because If not, I WILL.”

The concern in his voice made her smile, looking up into his eyes. They really were amazing. Maybe she should change his contact info on her phone to say "Nice Ass AND Eyes". He was examining her, rubbing her back soothingly. She let him take the ice pack from her.

"Zach."

She sighed out happily as she said it, reaching up to give his beard a little scratch. And then she remembered that she was not in a good mood.

"It was terrible! I had to aske Rae for help to kill a demon, and she made me actually ASK her! And they made me carry chairs too! But I got to chop Haleigh's head off, so it evened out I guess."

She folded her hands over her middle.

"How did it go with all your ex girlfriends?"

There was a teasing glint in her eye.

Viv: "The Six can eat a dick, I swear to GOD!"

"I'm not sure they can, actually," she murmured.

She sat up and made room for Zach next to her.

Viv: "I'm sure Zach can spin this a lot better, but they don't want us involved, they're mad that Rae is reaching out to Cameron, and we were explicitly told it wasn't their job to "find" work for us... I'm guessing you guys didn't fare any better?"

Ashley shook her head.

"Rae talked to him, but I think the gist was, 'Go fuck yourselves.'"

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon to Minerva's Mansion

Delilah had finally gotten herself under control enough to get up from the table. She had intended to go check on Cameron, then maybe head to her apartment for a quick nap while she waited to hear back from Haleigh. What was it they said about best laid plans?
Because suddenly she was in a stepping disc and being deposited outside Alison's mansion.

Haleigh: “I’m sorry, I would’ve liked to have spared you this, but we need you.”

As if Haleigh cared about her feelings in the slightest.

Delilah sighed, adjusting her clothes.

"You're just lucky I know what a stepping disc feels like enough not to have come out of it with a few photon blasts."

Morgan: "Sorry for the short notice - but I felt it best to rip off the bandaid. I've teleported us outside because I figured it might give us a few seconds to go over your meeting with the Birds of Prey befo--"

Alison blinked into sight right in front of him.

Alison: "I've been waiting for you."

Morgan: "Hello, Harbinger. I was just about to ask Delilah how her meeting with Zach and Vivica went."

"Oh, I'm sure Alison knows all about that. Like everything else."

She didn't even bother to give her a fake smile. Delilah turned her back to Alison, speaking to Haleigh and Morgan.

"They're stubborn as ever. I told them we had things taken care of, which of course they wouldn't believe. But I promised to let them know if we make any new plans, under the condition they do the same. Maybe that will keep them from wandering into something and screwing us."

She shrugged.

"Probably not, but it was worth a shot. I assume we're here to talk to Nicolas?"

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion

She greeted her guests outside the front door.

Morgan: "Hello, Harbinger."

She nodded to Morgan. Haleigh was petulant as ever, but Alison didn't expect anything less.

Morgan: "I was just about to ask Delilah how her meeting with Zach and Vivica went."

Delilah: "Oh, I'm sure Alison knows all about that. Like everything else."

Delilah proceeded to turn her back on Alison like the child she was. Alison refused to let it bother her anymore, however. Delilah's presence here hadn't been Alison's choice, but to the extent that she was going to be part of what's to come, it was necessary to tolerate her. For now.

Delilah: "They're stubborn as ever. I told them we had things taken care of, which of course they wouldn't believe. But I promised to let them know if we make any new plans, under the condition they do the same. Maybe that will keep them from wandering into something and screwing us. Probably not, but it was worth a shot."

The Birds of Prey had a bigger part to play in this than the three in front of her would ever expect. They hadn't been there when they had faced the Unloved. And despite having known Zach and Vivica for many years, they still chose to dismiss their abilities. But they would learn. Or not.

Delilah: "I assume we're here to talk to Nicolas?"

"Perhaps we should continue this inside?"

Alison turned and gestured towards the door, which opened for her. She led the way inside and to a sitting room, without waiting to see if the others were following her. She sat herself down in a large navy wingback chair next to the fireplace.

"Would any of you like some refreshment?"

 

[Talisman]

The Further

"Oof..."

Okay, so perhaps he wasn't silly putty to be molded into her liking. Still the fact that he extended her a hand up was a promising sign. She accepted, making sure her nails gave him a little prick on her way up. Smoothing her jacket down around her, she tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ears.

