The Marauders: Battle for Power

[Prophet]

The Marauders: Chapter 1

<< Away from the mainstream time, away from all that is considered "reality", there is a realm of infinite possibilities. all times, all places are possible. only seperated by the thinest of veils in this mysterious multi-verse.>>

<< We often wonder what we could be like in another time and place. How much better or worse would it be? IF we could see pieces of ourselves as we are in those images of us in "what might have been", but while some of us , like Alison Marble, can see that every day....others of us would not be ready for what the future or any infinite future possibilities may hold.>>

<< Follow me, as I direct your attention elsewhere...and so we watch.>>

Through the Mists of Time, The Sprawling Infinite Expanse of Space...

The City of San Francisco is a hustling and bustling city full of mystery and intrigue. From the winding and nefarious roads, to the tourist filled boardwalks, to the old world and expansive feel of Chinatown, the city had something to offer EVERYONE. In a place where it was very easy to hide in plain sight among all of the ecclectic people San Francisco had to offer, the city offered the opportunity for those who were something OTHER than "human" the ability to "get away from it all" for awhile.

The Hawthorne Hotel was one of the oldest and most exclusive hotels in the entire city, and yet there were many people who had never heard of it. Preferring to cater exclusively to clients of the "super" variety, The Hawthorne had established itself as the premier hotel for mutants, metahumans, witches and things "other" things that went bump in the night. With an incredibly long waitlist, and one of the only bars/restaurants in the world that served Hemlock and various types of Blood and a Gothic "Old World" feel, to book a room at The Hawthorne was to experience TRUE luxury.

Cassandra Johnson a.k.a. "Ruby" had just checked into the hotel, which had been very easy for her to do. With her many years of acquaintances and connections, as well as her close friendship with the Grande Dame of The Hawthorne Hotel, Miss Rebecca Hawthorne, she was one of the few that could experience the luxury of The Hawthorne on a regular basis. She had gone to the hotel to get away for a few days. Things in The Six had quieted down for now, and she felt like it was the perfect opportunity to get away from the many stresses and new challenges that The Six had faced her with. For now, she was getting settled into her luxury suite, and thinking of heading down to the Bar & Lounge for a drink. Maybe to listen to the Songstress singing at the Piano, or find... something to occupy her time....

Also staying at The Hawthorne was notorious playboy and blueblood Simon Pratt a.k.a. "Longshot". He had been on assignment for The Zenith Group, scouting the area for any potential real estate gains that the city had to offer. His boss, Cameron King had tasked him with checking out The Hawthorne Hotel, to see if might possibly be able to get Rebecca Hawthorne to leave The Zenith Group the hotel in the event that she passed, a task that was well suited to the "lucky" young businessman. Still, Rebecca, a witch with a timeless beauty and a biting wit, was more than obstensive, and so Simon found himself taking this opportunity to relax and enjoy a few day stay on The Zenith Group's dime. He was planning on heading to the lounge, however, he was probably less concerned with the music, and probably more concerned with finding a beautiful woman to work his "magic" on..

The two might cross paths, maybe share a drink, get to know one another...but before long, they would soon be pulled into an adventure that would intertwine their lives in ways they couldn't possibly imagine.

But For Now? We watch.

 

[Longshot]

Room 24: The Hawthorne Hotel

"Yes Sir! I'm on top of it.. yeah.. Rebecca Hawthorne is basically eating out of the palm of my hand... I'll be home in a few days as soon as I seal the deal. Goodbye, Sir..."

< Simon pressed the END button on his iPhone and laid back on the bed of his suite in the almost "spooky" feeling Hawthorne Hotel. He had been in San Francisco for days scoping out real estate for possible acquisition by The Zenith Group, and when he stumbled upon this place during a "chance" encounter with a beautiful witch he had met in one of San Francisco's most exclusive nightclubs, she had taken him back to where SHE was staying, it just happened to be one of the most mysterious and exclusive hotels for the Supernatural in the world. Simon knew if he could broker some kind of deal, that this would score him PLENTY of points at work, and bring him one step closer to his goal of getting on The Board. >

< The only problem however, was the owner, Rebecca Hawthorne was an uncompromising harpy of a woman, with a venom dipped tongue and an obvious distaste for good looking, sweet talking, blonde and ambitious businessmen from New York. This was not working in his favor, which never happened, and he knew it had something to do with the witch's magickal abilities. She was likely unable to be affected by his ability, so he would have to do things the Old Fashioned Way. Either way, he wasn't leaving the Hotel without the sale of the hotel to The Zenith Group complete. >

< Rising from his bed, he peeled his shirt off, plugged his iPhone into a speaker adapter and began to play some classical music. Many people would shrug, but Simon was a man of good taste. He was an accomplished pianist among other things, and a lot of times listening to the beauty of piano helped him center himself and generally just put him in a good mood. Turning on the shower, he took a moment to examine his face in the mirror, before winking and smiling at his own reflection. >

"It doesn't get much better than that, does it?"

< He laughed before rinsing himself off in the shower, choosing a very slick and sophisticated, ultra tailored suit, appropriate watch, cuff links, and shoes (The Pratts were a VERY "presentable" people) and made his way down to the lounge. Downstairs in the main lobby, Rebecca was sitting at the front counter reading a copy of Soap Opera Digest. Simon made his way slowly over to the woman, who seemed to be paying him absolutely no attention at all.. >

"So..Rebecca, tell me...what would it take for a guy like me to get an audience with a beauty like yourself?"

Rebecca did not waiver from her magazine, but she did let out somewhat of a "hah" at the end of his sentence.

Rebecca: About 20 years and 40lbs, little boy...

Simon's eyes widened for a second as Rebecca's gaze met his for a second, before she rolled her eyes and closed her magazine, setting it on her desk.

Rebecca: Ah.. I'm sorry "Little Boy Blue"...but I know your game.. You think you're the only pretty face that's tried to scoop this place out from under me? You're lucky I happen to LIKE that Cameron King...because if I didn't.. I'd turn you BOTH into toads!!!

Rebecca walked over him and "bopped" him on the nose in a playful gesture. She was obviously a very vivacious woman. Simon tried to play off her friendly aura.

"Well..who says I want to talk business? Maybe, I'm just looking for the company of a good woman?"

Rebecca LAUGHED out loud, before placing a hand on his back.

Rebecca: Ooh wee! If I were only twenty years younger, and a LOT stupider I might just take you up on that offer! And besides.. I need a man of a certain age! I'm no Karen Victoria! Oh..I DO love to tease her about that...

