#but yeah i think people are like mined controlling vampire he must be in charge of everything

[storyteller-aprendiz]

So maybe I am wrong but I don't think you can gendered Louis & Armand, the way you do Loustat.

Because neither Louis nor Armand are really the "housewife" in the situation. In Dubai and SF is Louis' initiative and therefore his business but Armand does have an equal role on it, tho Louis is the more capitalist/investment savy, Armand is like the one to schedule talks with buyers, help fix the houses etc. It is not Armand's home, like Louis moving into Lestat's, is THEIR home, both in Dubai and SF.

And like even if the bullshit with the books (which tf) and the tree are definitely Armand, the art, the furniture even the gray are Louis' (cause he's grieving). Like for me the Dubai penthouse is like a reflection of Louis' self/soul "You are in my coffin" as much as a manifestation of Armand controlling tendencies.

I saw a post about exactly this, like how Armand & Louis relationship is a Depiction of how even in the queerest of models and types of relationships abuse can still take part if people are not willing to question the systems, dynamics or just plane different levels of power their members have.

And then we have the D/S dynamic. Kink and BDSM are already shamed upon in our heteronormative society, because they play with the power dynamics that already exist in the relationship, and they create a separte extructure through safe-words and after care and good old communication in which both member can consent to those dynamics, be safe and most important GET PLEASURE from them.

And like, Armand as the powerfull abusive partner Technically, considering our heteropatriarchal lense should be dominant, but he gladly relinquished it to Louis. Which is a role we don't expect from the patriarch of the house.

Plus all of Louis' boys, means he has a sexual freedom that is not allowed to the "housewife". Though, of course that extend of freedom is still determine/manage by Armand, but not in the sense of Louis is sexually his, ergo he can't be with x. But rather Louis might get Hurt, so I need to control him, for his sake.

Which is why Armands abuse looks more to me like care-taker abuse than like the heteropatriarcal shit Lestat does.

Which I think, is also because Armand being a racialized man with a learned helplessness ingrained to him, really can't like inhabit the same role Lestat does in a home. He will always be a step down, cause masculinity and male privilege gets further away (or like changes? I think that's a better way to put it) the more marginalization you inhabit. Which also makes a lot of men of color double down in what little power it does grant's them (sometimes going to bigger like displays of power than the subtler types of white men), which you could argue Armand also goes for/participates in with the staging of the trial.

I hope anything I wrote here makes sense. But yeah, I think that the patriarchal husband/edwardian wife comparison even if it works as a lense to analyze Loustat, it falls apart for Louis & Armand.

[inkandpen22]

Shared Minds and Shared Souls (5/?)

Pairing: Spike x Female!Reader

Warnings: angst, swearing, depression, trauma, PTSD, some fluff 

Word Count: 2.3k  

Part Summary: After the hospital with Glory, Y/N falls into despair, unsure of whether or not the world around is real or Glory’s doing. Days go by and Spike grows frustrated as the Scooby Gang is lost on how to fix Y/N. So, he takes matters into his hands, doing everything in his power to bring her. 

Masterlist

"Bloody fix her!" I hear Spike yell at the others in the kitchen.  

I lay on the couch in the allusion version of the Summers's living room. All I can do is wait. Wait for the most-evil-big-bad to show up and take me away. I wait for this vision to end. Glory is messing with my head. I just know it. I'm still in her memories or worse, she dragged me down to Hell with her.  

"We can't, not yet at least," the imaginary Willow explains, sounding defeated.  

"We don't know the right spell, but we're not going to stop until we find it!" Tara assures, her tone carries a bit of hope in it. 

"What exactly did Y/N see when she entered Glory's mind?" Giles questions. "Perhaps that will help us figure out a solution."  

"Did she tell you anything, Spike?" The pretend Buffy inquires, her voice optimistic.   

"No!" The vampire shouts again. "You saw her! She won't even look at me, at any of us, and you think she told me everything?!"  

"Spike, we're just trying to help..." Willow mumbles, sounding mousey.   