Cameron: "Sorry, not much a hugger these days. Wanna tell me why you're here?"

The steel in his cobalt blue eyes impressed her, the hallmark of all her children across multiple timelines. No matter who they were, they always had her eyes, and a specific gift of vision along with them. Alison was a Seer, Cameron had flashes of the future, from what she knew of Erika, she possessed the gift of psychometry, to see into the past, and Kelly could see everything going on in the present. Perhaps this would be a bit more fun than she had originally thought.

"I'm sure somewhere, some version of me deserved that. So, I'll let it go. As to why i'm here?"

She fired off a blast of mystic flame into the fireplace as she took a seat on the couch, gesturing for him to sit down next to her by patting the cushion. Talisman smirked as he begrudgingly followed her lead.

"We share a mutual desire - the absolute extinction of Diana. There's much you do not know about me, and unfortunately the power I possess will leave you unable to know if I am telling you the truth. That being said, facts do not cease to exist just because they're ignored. So take what you will from my words, it truly is of no consequence to me."

She crossed her legs at the knee, bouncing her foot as she continued to speak.

"In my native timeline, I was hunted by Diana for daring to fall in love and have a family. I never lived there long enough to have you. Johnathon was my fiance. I was pregnant with Alison....she had John killed, and I went on the run....I lost Alison shortly after her birth, thanks to her. And she had me so warped that I actually returned to Hellfire afterwards, because I was afraid of her...."

Cameron didn't need to know the details of her entire life before coming here, and it really wasn't important. Her life and her decisions were hers, and the last thing she was going to entertain was the judgment of some neophyte of a mutant who only barely touched his foot in the pond of morally ambiguous situations. She gave just enough information.

"I escaped only by luck. During my own timeline's inferno. When Karen Victoria had been beaten so badly by Christopher that she lost her baby...your world's Morgan Victoria. The chaotic magicks she wielded destroyed my world, and I used whatever magick I had left to slip through the timestream and ended up here..."

For a moment, she allowed herself to remember that time. She remembered Karen's absolute grief and despair. But she didn't help her. Because Karen never helped her. Karen knew how bad she had wanted a child. And Karen wasn't an idiot. She loved Christopher, but she knew what he was doing, and she never said anything because she enjoyed the lifestyle. So when Karen finally experienced what it meant to love somebody in Hellfire, Kelly was not there for her. Because unlike Karen, Kelly hadn't decided that the entire world needed to be burned because she hadn't gotten what she wanted. Those memories felt so far away now, but the anger and vitriol she felt at this world's Karen Victoria was still palpable, despite how culpable this Karen was.

"My alliance with Hellfire here was one of desperation. I had nothing. Nowhere to turn. And she didn't make it easy. I had to constantly prove my worth. Now, don't mistake me - I did a lot of objectively terrible things, none of which I'm prepared to apologize for. A lot of bad things that happened to you, and your family over the last few years? Chances are I had a heavy hand in them. It was the cost of being in Hellfire, and I willingly paid it."

It was true. Kelly had nothing when she arrived in the timeline. She could have used her magick to create a life for herself that was peaceful and luxurious, but Kelly didn't know anything else. And she knew that to do the type of work she wanted to do, she needed power, she needed influence and she needed protection. Malice was her only option, or at least that was what she told herself.

"Diana's continued existence presents a problem for me. I simply wish to continue what it is I was put on this Earth to do - work. I may have been Black Queen but I am so much more - I am a scientist, a biologist, engineer. And my ambition is far greater than creating low level bio hazards to supply wayward terrorists with weapons. As long as she lives, she will impede my work. I didn't escape her in one timeline, to die by her hand in another. Our family has the gift of vision, and mine is to see all of the present. I know what she is planning. And for lack of a better word, it's fucking insane. Unfortunately for her, as you know, I am well versed in insanity, and I have something that can help."

From within her jacket, she pulled out the Athame of Isis, which gleamed with power as she showed it to Cameron.

"The Athame of Isis. I've unearthed it just recently, but it has the power to eliminate Set forever. Should you fail to kill her, should Set accept her deal, you drive this into the heart of Set, and end her madness."

She could sense that she was overwhelming Cameron with information, but that was part of the plan. A mix of emotion, of tenderness, and logical examination of things. She needed to get him confused enough that he thought he might be able to trust her, and give enough of that maternal kind of energy to think that the possibility of a relationship between them was on the horizon.