Rebecca began to walk him over towards the door opening of The Lounge and quickly ushered him in.

Rebecca: Now.. get into the lounge... have yourself a nice meal, enjoy the entertainment.. and stay out of my HAIR! I'm a busy woman! Oh yeah... and avoid the Hemlock.. It's deadly to little blue bloods like yourself!

And with THAT, the hurricane that was Rebecca Hawthorne left just as soon as she had entered, returning to the front desk. Did she really have business to attend to? Simon wouldn't know, but for now she picked the magazine up and continued reading...

Simon let out a great sigh before sitting down in one of the plush booths, listening to the soft piano play in the background.

"Well, at least the ambience is sufferable..."

A waiter came over and asked for his order.

"I'll take the porterhouse...steamed asparagus.. and a Dirty Martini..two olives, a little dirty...make it a double.."

< He sat, frustrated that he was getting nowhere with Rebecca, and worried that he might come back to New York City empty handed. Still, for a moment he got lost in the music, the gothic and beautiful candles that adorned the lounge, and the even more "attractive" residents filling the scenery. >

 

[Recall]

Meanwhile....

Meanwhile, on the other side of San Francisco at the TOP of The Mission District, Buckley's Auction House was slowly clearing out as it's employees were getting ready to call it a day. The thriving auction house specialized in very rare and hard to find artifacts that usually involved items that could be considered "mystical" or "arcane". Their bidders were among some of the most prominent collectors in the world, and although some of the items they came across probably should have been sent to a museum for display, they were sold to the highest bidder and not given a second thought.

On the third floor offices, an exhausted Vivica Lennox was immersed in a large amount of research as papers and pictures seemed to essentially take over her otherwise normall tidy desk. Vivica was the Principle Appraiser for Buckley's, a job she had taken a mere six months after returning home from an extended vacation in Europe. For nearly two years she lived up and down the coast of Italy and explored Eastern Europe, enjoying the art, the conversation, the men, and more importantly, the solitude. She had not spoken to her once best friend and business partner Cameron King since leaving for Europe, and when she heard that he was once again rising to the top of the business world, she had a decision to make. She could go back and work for The Zenith Group, a decision nobody could fault her for, or she could finally dust off that Art History degree from Brown that she had spent so much money and time earning, and pursue an actual passion of hers. She went with the latter and moved to the Bay upon securing the job at Buckley's.

Taking a break from her work, she looked down at her ultra glamorous white diamond Cartier watch, a Christmas gift from Cameron several years ago.

"It's nearly Seven? Damn, girl..you need to get your act together!"

Vivica was currently undertaking a special project that had fallen into her lap with Buckley's latest shipment of goods from overseas. The collection was called "Gypsy Rose" and the items were said to be the altar tools of an old Gypsy Witch of lore, named Almora. Legend had it that Almora was one of the first witches in the history of Gypsy Magick, and that she was hell bent on protecting the lineage of her people at all costs. Her power was incredible until she was brutally MURDERED by anti-gypsy residents of Hungary. They had planned to burn her alive, but at the last second.. Almora ignited a spell that allowed her SOUL to be sealed in the a famed Amulet of power called the "Cigány Rózsa" or "Rose of the Gypsy". After she was burned, her people gathered her things, including the amulet and buried them deep within the Earth, CURSING anyone who dared to retrieve the items, though MANY tried. It had been said that if one were able to obtain the amulet, they would be able to UNLEASH the "Curse of Almora", in which the spellcaster would be able to harness nearly the entirety of Gyspy Magick to CURSE the world into utter destruction.

Now, Vivica was never one for fairy tales or myth, but the last time she was with The Six, she got a bullet in her neck by a woman who later become the human embodiment of The Greek Earth Goddess Persephone, so she wasn't doubting that the legend could be VERY possible. And with Vivica's ability to retain EVERYTHING she heard, read, smelled and saw, this made her a VERY good student and an even more voracious researcher, attacking topics and draining them of knowledge completely. This was one of her favorite pasttimes. The problem however..was that the Amulet was MISSING from the collection. It didn't arrive with the rest of the objects. This worried her as she knew that it was very possible that SOMEBODY had stolen the amulet with the intent to WIELD it.

Scouring the reports of the extraction of the collection from Hungary indicate that the site had been broken into the night before extraction, though nobody on the site remembered ANYTHING or indicated in ANY way that anything was out of place. Upon further investigation, Vivica had stumbled upon an article in which a group of Rogue Grave Robbers had attempted to find the site years ago, but supposedly had failed. There was talk of a curse, and when Vivica had gone to search for the names of the "explorers" that she was able to find, one thing was consistent..they were all DEAD. ALL except for one. A woman. However, there was not so much as a name or ANY kind of background information on the woman in question, though reports from the surrounding villages in Hungary indicate that the townsfolk were scared of this woman. That she was very dark and evil, and that everyone was RELIEVED when she left.

Part of Vivica felt it better to not even mention the Amulet in her appraisal, that maybe it was better off that NOBODY could BUY an item of such great power..but the other part of her, that part of her that couldn't help but try and "fix" things... she couldn't let it go. She needed information and she knew just who to ask. But she would need to take a little "something" with her.

Vivica eyed the items carefully. Thankfully, she was one of the only people left in the office which made slipping The Athame of Almora into her Balenciaga bag VERY easy.. And because she knew that the Security Guard "Jeff" took a smoke break outside of the back part of the building every day at 7:15pm (she also knew what brand he smoked, how many he smoked a day, what he ate for lunch, and how often he washed his clothes) she was able to able to sneak past the metal detectors at the main entrance and slip into her pearl white E550 Mercedes and exit the parking lot nearly undetected. Where she was going? The Hawthorne Hotel.

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Hotel - Luxury Suite/Lounge

:: Cassandra Johnson sighed with relief when she opened the door to her luxury suite at the Hawthorne Hotel. She just needed time away from Melrose Place to just…relax and find herself. It had been a busy few weeks, training and working alongside The Six. She was grateful that Rebecca Hawthorne graciously allowed the dark-haired beauty to stay at the last minute. ”The luxury suite is always open for YOU, my dear,” Rebecca had told her over the phone. She and Rebecca are close friends, and their friendship had started when Cass started working as manager at the ELITE and EXCLUSIVE nightclub, After-Dark, and Rebecca ALWAYS had access to the club and had a table especially for her in the VIP section. ::

Oh, it’s SO nice to get away!