“Yeah, since when do you care about Y/N or anyone of us for that matter?” Xander insults. 

“I don’t… ” Spike grumbles defensively. Then, he releases a deep sigh of frustration, “okay, look! The sooner Y/N is better, the sooner she can help with destroying Glory. Let’s pick up the pace here!” 

There's a prolonged pause and the allusion of Dawnie appears entering the room from the kitchen. She approaches me cautiously. Starring blankly ahead at the distant wall, the allusion of Dawn kneels beside me on the floor.

 "Hi Y/N," she mumbles, fiddling with the edge of her shirt nervously. "Do... Do you need anything? A glass of water? Some food? I... I can make anything you like!" She tells me with forced enthusiasm. "Oh, here!" She rises from her spot swiftly and reaches over me. 

Startled, I scream and fly up from my laid position. She's going to hurt me! She's a demon! She's going to kill me! She's going to drag me back to that place! All of the fire, the screaming, the pain! The others comes running into the room, the vision of Spike leading them.  

"I didn't mean to!" The fake Dawn urgently tells me, running to safety by Buffy. "I was just going to give her blanket!"  

The allusion of Buffy comforts her, "I know, you're okay! It's not you're fault. Y/N's just really fragile at the moment. We can't touch her or get too close, otherwise we'll scare her."   

Panicked, I shuffle my sight between all of them, waiting for one of them to charge at me. I curl up, bringing my legs close to my chest on the couch. Shaking, I can't find the words to speak. I'm afraid if I do they're retaliate and I'll be send back to the fiery place.   The figure disguised as Spike approaches me steadily, his hands up as a sign of peace. I don't believe it, not for a second. He's trying to trick me!   

He shushes softly, "it's okay Y/N. I'm not going to hurt you." 

I cower away, scooting to the farthest side of the couch from him. 

"You can also see people's energy. You can also see into people's minds, right?” He calmly moves closer until he's sat on the coffee table. “I want you to look into mine,” he instructs boldly, holding out his hand to me. 

I shake my head rapidly in a panic. No, I can’t do it again, not after what happened! Beside, my magic doesn't work in Hell. No, I saw it before. When the roots were attacking me, nothing worked. He's testing me. He wants an excuse to damn me to Hell. 

"I’ll focus only on the good memories! You told me that I can control what you see, right? If I remember that it’s all in my head and try hard enough! Let me prove to you that I’m really me and I’m not a threat to you!" The spirit disguised as Spike reasons. "Come on, use your powers, Love. Show yourself that I won't hurt you," he says in almost a plea. 

I hesitate, afraid of the repercussion if I do as he asks. He could show me more traumatizing images. I want to believe he's the real, do more than anything! If it were really him, it would mean I'm safe and truly out of Glory's nightmare. 

Buffy quietly steps forward to protest the idea. “Spike, I don’t think-”

“Just let her try for Christ’s sake!” He snaps, standing up to face everyone. Clearly, he’s hit his boiling point with all the bickering. “You all bloody act like she’s a goddamn porcelain baby and you’re afraid of dropping her. She’s the most powerful whatever-the-hell she is I’ve seen in my hundred and forty-eight years on this planet! Now, shut up!” He finishes, sitting back down on the table with a dramatic huff. 

Calmly, he looks at me and requests again, “try it, Pet. I know you can do it,” he encourages softly. 

Slowly, I meet him gaze. It’s the first time since the hospital I’ve look at anyone in the eye. I’ve been afraid that if I look, I’ll see the red eyes that frighten me more than I can bare to say. Instead, I’m meet with the familiar emeralds. They’re fake. They must be fake. They’re a part of the allusion. 

“Please…” Spike adds almost inaudibly. He eyes peer at me, filled with what appears to be despair. Reaching out his hand again, he waits for me to take it. 

I don’t feel threatening energy radiating from him, at least not directly. Then again, I don’t know how well the demons mask their intentions. My chest rises and plummets as my nerves and mind warn me not to do it. Yet, my gut is telling me to at least try. My heart is telling me to give him, the allusion, a chance.