"There is something about Diana that she refuses to see about herself, and that is her own sadness. It is no mistake that she went after your family Cameron. Your mother tried to find happiness. Went after love. Tried to give her children comfort. The way in which she was abused as a girl never left her. And you know her. She's the little girl that would rather BREAK her dollhouse than let another play with it. She never knew family. She never knew love. And she would never let anyone around her know it, either. But she has turned her sadness into power, and Set will use that power, along with his own to bring about a destruction of the universe the likes of which have only been detailed in legend."

She handed him the athame.

"All I ask in return, is that you leave me alone to do my work. I have no vendetta against The Six or their allies. As long as they keep themselves out of my business, I will not lay a hand on them. I came here for a second chance, to be the woman I was never allowed to be in my timeline. You don't threaten that? I won't threaten you."

Talisman moved to close the deal.

"I saw your conversation with Rae Reynolds, Cameron. And I see no flaw in your logic. For as cliche as it is, I am very much a fan of Darwin. Survival of the Fittest. I may not have much to offer in the way of maternal guidance, but I can offer data. I can offer information. Wherever this new path takes you, I can be much more of an asset than an enemy."

[smirking]

"The choice is yours."

 

[Spellbinder]

Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

Delilah: "Oh, I'm sure Alison knows all about that. Like everything else."

<< Morgan was REALLY trying not to be a BITCH when it came to Harbinger, considering everything going on, but she was secretly relieved that Delilah did not share the same qualms. She made no attempt to intervene on Alison's behalf. >>

Delilah: "They're as stubborn as ever I told them we had things taken care of, which of course they wouldn't believe. But I promised to let them know if we make any new plans, under the condition they do the same. Maybe that will keep them from wandering into something and screwing us."

"Not likely, but I'm glad you were at least able to PLACATE them for the time being."

Delilah: "Probably not, but it was worth a shot. I assume we're here to talk to Nicolas?"

<< She felt her stomach tighten at the prospect of speaking to Nicolas, but she did her best to maintain her composure. >>

"Perhaps we should continue this inside?"

<< She it was customary but Morgan did not want to go inside. She didn't want to be here at ALL! But she followed as Alison gestured them into a sitting room, before taking a seat on one of the chairs next to the fireplace. >>

Alison: "Would any of you like some refreshment."

"Yes. Dry white wine. And keep it COMING."

<< Thankfully before long a glass of wine was in her hands and she wasted no time in taking a long and glorious sip before setting the glass down on the table next to her. She had no shame. Alison likely knew how much she had been struggling, perhaps seeing it right in front of her face might actually cause a fucking expression of CONCERN, though she doubted it. >>

"Look, I really don't feel like tip-toeing around anything tonight. We know that Diana is so desperate that she is actively seeking out Set in some tragic attempt to end the world because she didn't get her way. Set means Nicolas is in danger. We can only operate off the information that we have, and that information is grim..."

<< She eyed her glass again for a moment, giving in to the desire to have another long sip. >>

"We have agreed that Nicolas needs to be under the watch of The Six. And we have agreed that this is a matter we are going to handle IN HOUSE. Meaning without The Keeper of Time or The Avatar of Isis. Where is he?"

 

[Isis]

The Island of Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

:: From within a luxuriously decorated guest chamber in Minerva's Mansion, Dominique Devereaux sat cross legged on the floor, in deep prayer as a golden sparkling aura encased her, the flames of the fireplace in front of her reflecting in her aqua blue eyes. ::

"Most holy and everlasting, blessed Lady, Redeemer and perpetual comfort of human kind..."

:: She had not but a few hours of sleep in the last few months, kept busy by her work at the orphanage. Just one of the many mantles she had taken on in her effort to help the helpless. It had been both harrowing and deeply rewarding, but it had still left the avatar of Isis a bit unsettled in her personal life. She had always known herself as a woman of confidence, and she had never anticipated a moment like this in her life, when she felt so lost. ::

"On land as well as at sea, You are She who chases away all storms and dangers from our lives by YOUR right hand. You restrain the fatal dispositions, appease the great tempest of fortune and keep back the course of the stars..."