:: It had been a busy, and trying, few weeks of training with both Silver Swan and Prophet. Though she had more strength and stamina then most humans, she still felt the effects of the grueling training that had taken place back at Melrose Place. Yes, she would DEFINITELY take advantage of the in-room massage. But first, she would unpack. ::

I wonder what song is playing on the music mix channel?

:: She turned on the television and changed the channel to the music mix channel, the one that played hits from the 80s, 90s, and whatever else they have. Soon, the sound of Mandy Moore singing her song, “Top of the World”, filled the room. Cass LOVED to sing, and she began to sing along with Mandy, her voice in perfect pitch with the talented songstress. Often, at After-Dark, if she felt there was a lull in the atmosphere, she would ‘perform’ along with whatever song the DJ or band was playing/singing at the time and the atmosphere would just change like that and immediately it ramped back up to where it was supposed to be. ::

:: As she was hanging up her clothes in the BEAUTIFUL walk-in closet, she carefully took her little black dress she often wore at After-Dark, and hung it on the back of the closet door for instant access. It fit her PERFECTLY and helped establish her “Baby Girl” persona at the club. She would wear this tonight when she finished unpacking and went downstairs for a drink. ::

:: The song changed to “Circus” by Britney. She sang along as she put away her toiletries and makeup in the large bathroom. She smiled as she noticed a box of chocolate covered cherries sitting on the edge of the tub. Those were just ONE of her favourite treats and she loved to have two or three while soaking in the tub. Rebecca ALWAYS made sure to give her guests’ rooms a personal touch. She had noticed earlier in the little eating area that there were two bottles of Perrier sparkling water, her ‘champagne’, chilling in the ice bucket. No doubt there were a few bottles of Diet Pepsi – her favourite - in the minifridge as well. ::

:: She went back to her bedroom and took out her dress. FINALLY she had finished unpacking and she was ready to go down and have a drink. She got dressed and slipped on her Louboutins. She walked into the bathroom and put on her makeup and arranged her hair to look like a “Baby Girl”. She was ready. She walked down to the elevators and pressed the button. She didn’t have long to wait and she went in. The elevator opened onto the ground level and she walked to the Lounge, stopping only to talk to Rebecca. ::

Rebecca: “Well, well, well! If it isn’t “Baby Girl” herself! Welcome back, girlfriend!”

:: Cass grinned and gave the charming woman a hug. ::

“Hey, you! Thank you so much for having the suite ready for me on such short notice. I really appreciate it.”

Rebecca: *making a little wave*: “Think NOTHING of it, sweetie. You KNOW I always have room for you, and that darling boss of yours! How is she, by the way?”

“Ella? She’s great! She’s away on business right now, so I’m looking after the club in her absence. Thank goodness for our IT and self-professed security guy, Bryan. He said he’d look after things while I’m away.”

Rebecca:*snorts*: “SECURITY? Him? That man can’t fight his way out of a plastic bag!”

:: Cass laughed. Bryan was quite the character. He was fabulously saavy on all technical aspects of the bar, and he did the bookkeeping. But security was NOT his forte. However, he DID stumble on to both Ella and Cass’ true identities accidentally. And he SWORE that he would not tell a SOUL. And the man could keep a secret. Now that he knew about Cass and Ella, he is EXTREMELY protective of them both. He was also gay, so Cass felt safe with him. HE was also the one to install a two-way mirror looking from the back offices to the club so both Cass and Ella could, ahem, “deal” with disrespectful and obnoxious patrons. ::

*laughingly*: “Well, he IS somewhat overprotective of both me and Ella, so he THINKS he’s security.”

Rebecca: *shakes head*: “Well, I SUPPOSE I can give him THAT. Speaking of which, are there any special people in your life?”

:: Cass cocked her head and smiled. Rebecca knew a LITTLE about her history, like the fact that she WAS in a relationship but that it had gone sour. ::

“Now, Rebecca, you KNOW I’m not ready for that as of yet.”

Rebecca: *winks*: “Ah, I see, make the men work for it, eh? Well, I have to get back to my magazine, I mean, WORK, but you go on in and enjoy yourself and don’t let Little Boy Blue harass you, you hear? Tell him I’ll turn him into a toad for SURE if he does.”

:: Cass laughed and laughed as she headed into the Lounge. She had no idea as to who “Little Boy Blue” was but she would have a good time, indeed. She walked in and sat herself at a little table not too far from where LONGSHOT was sitting. A waiter came and she ordered a glass of pinot noir. She had eaten at a fast food burger joint and so she wasn’t hungry. ::

 

[Longshot]

The Hawthorne Lounge

< After ordering his second martini, Simon was starting to feel far more relaxed as he as loosened his tie a little bit to allow him a larger range of motion. The singer was most definitely...hot and that was selling her short. He had spent her first two numbers thinking of all the uncompromising positions he would like to get her in. Call him a "Lothario" if you will but Simon Pratt was a definite, passionate and deliberate fan of the female body and he enjoyed it in whatever form he could get. She'd introduced herself as "Melody" and welcomed everybody to The Lounge, and for a moment, the two made eye contact. He cracked a devilish grin as he intentionally broke the gaze and moved into a beautiful and sultry version of "Fever" by Peggy Lee. >

Waiter: Your martini, Mr. Pratt. The Porterhouse is on it's way.. Is there anything else I can get for you at this moment?

< Just as Simon was about to say no and chastise the waiter for blocking his view of the seductress on stage, he caught somebody out of the corner of his eye. She had the beauty of a supermodel and the seeming innocence of a kitten, and by the time she sat down at her table, he'd long forgotten about pooor Melody. He motioned the waiter to come in a little closer as he whispered. >

"As a matter of fact...It looks like i'll be having dinner with a friend.. Do me a favor..when my meal comes? Bring it to me at THAT <pointing to Cass> table."

<The waiter eyed him suspiciously for a moment until Simon produced a $100 bill from the breast pocket of his suit and slid it inconspicuously into the waiter's hand. Simon's green eyes twinkled. >

Waiter: As you wish, Sir. Thank you....

< Simon nodded to the waiter and as soon as he disappeared, the mutant made his way over and took a seat directly across from Cassandra and smiled. >

"I hope you don't mind the company. I've been on a business trip for days, and the only people I've talked to have been some rather furios Japanese Investors. I could use the company of a woman...a very beautiful woman at that..."

< Simon took a sip of his Martini and gave the most mischievous of glances towards "Baby Girl". >

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

:: Cass sat down and watched the singer on stage. The singer was truly amazing and she was beautiful. Cass knew without a doubt that she, the singer, would probably get a few numbers from the men in here. As she should. For Cass, she was just happy and content to sit back, relax, and enjoy the music. The waiter came back with her glass of wine. ::

"Thank you,"

Waiter: "You're welcome, Miss Johnson. If there's anything else you'd like, please don't hesitate to ask."

:: Cass nodded and sipped her wine, looking all around her. Rebecca sure knew how to attract the attractive. She smiled. The Hawthorne Hotel was definitely in her top five, if not top three, favourite places in the world. She was nodding her head to the music when a young man just BOLDLY sat down across from her. ::

"I hope you don't mind the company. I've been on a business trip for days, and the only people I've talked to have been some rather furios Japanese Investors. I could use the company of a woman...a very beautiful woman at that..."

:: Cass was somewhat irritated by this unexpected visitor's BOLD move of sitting down across from her. How DARE he intrude on her night!? Also, the line he gave was the worst she had ever heard. Still, he SEEMED harmless. So she let him stay. ::

I'll give him a few minutes...

"Do women REALLY fall for that cheap line?" *sarcastically*: "That's not obvious AT ALL. I work at a nightclub, boy. You'll have to do better..."

 

[Brenthon]

The Shadowed Path: A Nightmare

<< The Shadowed Path. A Dimension that lies just beyond the veil of Earth. The realm where the ancient secrets, relics, traditions and knowledge of the entire lineage of Gypsies are kept and protected. The Shadowed Path can be found if one is able to travel deep enough into the shadows, but to navigate it without the blood of the gypsy running through your veins, is nearly impossible. Covered in absolute darkness, only those annointed in the mysteries of the Gyspy are able to see ANYTHING outside of blackness, and even the ones able to "see" have no idea just how far the Path reaches or the totality of mysteries it protects. >>

<< Deep within the realm, it's Protector and Keeper, Brenthon tosses and turns within his Sleeping Chambers. The most powerful wielder of GYPSY MAGICK in the Universe had been experiencing terrible nightmares for the past several nights. >>

"No...no...Hagyjon békén!"

<< He was dreaming of one of his mentors, and the woman that had changed his life forever. He was dreaming of Almora. Many, MANY years ago, when Brenthon was a child, he was persecuted and ran out of his tribe for accidentally murdering his mother when his magickal "gifts" began to come to the surface. He roamed the woods of Hungary for days before stumbling upon the homestead of a very old, and very intriguing fellow gypsy by the name of Almora. She took him in and taught him everything that she knew. And she knew EVERYTHING about the gypsies. >>

Almora: Ah, baba, you know that I love you right?

<< A small child with the same deep and hypnotic brown eyes as Brenthon smiled >>

Brenthon: Yes, anya. And I love you!!!

<< The child Brenthon ran and wrapped his arms around the old woman. She felt so warm and so safe to him. The only person who protected him against people that might want to see him harmed. He loved her very much. But soon, he could feel Almora's grasp become tighter on him as she began to SQUEEZE him with INCREDIBLE strength until he began to suffocate him. >>

Almora: "Then WHY have you let my GRAVE be DESECRATED!?! DESTROYED! MY THINGS STOLEN FROM ME!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!?!"

<< Brenthon began to scream as he furiously tried to get out from her grasp, but being a small child, he was utterly POWERLESS against her. >>

"I'm sorry! I'm SORRY! Don't hurt me! PLEASE!!!"

<< Almora LIFTED the child into the hair and HURLED him across the room. >>

"DON'T HURT YOU!?! YOU PETULANT LITTLE CHILD! WHAT ABOUT ME!?! WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRECIOUS "ANYA"?! I HAVE BEEN DISTURBED AND IF I AM NOT PUT BACK IN PLACE, THE CURSE WILL REIGN DOWN UPON THOSE WHO WATCHED ME BURN!!!!"

<< An explosion of FLAMES began to rain down all around Almora and Brenthon in the small house that they used to share. Almora was now on FIRE, her body BURNING, her face MELTING as a young Brenthon looked with HORROR and SHOCK at the sight of his mentor being destroyed. >>

"NO! Almora! I'll PUT YOU BACK! I PROMISE!!! "I PROMISE!!!!!!"

<< Brenthon awakened completely tangled in his pristine white sheets, with sweat dripping from all over his naked body. >>

"Almora....her grave! It's been desecrated! Her things REMOVED! I have to GET THEM BACK!"

<< Not thinking, Brenthon quickly put on a pair of jeans, a black vee neck t-shirt and a matching black leather jacket as he closed his eyes, dissappearing in a flurry of swirling shadows and reappearing on the outskirts of San Francisco, letting his gift of foresight guide his transportation. If the shadows had taken him here, that meant that Almora's altar tools were HERE. He was not familiar with the city, he would need a way to get around. >>

<< Thankully an unwitting motorcyclist appeared barrelling down the road at aggressively illegal speeds. Brenthon made his move. All at once, the motorcyclist was TK'ed off his bike and flung HIGH into the air and into a far away patch of trees. Brenthon smiled. >>

"Silly mortal..motorcycles are dangerous, dangerous machines..."

<< His thick Hungarian accent seemed to linger in the air as he picked the bike up from it's fall, revved the handlebars, hopped on and DROVE off into the night sky, down the long and expansive road. Where he was going, he didn't exactly know, however..when he close..he would KNOW. >>

 

[Longshot]

The Hawthorne Lounge

"Do women REALLY fall for that cheap line? That's not obvious AT ALL. I work at a nightclub, boy. You'll have to do better.."

< Simon cocked an eyebrow and eyed the woman up and down before speaking. >

"I didn't realize calling you beautiful and asking to spend time with you was me "using a line". I thought it was being direct. Has your experience with men really been so bad that you can't detect genuine interest?"

< He took a sip of his martini, trying to gauge the woman's response all the while, gesturing to the waiter for yet ANOTHER Martini..but Simon wouldn't be drunk. He was a descendant of High Society wasps, drinking was their national past time. >

"It's okay though...I forgive you!" [winking]

< Just then the waiter appeared with Simon's meal and his martini, he thanked the man and placed his napkin in his lap. >

"You want to some of this? Or are you one of those women who doesn't eat? Even if you are, you've got to try it.. I swear, it'll make you reconsider GOD..."

< Simon couldn't seem to get a read on the woman. >

"I can't tell if you are intrigued by me, or if you'd like to slap me. I'm good with either, as long as you try some of this steak.."