:: A gentle breeze slips through her room, the wind ruffling the silk curtains behind her, as wisps of wind dance along her bone straight hair. Just when she thought she had seen a light at the end of the tunnel in her life, she was thrown once again back into the covenant she had made with her Goddess. ::

"The Gods supernal do honor you. The Gods of the earth hold You in reverence. You rotate the globe. You give light to the Sun. You govern the world in time and space. You tread down the powers of Hades. By You the seasons return, the Planets rejoice, the Elements serve."

:: She was searching for insight. For connection. Those around her were questioning the arrival of Set, her celestial "brother". He was the entity that she was sworn to defeat. He was the last thought before she went to sleep and the first thought she had every morning. Because Set was her nephew's father. The horrific side affect of an encounter Set had with her sister, Kakra. And while Dominique had worked so hard to reconcile with her past and her nephew, deep down she always knew that as long as Nicolas lived, she would never know peace, and she was fine with that. Nicolas was a beautiful man. A good man, and he had no choice in all of this. Her sister's memory lived on in him, and she had accepted the mantle of Isis willingly. She just hadn't anticipated facing Set again so soon. ::

"I shall always keep a remembrance of Your countenance deep within my breast, and there in the secret depths of my souls that I keep divinity forever guarded."

:: And still she felt NOTHING. Set was as far away from them as he had been since the truce. There were no rumblings. No indication that anything was wrong but still...she felt it. She knew they were right, and pride was keeping her from asking for help, because the last time she had asked for help had nearly killed them all. ::

"Blessed be."

:: Isis rose from her seated position, pulling the black silk robe she was wearing over her bosom more conservatively, and exhaled deeply. She blamed herself deeply for not being able to clearly perceive what was going on, but worse, she still could not HELP but to feel a flurry of rage around The Birds of Prey and their treatment and her, Alycia and Sharon. They had rattled her to her very CORE. Made her feel stupid. And worse, OLD! Dominique was a woman of wealth, influence and POWER. She didn't need ANYBODY, but still - she couldn't help but feel like she had somehow failed them. Everyday, she was with these children. Beautiful, intelligent, creative children who just needed the smallest amount of love to grow, and it made her feel like a fraud. She loved these children. To give them love and understanding was so easy, so why couldn't she extend that to the people who were actually, out LOUD telling her that they WANTED her? She couldn't understand it, so she chose to ignore it and throw herself into mundane mortal life. She moved over to her vanity, pouring a glass of hemlock, taking a long sip and staring at her reflection in the mirror. ::

"That's showbiz, baby..."

:: She said mockingly. And then the hairs of her neck stood at attention as she sensed the arrival of Morgan, Haleigh and Delilah at the mansion. Instantly she flickered with anger. ::

"Oh NOW Morgan gives a damn about what happens to Nicolas? Not on my WATCH!"

:: Immediately she began to storm the hallways of the mansion until she found herself in the very sitting room as the other women. ::

Morgan: "We have agreed that Nicolas needs to be under the watch of The Six. And we have agreed that this is a matter we are going to handle IN HOUSE. Meaning without The Keeper of Time or The Avatar of Isis. Where is he?"

"Forgive me for eavesdropping, but it will be a cold day in HELL before you think you can "handle" anything regarding Nicolas or Set without ME."

:: Dominique took another long sip of hemlock before setting it down on the table, eyeing Morgan up and down with RIGHTEOUS consternation. ::

"Especially not when one of you has been acting like a petulant, SPOILED little brat in desperate need of a SPANKING!"

:: Morgan had all but abandoned Nicolas after the battle at Hellfire, though Dominique had been keeping an eye on her, as she always did. Morgan and Nicolas' relationship was important, and the status of it could possibly affect the well being of her nephew and the fate of the world. So Dominique pulled NO punches. ::

"I AM curious however, to know just exactly how you would "plan" to handle this in house considering you're nothing more than a glorified transit system these days, Morgan. Go ahead.....ENLIGHTEN me."

 

[Black Widow]

The Island of Aerie — Minerva’s Mansion

Delilah was NOT happy to be here. Haleigh would have liked to have spared her, and said as much. Ultimately they couldn’t leave her out of it, because if they had she’d be pissed about it.

Malice:You can’t make her happy no matter what. You might as well give up on her and save yourself the trouble.

Never.