< He cut a small piece off of his steak and stabbed it with his fork, waving it in the air a little. >

"What do you say, Miss.....?"

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

< Simon cocked an eyebrow and eyed the woman up and down before speaking. >

"I didn't realize calling you beautiful and asking to spend time with you was me "using a line". I thought it was being direct. Has your experience with men really been so bad that you can't detect genuine interest? It's okay though...I forgive you!" [winking]

:: Cass shook her head. Maybe her past relationship DID make her immune, but hey. If your boyfriend deceived you your ENTIRE relationship, you would be immune too. But still. She bristled slightly at his comment about her experience with men and her voice took on a menacing tone. ::

"NO, and you know NOTHING about me!"

:: She took a deep breath and reached for her wine glass, her hand shaking a bit. She took a sip. ::

"I'm sorry. I just...I..."

:: She shook her head, and her eyes softened, but she certainly wasn't about to pour out her sob story to this STRANGER. ::

"Like I said, I work in a nightclub so I have heard all kinds of lines from drunken jerks before."

:: She shrugged. ::

"Maybe I AM immune but I've been hit on so many times, nothing fazes me anymore."

:: She watched as the waiter brought him his meal, as if he KNEW the guy would be HERE, at this very table. She chuckled and shook her head again. This guy certainly was a piece of work! ::

"You want to some of this? Or are you one of those women who doesn't eat? Even if you are, you've got to try it.. I swear, it'll make you reconsider GOD...I can't tell if you are intrigued by me, or if you'd like to slap me. I'm good with either, as long as you try some of this steak.."

:: Cass sat back and folded her arms. ::

*mock anger*: "Why, you have some NERVE, boy! Coming here, sitting yourself at MY table, somehow conning the poor waiter to bring you your meal to MY table..."

:: She chuckled again. ::

"I just bet you are the "Little Boy Blue" Rebecca was talking about, and no,"

:: She waved his fork away. ::

"I don't want a bite of that steak, though I KNOW from experience that it's to die for. I ate a burger and fries on the way up here. I'm not hungry."

:: She sighed inwardly and relented. ::

"I'm Cass. Cassandra Johnson, and you are...?"

:: She found him strangely intriguing. Her blue eyes took on a mischievous glint. ::

"To answer your earlier question as to whether I'm intrigued or wanting to slap you...that's for ME to know and for you to POSSIBLY find out."

:: She took another sip of her wine. ::

 

[Longshot]

The Hawthorne Lounge

Cassandra: Maybe I AM immune but I've been hit on so many times, nothing phases me anymore..

Simon laughed out loud for a moment.

"Oh poor you..."

Upon the offer of some of his meal, Cassandra crinkled her nose over for a moment and sat back in her chair, folding her arms.

Cassandra: Why you have some NERVE, boy! Coming here, sitting yourself at MY table, somehow conning the poor waiter to bring your meal to my table!

He laughed at her "aggression". Simon enjoyed the chase and he was known for his grand gestures and for his ability to just absolutely overwhelm a woman with his quick wit and fast hands. He could tell the woman was slowly warming up to him.

Cassandra: I bet you are the "Little Boy Blue" Rebecca wa talking about...

[chuckling]

"My reputation precedes me, I guess. Even in San Francisco...I like that!"

She rejected his offer for a bite and begrudgingly he took the bite himself. And it was absolute pure heaven. Although he came from a family of thin people who preferred to drink their calories..Simon could not resist the call of a good cut of meat, some all american potatoes and some good booze. American through and through baby.

Cassandra: I'm Cass. Cassandra Johnson, and you are...?

Simon stuck out his hand for Cassandra and introduced himself.

"My name is Simon Pratt. Of the Connecticut Pratts. Pleasure to meet you, Cassandra..."

He let her name linger on his tongue for a moment.

Cassandra: To answer your earlier question as to whether i'm intrigued or wanting to slap you..that's for ME to know and you to POSSIBLY find out...

"Well then.. I think i'm doing pretty well...So? Are you a native to the state? Are you here for business or pleasure? Or maybe a little bit of both?"

Simon waited for her response all the while enjoying his life altering meal, and sipping his Martini.

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

"Well then.. I think i'm doing pretty well...So? Are you a native to the state? Are you here for business or pleasure? Or maybe a little bit of both?"

:: She certainly wasn't about to spill her story to Simon, but then again, that wasn't what he was asking. She took another sip of wine. ::

"No, I'm not from California...but I DO live here. Well, Los Angeles to be exact."

:: It was a question she was asking herself lately. Where WAS she from? Her home country of Poland was...FAR removed from her. London held bad - and beautiful - memories for her, New York...well, that wasn't a HOME. Los Angeles...well, that really felt like home to her. It truly did. ::

"I'm here for pleasure, you could say. I have had a pretty busy couple of weeks, lately, and I needed a few days to myself."

:: She crossed her legs and smiled at Simon. ::

"So, Simon Pratt...of the Connecticut Pratts. What brings YOU here to this charming hotel? Business...or pleasure?"

 

[Longshot]

The Hawthorne Lounge

"No, i'm not from California...but I DO live here. Well, Los Angeles to be exact."

[taking a sip from his martini]

"Ahh..The City of Angels. What a fitting place for you to live..."

< Simon had finished his meal and the waiter had taken his plate away. Feeling full and satisfied he listened to Cassandra as the Siren of the Hawthorne Lounge continue to enchant and delight the patrons with her sultry and intoxicating voice. >

"So, Simon Pratt...of the Connecticut Pratts. What brings YOU here to this charming hotel? Business...or pleasure?"

[he smiled]

"I always manage both.. Actually [sighing] I AM here on business...I work for The Zenith Group. Big time Commodities Firm in Manhattan. I was supposed to be looking out for possible real esate we might want to acquire..and by chance...I stumbled across this place! I knew my boss would love it, so I..well..now don't get me wrong, i'm normally a very confident guy, as i'm sure you can tell..but I might have promised him that I could get Rebecca Hawthorne to sell off the hotel..."

< A flicker of embarrassment danced across his face, but was quickly replaced with his signature devilish grin. >

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

"Ahh..The City of Angels. What a fitting place for you to live..."

*amused*: What a guy...

"I always manage both.. Actually [sighing] I AM here on business...I work for The Zenith Group. Big time Commodities Firm in Manhattan. I was supposed to be looking out for possible real esate we might want to acquire..and by chance...I stumbled across this place! I knew my boss would love it, so I..well..now don't get me wrong, i'm normally a very confident guy, as i'm sure you can tell..but I might have promised him that I could get Rebecca Hawthorne to sell off the hotel..."

:: Cass threw her head back and laughed. ::

*laughing*: "You poor guy! I certainly HOPE your boss is forgiving because, honey, Rebecca Hawthorne would NEVER sell this place. She loves it way too much. I should know; she's a close friend of mine. All her guests love her dearly and she loves them right back."

:: She lifted her eyebrows. ::

"Especially the men. But seriously, though, she'd never sell. And I wouldn't advise her too. This place has been an oasis for me for quite some time. I have a standing invitation here, as well as a suite. I would HATE to see this place become just another Hilton-type place. It's charming, and it has flair, and..."

:: Her expression showcased her affection and love for the businesswoman AND the hotel itself. ::

*affectionately*: "I love them both."

 

[Recall]

The Hawthorne Hotel

- After what felt like hours of dealing with stop and go traffic, Vivica Lennox pulled into the driveway of the mysterious Hawthorne Hotel. Grabbing her purse, she grabbed her bag and got out of her car, heading up to the valet with her keys. -

"That car is my baby..You treat it like YOUR baby, and there's one HELL of a tip waiting for you..."

- Giving the valet a wink, she headed through the double doors of the hotel and straight into the main lobby, where she was greeted with a smile and a loud boisterous hello from Rebecca Hawthorne herself. -

Rebecca: "Why Miss Lennox! You are sure looking HOT today! Please tell me you're putting that beautiful body of yours to good use!"

-Rebecca walked over to Vivica and gave her a big hug and a slight ribbing on her stomach, before walking her over to one of the fainting couches that adorned the lobbies. -

"Oh please, Bex! You are too much! You wouldn't be asking me that if you could see Netflix Queue!"

- Vivica returned the affection with a slight kiss on Rebecca's cheek. -

"But seriously... I actually came her on a matter of business... You were so helpful a month back when I brought you that apothecary stuff that Buckley's picked up in Greece!"

- Rebecca's eyes lit up for a moment. -

"Oh think NOTHING of it! I'm old as HELL, honey. Knowledge is about one of the LAST thing's i've got to offer! Does that mean you've brought something with you today?"

- Nodding, Vivica looked around and pulled the athame out from her Balenciaga bag and showed it to Rebecca. Quickly, her smile faded and she became very serious, grabbing Vivica's hands and quickly forcing Vivica to plunge the athame back into her purse. She leaned in closer to Vivica, and whispered with baited breath. -

Rebecca: "You FOOL! What are you doing walking around with The Athame of Almora? Don't you know there is a crazy WITCH on the loose?!"

- Vivica gave her a look of confusion. Obviously, the legend surrounding the athame had turned out to be correct. What's more...now there was a WITCH looking for it? Thankfully Rebecca began to shuffle Vivica into her office and quickl closed the door, leaning on it and exhaling deeply. -

Rebecca: We just have to hope that nobody saw us... Have a seat, Vivica. We have much to talk about....

 

[Longshot]

The Hawthorne Lounge

< Simon listened as Cassandra spoke about Rebecca's love for her hotel. It was understandable. Rebecca was definitely a "Mama Bear" for her guests, and she seemed to personally know every single person that walked through door. She was doing quite well for herself...but he was hoping that she, like every other person he had encountered in the field of business...had a price. >

"Well.. I may have oversold myself a little..but I'm somewhat known for having luck on my side. It's merely only a matter of time..."

< Finishing his martini, he could tell that he might have said something that could unsettle Cassandra. He tried to smooth things over. >

"I assure you...my boss, Cameron King would most certainly not gut this place and turn it into the next Parthenon. He'd love to have this place under his umbrella for sure...Many of his "contacts" would love to stay in a place like this.."

<From the corner of his eye he noticed the visage of a beautiful and stylish black woman enter the lobby and greet Rebecca. He admired the view for a moment before turning his attention back to Cassandra. >

"Rebecca IS quite the character though. But enough about my business pursuits. You told me you manage a club? Mind me asking what club? My family has a dedicated bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel and I spend a few weeks out of the year there...would I like this club?"

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

"Rebecca IS quite the character though. But enough about my business pursuits. You told me you manage a club? Mind me asking what club? My family has a dedicated bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel and I spend a few weeks out of the year there...would I like this club?"

:: Cass smiled mysteriously at Simon. She had NO DOUBT that he had heard of After-Dark. ::

"Cameron's a good friend of mine, and he has a standing invite to the VIP section. So OF COURSE you would know the exclusive AND trendy...AFTER-DARK. And I DIDN'T tell you I managed the club, but thank you SO much for instinctively knowing that I was the manager instead of just working there."

:: She granted him a wink. ::

"But I DO sometimes work the bar, slinging back drinks and the like."

:: She grinned. ::

"But on the off chance you HAVEN'T heard of it, and that would be a REAL shame, you would love it. Beautiful people, beautiful LADIES, GREAT atmosphere. Wonderful drinks and food too. The music is outstanding as well. It's a pretty happening place."

:: She smiled at him and nudged his foot with hers. ::

"The MANAGER has HER favourite patrons, AND she treats them right..."

 

[Witchfire]

Deep in The Underworld...

<< From The Hawthorne Hotel, we now travel DEEP within the underground of San Francisco.. past the sewer systems and catacombs that hide just underneath the city streets. DEEPER and DEEPER as EVERYTHING goes black for a moment. Here..lies The Underworld..Not the one of Greek Myth, but The Demonic Underworld.. Where warlocks, demons and other "creatures" lived in secrecy, engaging in the most deprived of activities. Here... SHE watches over her scrying pool. >>

"That Rebecca Hawthorne better joke while she can...because she is about to experience a whole RAIN of...WITCHFIRE!"

<< The Demon Witch's face appears enshrouded in shadow as she lay next to her large and ominous Scrying Pool. The Pool itself was a dark and murky pool who's waters appeared to be made of quicksilver as it swirls with images of Vivica Lennox and Rebecca Hawthorne talking in her office. The swirling waters rippled once more as it began to display The Hawthorne Lounge and more specifically Cassandra and Simon playing footsie and enjoying cocktails. Witchfire laughed maniacally. >>

"And these two insufferable mutants...The girl will try and protect her friend..so just for good measure.. I should MUTILATE them ALL!!! HAHAHAHA!"