Haleigh thought back with stubborn determination. She listened as Delilah relayed the intention of the Birds to get involved. Morgan was grateful Delilah was able to placate them, at least. Haleigh shrugged it off.

“They’re adults, they make their own choices. I’m just tired of watching people suffer and die, and I’m all out of hope that it’ll be worth it in the end.”

She said flatly. Delilah brought up speaking to Nicolas, and Alison suggested they take it inside. Haleigh glanced at Morgan, and could tell that she was as hesitant as Haleigh to get in there. There was no use dragging their feet. Haleigh followed the others into a room full of things to sit on, but she decided to remain standing. She could feel a certain rage rising up within her and tried to stifle it as she stared at Alison, who casually sat near the fireplace.

Malice: This bitch KNEW what you were going to go through at Hellfire. She KNEW you were going to end up here, with everybody still about to DIE, and she let you suffer. If she’d told you this would be how it turned out, you’d have made a different choice, isn’t that RIGHT?

Her mother suggested, looking over Haleigh’s shoulder at Alison with a cold stare. Haleigh grit her teeth.

It’s likely.

Malice: You should rip her a new one for letting you put yourself in this position.

Haleigh took a deep breath to keep it all contained, as Alison offered refreshments and Morgan requested wine. Haleigh wanted more whiskey but she had a feeling she needed to keep a clear head for what was coming.

“You know what would be refreshing? If we got straight to the fucking point.”

She replied coldly. Fortunately, Morgan felt the same way and didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. Unfortunately, Isis felt entitled to force herself into their conversation. Haleigh knew they’d have to deal with Dominique eventually— that was fine, but coming at them with this attitude was NOT ACCEPTABLE. Haleigh turned on her with a sudden hot fury.

“Hey FUCK YOU LADY. She’s been through a lot of SHIT lately, and she doesn’t need any more from YOU.”

Her mother lounged on an empty sofa and laughed.

Malice: GET that insufferable BITCH.

“Our PLAN?? Is to do whatever we HAVE to in order to survive when YOU miserably fail at your ONE JOB. We care about Nic as much as you do, but we all know that if Malice succeeds in possessing him, we’re all damn well fucked. When it comes to that? We’ll have no choice but to defend ourselves.”

Haleigh’s glare went to Alison.

“I know you know what I’m talking about. Don’t play with us, don’t try that cryptic ‘death glow on everybody’ BULLSHIT you fed me right before I gave myself over to Hellfire. You said exactly what you needed to convince me to go. I did a lot of shit I’m not proud of because I BELIEVED it would keep them from dying, and it turns out I just borrowed time for them, time enough to TRAUMATIZE them all.”

She continued with barely controlled anger.

“So speak plainly now, Alison. Is my mother going to succeed in making a deal with Set? If there’s some ideal way to handle this, NOW is the time to share what you’ve seen.”

 

[Harbinger]

Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

Harbinger offered her guests some refreshment. It was good form, and she wanted them to know that they weren't her enemies. Though they would CERTAINLY know it if they were.

Morgan: "Yes. Dry white wine. And keep it COMING."

Alison raised an eyebrow at Morgan's choice of drink, but acquiesced, pouring herself a flute of hemlock at the same time.

Haleigh: “You know what would be refreshing? If we got straight to the fucking point.”

Alison did not allow herself to be rushed by Haleigh's brashness, taking her time walking to Morgan and handing her the glass of wine. She returned to her own chair and took a dainty sip of the hemlock, allowing the silence to be her answer. Rushing was often Haleigh's problem, but Alison doubted she would take the lesson.

Morgan: "Look, I really don't feel like tip-toeing around anything tonight. We know that Diana is so desperate that she is actively seeking out Set in some tragic attempt to end the world because she didn't get her way. Set means Nicolas is in danger. We can only operate off the information that we have, and that information is grim..."

Alison nodded gravely.

Morgan: "We have agreed that Nicolas needs to be under the watch of The Six. And we have agreed that this is a matter we are going to handle IN HOUSE. Meaning without The Keeper of Time or The Avatar of Isis. Where is he?"

Harbinger's cobalt blue eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"He is here, amongst those who care for him."

Her implication was clear. Before she could continue to address Morgan's new attitude towards her, Dominique stormed into the sitting room as only she could.