<< Torches adorned her surroundings which appeared to be carved out of stone in a deep place within the Earth. Running her fingers through her dark raven colored hair, she took a look at her self in the large and expansive mirror, adjacent to her scrying pool. Taking a few moments to admire her reflection.. She spoke to someone off to the side. >>

"I'm assuming everything is going according to plan? Otherwise YOU WOULD HAVE NO REASON TO DISTURB ME!?"

<< She gripped her fist in the air as an impish demon looking creature in a black robe hobbled forward, obviously a minion. >>

"Yeah...yes Mistress! Of Course! We have a team getting ready to recover the athame! And then straight to the auction house!"

<< Witchfire's voice filled the cavernous area as she laughed, almost beside herself with glee. She was obviously an insane woman. >>

"Perfect...Soon I will have ALL of Almora's altar tools.. AND THEN? I'll unleash a CURSE so DEADLY and DELICIOUS that I will NEVER stop bathing in the blood of those FOOLISH MORTALS! The UNDERWORLD will RISE and I SHALL BE THEIR QUEEN! HaHahahaa!!!"

<< She laughed demonically and hysterically for several minutes until she noticed that her minion had not left and was beginning to eye her with concern >>

"OH! I'm SORRY, my dear sweet, UGLY little minion..."

<< Lifting both of her hands in the air, she unleashed a TORRENT of FLAMES as they encased the minion, completely incinerating him, leaving nothing more than a pile of ash as "he" fell to the ground. >>

"You're FIRED! Now SOMEBODY! SEND IN OUR FIRST WAVE!"

 

[Recall]

Hawthorne Hotel - Rebecca's Office

- Vivica took a seat promptly in one of the chairs in front of Rebecca's desk while she took a moment to admire all the pictures that adorned the walls. She definitely knew a lot of people from around the world from all walks of life. An Illustrious Career indeed. However, Rebecca's most "enchanting" abilities became revealed whenever she put on her "witch hat" and as Rebecca scurried to her chair with a worried look, Vivica could tell the time was now. -

"Rebecca! Spit it out already! You're making me nervous!"

- Closing her eyes, Rebecca began to mutter a few words under her breath as several candles that were displayed throughout the room suddenly became lit. Rebecca opened her eyes and took a concerned look with Vivica. -

Rebecca: "Oh Hush! I was just working up a little protection spell so that we could speak freely. Now! I have some questions for YOU my dear! How in the hell did Buckley's Auction House get their hands on The Athame of Almora!?!

- Vivica cleared her throat for a second. -

"Well...by accident really. The part of Hungary where it was found is RICH with Gypsy artifacts. Every rag tag team of wanabe explorers have been there looking for something of value. Most of the time they come out with a broken pot or chalice..but mostly broken dreams...but Buckley's sent out their own team once word had broken out that there was a team that had supposedly found Almora's tomb.."

- Reaching into her purse, she pulled out some documents an handed them to Rebecca. -

"The people in the neighboring village talked of a woman and a team of..otherworldly creatures camped out in the outskirts.. The gew gypsy that still live in the area claimed that the woman was a witch out to get "The Rose of the Gypsy" Amulet...."

- Rebecca looked over the papers, her glance never waivering from extremely concerned, before she threw them on her desk and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. -

Rebecca: I was praying that these were all just rumors.. Vivica. Let me be frank. This is bad. Several weeks ago, I was at a social gathering with some sister witches. Rumors were swirling in our community amongst the precogs that SOMEBODY had managed to steal the Amulet of Almora and was planning to inact the Curse. Now.. I've known a LOT of Precog's in my day, and I can tell you that MOST of them..outside of our dear friend Alison Marble.. are FULL of hot air! Especially when they drink! Always trying to outdo each other with what they've "SEEN" But i'm also no fool.. Afterwards.. I researched this curse extensively...

- She stood up from her chair and snapped her fingers as a RUSH of wind could be felt swirling throughout the room in a gentle circular pattern. On Rebecca's desk an old and mystical looking book appeared in a swirl of white orbs. This was Rebecca's Book of Shadows. -

Rebecca: Now, thankfully the women in my family had the sense to WRITE things down. I don't know what these witches are going to do years from now when they can't retrieve their spells from their Blackberries, but that is of no concern to ME! Now... <<the book opens by itself and begins to turn it's own pages, stopping at just the right one >> Originally, it was thought that if a witch could obtain the amulet, she would automatically assume the mantle of Almora and be able to unleash the CURSE on the world. BUT upon further review.. we found out that it's simply not that EASY...

- She began to pace back and forthe behind her desk. -

Rebecca: All of the Tools in Almora's Altar play an important part of the Ceremonial Spell that must be performed in a VERY specific way in order to unleash the CURSE.. and when I tell you that you do NOT want this CURSE to be unleashed on the World? I mean it... We are talking PLAGUES, and DESTRUCTION.. your standard Apocalypse... Almora was a BITTER woman who felt that humans had turned their back on her, and if she was ever going to get revenge on humans, it was going to be BIG...NOW! <<pointing her finger in the air >> The tools included.. The lovely athame you brought with you, The enchanted bell, and the Chalice... The witch needs to perform the ceremony on the night of the Harvest Moon.. which happens to be in the next 24 hours by the way...She must spill the blood of a Gypsy who walks The Shadowed Path, and contain it within the Chalice.. So on and so forthe, she has to drink the blood while wearing the amulet.. and BAM. You got yourself a CURSE!

- Letting out a giant sigh, Rebecca plopped into her chair and blew some hair out of her eyes. Vivica was at a loss for words. -

"So.. you're telling me that there is a WITCH out there who is after Almora's altar tools in order to exact an ancient curse to destroy the Earth? Also, that I am carrying one of them on my person and have the rest of them in my office at work?"

- Vivica's eyes widened with disbelief. -

Rebecca: Honey.. I'm telling you.. GET RID of those items.. BETTER YET! RETURN them to her tomb or you might find yourself DEAD...But my mystical alarms are telling me.. we might be too late...

 

[Prophet]

A HELL of a BATTLE!

The Sun was slowly setting in the City of San Francisco, but at The Hawthorne Hotel, things seemed to be slowly heating up as Cassandra and Simon seemed to be getting off on the right foot. In any other town and in any other setting, the two might not have given each other so much as a second glance, but there in Lounge, they seemed ready and able to cast aside their inhibitions and truly go about to get to know one another. Meanwhile, Vivica Lennox had stumbled on items of GREAT POWER and she went to the only person in town she knew she could trust to tell her the truth and give it to her STRAIGHT UP: Rebecca Hawthorne.

Meanwhile, from The Shadowed Path, dark and mysterious Brenthon was tormented in his dreams by visions of his mentor and oldest friend, Almora. Her grave had been desecrated and her altar tools had been stolen. She had appeared in his dreams, BEGGING for him to find her tools and return them to her tomb, sealing it indefinitely, and Brenthon traveled from the safety of the realm in which he ruled supreme, to the wilds of San Francisco as he set about his mission to let his mentor Rest IN PEACE.

From beneath the city, the insane and powerful Demon Witch Witchfire was revealed to have been the witch who had stolen the Amulet of Almora and she was planning on unleashing the Ancient Gypsy Witch's CURSE upon the WORLD, and she was sending in reinforcements STRAIGHT to The Hawthorne Hotel.

As Simon and Cassandra were enjoying their drinks and some light hearted flirting, they were soon interrupted by the LOSS of POWER to the building. Everything went instantly dark, although many enchanted candles throughout the lobby and the lounge flickered brightly, offering some light amongst the black.

Meanwhile in Rebecca's Office...

Rebecca's eyes widened as the lights shut off in her office. She gave a concerned look to Vivica.

Rebecca: I hate to say I told you so...I'll attempt to get you to through the catacombs. The Hotel's Mystical Defenses are still in tact. But the Demon Witch is STRONG. We might run out of time....

Getting up from her desk, she grabbed Vivica by the hand and pulled a specific book on her shelf as the bookcase itself began to shift back to reveal a secret door. Quickly the two ran through the opening and the bookcase itself reverted back to normal and the once lit candles were magickally extinguished. It was as if nobody had been in the office at all.

In the Lounge...

There were quiet whispers of panic as all at once the entrance to the hotel were BLASTED open in a flurry of BLACK FLAMES as dozens of HELLIONS RUSHED the Hotel, jumping through windows, swarming down the stairs. These abominations were the demon creations of Witchfire herself, born into BLOOD DRINKING, MANIACAL, EXTREMELY STRONG AND DURABLE demons, forged magickally from the BONES of the many MEN that Witchfire had TORTURED and KILLED. These creatures only had the instinct to KILL and feed, and once Witchfire had given them a TASK, they would attempt to perform it even if it resulted in their DEATH!

Immediately, the Hellions swarmed the Lounge as they assaulted the patrons, two or three of them at a time on one person FEEDING on them with their monster mouths, eviserating them completely. The blood seemed to make them stronger! The scene was GRUESOME and the body count was RISING, including unfortunately, the grisly decapitation and severing of the enchanting and beautiful lounge singer, Melody.

Cassandra and Simon WATCHED in horrible, their bodies almost in shock at all of the sudden VIOLENCE and CARNAGE. They may not have been "friends" persay but in this MOMENT? They were ALL the other one HAD! And this would be put to the test as when the horde swooped in, they were separated, and in the darkness..they found themselves unable to SEE each other..but now they had to make sure they SURVIVED in order to recconnect.

With GREAT Speed, THREE Hellions LUNGED at Cass, one of them BITING into her arm as she SCREAMED OUT in pain, but this only seemed to EXCITE and DRAW attention from other Hellions TO her! She would need to think FAST and be BRUTAL to survive.

Simon TOO soon found himself desperately in the line of sight of a pack of HELLIONS. By nature of his probability abilities, his cerebral cortex emits a current of bio-electric pulses down his spine to instinctively guide his his movements during such situations, allowing his natural reflexes and agility to superhuman levels. But this was ONLY if he was AWARE of what he was doing. If he was hit from BEHIND or by SURPRISE his abilities and "good luck" would RUN OUT... and THAT was exactly what had happened.

From BEHIND him he felt the PAINFUL and AGONIZING sting of a Hellion's TEETH chomping into his shoulder as two others flew towards him with great speed. If he didn't act fast he would simply be a snack for these incredible creatures.

What would happen next, would most certainly shape the course of this adventure.. and definitely TEST just how capable these two mutants happened to be.

 

[Ruby]

Hawthorne Lounge

:: Cass was having a GREAT time. This was exactly what she needed after a TOUGH few weeks of training and training...and training. Simon was a wonderful distraction AND he was pretty easy on the eyes too. If he kept playing his cards right as he was already doing, she MIGHT allow him to be her 'roommate' for the night. :garrick: ::

:: SUDDENLY the power went out, and Cass got an OMINOUS feeling. ::

What the...?

:: She heard something, or some THINGS, crash through the entrance but before she could react, HELLIONS came swarming into the Lounge and quickly started showing everybody a new way to party. At first, Cass thought that this was another test. After all, SHARON had been the one to suggest that she come up here to get away. But then, SURELY she wouldn't be that cruel as to send some hellions after her! But then, as she watched poor Melody lose her head over the situation, it became quite clear that THIS was certainly not a TEST. She couldn’t see Simon anymore, and she sensed that somehow they got separated, in the chaos. ::

*scared*: “SIMON?!”

:: But that was all she could get out before THREE hellions descended upon the lovely succubus, yanking her off her chair. One of them apparently liked how she looked as he CHOMPED down hard on her ARM! Cass screamed in pain, but she did the only thing she could think of at that moment, something she had done often at After-Dark whenever male guests got a little too touchy-feely with their hands: she quickly bent down, wincing in pain as her arm still had the hellion attached to it, and took off her shoes, picked one of them up with her free hand and SMASHED the stiletto heel into the face of the one who was biting her, driving him away from her.. Then she knelt down again and grabbed her other shoe smashing THAT ONE into another’s face. After doing this so many times at After-Dark, she accomplished this in record time. Unfortunately, though, these were NOT humans and so she had put her strength FULLY behind her shoes and BURIED them deep into their faces. ::

"Sorry, my dance card's FULL!"

:: She then lifted her hands up to the ceiling and LEVITATED up to the ceiling before the third musketeer used her as a chew toy as well. ::

*woefully*: My Louboutins! Those things ain’t cheap!

:: She was floating upwards, her head tapping lightly against the ceiling. She cast her eyes about, looking for her new friend. ::

“Simon! Where ya at?!”

:: Her arm was aching, but she'd deal with that later. There was a more pressing matter at hand right now. If Simon couldn't come to HER, she'd go to Simon. ::

:: She then created a BUBBLE-like psi-shield around her to keep her safe at the moment. Her next move would be to get to Simon. She really hoped he was a mutant. It would make things SO much easier. ::