Isis: "Forgive me for eavesdropping, but it will be a cold day in HELL before you think you can "handle" anything regarding Nicolas or Set without ME. Especially not when one of you has been acting like a petulant, SPOILED little brat in desperate need of a SPANKING!"

"Isis, please, join us."

Alison smirked.

Isis: "I AM curious however, to know just exactly how you would "plan" to handle this in house considering you're nothing more than a glorified transit system these days, Morgan. Go ahead.....ENLIGHTEN me."

Haleigh: “Hey FUCK YOU LADY. She’s been through a lot of SHIT lately, and she doesn’t need any more from YOU.”

Alison stood, her time staff manifesting in her hand. She banged it on the wooden floor.

"We do not have time for this bickering."

But Haleigh only continued her tirade.

Haleigh: “So speak plainly now, Alison. Is my mother going to succeed in making a deal with Set? If there’s some ideal way to handle this, NOW is the time to share what you’ve seen.”

Alison closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head.

"You never change, Black Widow. And that will always be your downfall."

She returned to her seat, her time staff disappearing once more.

"Isis is here, tending to her charge. Preparing him for what's to come. She has not, as others have, abandoned him or given up on him. And as for Hellfire..."

She paused and took another small sip of hemlock, before setting her flute down and fixing Haleigh with an icy stare.

"Do NOT presume to blame me for your own rash decisions. You could have come to me, before you went to Sheena Island, we could have CHOSEN the best course forward. But you DIDN'T. You ran headlong into something that only made things worse, only ensured that you brought about the worst case scenario. You don't want my help - you just want someone to blame when you FAIL."

Haleigh had some nerve. And Alison was not about to allow her to get away with it.

"You knew going in to this that your actions would only buy the others time, time to ready themselves. But it will not be enough to save everyone you care about."

Her eyes scanned the room.

"Set WILL be released. We are past the point where this can be avoided. Now..."

She pushed a lock of blue black hair off her face and folded her hands in her lap.

"Are you absolutely determined to go through with this plan of yours?"

 

[MorningStar]

Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

As usual, Delilah was in the dark about why Morgan and Haleigh had specifically brought her with them for this conversation. Though being included late rather than never she supposed was a slight improvement. Alison ushered them inside - probably to show off the mansion - and offered drinks. Delilah wasn't about to drink anything Harbinger gave her.

Morgan, however, accepted. A little too enthusiastically.

Morgan: "Yes. Dry white wine. And keep it COMING."

Delilah's eyes widened. Either Morgan had become a raging alcoholic since she'd last seen her, or something was seriously bothering her. If Delilah hadn't known all the existence-ending shit they'd been through over the years, she might be able to put it down to Set's potential release. But it wasn't that. There was something else.

Morgan: "We have agreed that Nicolas needs to be under the watch of The Six. And we have agreed that this is a matter we are going to handle IN HOUSE. Meaning without The Keeper of Time or The Avatar of Isis. Where is he?"

Oh, WE agreed, did we?

Delilah had been silently watching the pleasantries unfold, but at that her eyes darted towards Morgan. As much as Delilah despised Alison, was this really the time to exclude her? And Isis had made a lifetime of keeping Set at bay.

"Wait-"

She started to speak but then Dominique had arrived, and heard Morgan's last statement as well, taking extreme exception to it.

Isis: "Forgive me for eavesdropping, but it will be a cold day in HELL before you think you can "handle" anything regarding Nicolas or Set without ME. Especially not when one of you has been acting like a petulant, SPOILED little brat in desperate need of a SPANKING!"

God, how many times had Delilah wanted to say THAT to Morgan?

Delilah liked Isis - she'd gotten to understand her more after their time together during when the Purifiers were wreaking havoc across New York. The woman was powerful and cared about protecting the weak and marginalized.

Isis: "I AM curious however, to know just exactly how you would "plan" to handle this in house considering you're nothing more than a glorified transit system these days, Morgan. Go ahead.....ENLIGHTEN me."

Haleigh: “Hey FUCK YOU LADY. She’s been through a lot of SHIT lately, and she doesn’t need any more from YOU.”

Since when did Haleigh defend Morgan? Oh, since they became "sisters". Got it.

Alison stood up and actually banged her staff against the floor. Delilah rolled her eyes. Hard.

Harbinger: "We do not have time for this bickering."

"Oh, let's make time."

Delilah gave her a saccharine smile. She wasn't sure who she was rooting for in this little grudge match between Alison and Haleigh, but she was certainly enjoying it. Maybe they could both annihilate each other.

Haleigh: “Our PLAN?? Is to do whatever we HAVE to in order to survive when YOU miserably fail at your ONE JOB. We care about Nic as much as you do, but we all know that if Malice succeeds in possessing him, we’re all damn well fucked. When it comes to that? We’ll have no choice but to defend ourselves.”

That was not an eventuality Delilah wanted to get to. She might not have thought he was a very good boyfriend for Morgan (though at this point, who cared about that?) but he was their teammate, and they did not want to have to fight and potentially kill him because he was possessed by Set. They had done that once before, and made the wrong choice. Delilah was not going to let history repeat itself.

Haleigh had turned from Isis to Alison. Now Delilah was always happy to see Alison get hers, but Haleigh was being just extra holier than thou which was more than Delilah wanted to take.

Haleigh: “I know you know what I’m talking about. Don’t play with us, don’t try that cryptic ‘death glow on everybody’ BULLSHIT you fed me right before I gave myself over to Hellfire. You said exactly what you needed to convince me to go. I did a lot of shit I’m not proud of because I BELIEVED it would keep them from dying, and it turns out I just borrowed time for them, time enough to TRAUMATIZE them all.”

She stood up quickly and turned to face Haleigh, gesturing with a hand in the air.

"Well maybe you should have listened when the rest of us told you what a shitting turd of an idea it was!"

Haleigh: “So speak plainly now, Alison. Is my mother going to succeed in making a deal with Set? If there’s some ideal way to handle this, NOW is the time to share what you’ve seen.”

Harbinger: "You never change, Black Widow. And that will always be your downfall."

Amen to that.

Harbinger: "You knew going in to this that your actions would only buy the others time, time to ready themselves. But it will not be enough to save everyone you care about. Set WILL be released. We are past the point where this can be avoided. Now...are you absolutely determined to go through with this plan of yours?"

Delilah held up her hands.

"The plan-"

She enunciated the word.

"-is to prevent Set from controlling Nicolas and coming back into this world. Are you certain we can't stop this?"

Alison just gave her that haughty stare she always did. Delilah exhaled a deep breath. She turned in the direction of Morgan and Haleigh.

"Isis helped us before. We couldn't have defeated Set without her. And Alison-"

Delilah had to force the words out.

"-knows how to win battles. It's one thing to keep the Birds of Prey out of this, but what sense does it make to exclude them? They already know what's happening. And they can help us stop it."

Unbidden, her meeting with Zach and Vivica came back to her.

"We need their help if we're going to save Nicolas. We can't dismiss powerful allies for no good reason like this."

 

[Malice]

The Astral Plane

These children were utter FOOLS to think they could actually destroy her. In their hubris, they would fail. Malice was willing to go to lengths they could hardly fathom in order to survive. She was confident that she could capitalize on whatever chaos stemmed from her actions, and she didn’t care who would die in order for her to get her way.

Her DAUGHTER wouldn’t die. Her daughter would surrender to save her friends again, and that still wouldn’t be enough. Diana knew, once she completely isolated Haleigh, she would have better control of her. She just needed to eliminate the dead weight. It would happen soon enough. First, she had a deal to propose.

She walked through a temple lined with stone columns. The whole place was brightly painted with hieroglyphs depicting various Egyptian myths and casually lit by the fires burning within the numerous braziers. She knew she would find him soon. Searching required patience, and power. She could draw all the power she needed, but her patience was wearing thin. She was ready to be free of this realm.

There, at the other end of the temple, was a statuesque figure. A sculpted male form in traditional Egyptian dress stood proudly, holding some kind of golden scepter. She thought he might be wearing a mask or sort of helmet at first, other wise he had the head of some kind of beast. With erect, pointy ears and a long snout full of fangs, he looked to be sneering. Behind him, she caught sight of something moving. He had flicked his forked tail. It appeared he was waiting for her, almost. She didn’t hurry, just locked her gaze on his glowing golden eyes and approached without fear.

“Set?”

Set: “Malice. I have seen you through my son’s eyes. Why have you come here?”

“I intend to unleash you.”

Set: “Go on…”