Steadily I ease my shaky hand out to interlock with his own. Our hands meet and our fingers glides between each other. Gently, Spike rubs his thumb over my hand, doing his best to ease the shaking by squeezing it. He stares into my eyes and gives me a sharp nod of confidence. His features, however, express uncertainty and worry. I feel a surge of energy, the warning before the storm. I blink rapidly as the sensation of falling consumes me. Then, my vision goes black… 

I’m sat in my mother’s old parlor on the rug as I read her my newest poem. She rests on the loveseat behind me, petting my head gently. I worry for her. Her health hasn’t been ideal in recent weeks.  I read to her, knowing how much it makes her feel better. All I do when I can find a free moment, usually when she’s asleep during the daylight hours, is write more poetry in hopes that it heals her ailments. 

“William, my love,” she groans, moving to sit up. She holds out her hand and swiftly I assist her. She mutters a ‘thank you,’ expressing a weak smile. 

I peer up at my mother admiringly. I feel the fierce duty to protect her. She’s my whole world, I love no one more than her. 

She caress my cheek, “you, my William, are my angel on this Earth. All I want, as my dying wish, is for you to be happy and settled.” 

“I am happy, Mother,” I tell her, truly content. “There’s no other woman I need in my life than you.” 

She grins, releasing a soft giggle. Oh how I long to hear her laugh. It reminds me of when she was healthy and thriving. Gently, she guides me to rest my head in her laps as I did when I was a child. Steadily, she brushes her fingers through my hair comfortingly. “Early one morning…” She starts to sing her lullaby to me. It’s our song. She’s been singing it to me since infancy. It’s brings me unparalleled peace. I adore her voice. I adore her. There’s no one else in the world I need but her. 

With a jolt, like bringing dragged out to see by a strong wave, I’m back in the Summers’s living room. I gasp for air as I settle back into my body, my senses returning to me. The energy surge slowly leaving my bloodstream. Everyone’s eyes are on me, waiting for my words or at least a reaction in someway. 

Spike looks at me eagerly, a faint bit of hope in his eyes.  “Did it work?” 

Silently, I slowly move off the couch, standing to my feet. Spike leaps up from his position, causing me to jump a little. He frowns, disappointment returning to his face. Wrapping my arms around my body safely, I turn and walk out of the room. As I head up the stairs, discussion erupts in the living room. 

“What does this mean?” Xander questions urgently. 

“Well, did it work?” Anya adds. 

“Clearly it fucking didn’t!” Spike barks, followed by a thud and the sound of the coffee table dragging across the hardwood floor with a screech. 

“Spike!” Buffy shouts, “that’s not going to help Y/N!” 

“Screw this,” he curses, storming around downstairs. “I’m out of here! You lot aren’t going to do anything to help her! I’m going to find a way myself!” I hear the front door slam shut moments after. 

_______________________

Days later and I continue to lay in my bed as I have since fake Spike’s attempted to fix me. Alone and silently, I wait for the black smoke-like figures to come haunt me. Sleep is nonexistent because every time I try all I see are those red eyes starring back at me. They wish to drain me cold and consume my soul. The allusions of Buffy, Joyce, and Dawn take turns checking on me. Joyce worries and Buffy tries to get me to eat. Dawnie begs for me to return to normal. What is normal? I can’t remember what I was like before. There’s nothing waiting for me but the Hell I saw. I’m not okay. I’m slipping into an abyss of darkness. 

As night falls, the door to my room creaks open behind me, revealing a strip of light from the hall. Distant voices from downstairs linger in and I see someone cross in front of the light as they enter the room. I remain emotionless on my bed, facing the opposite wall. As a figure appears in my peripheral vision, I focus ahead blankly. 

“Hello there, Love,” Spike whispers, squatting at my bedside. 

I don’t react to his presence physically. Inside, I’m reaching out to him. I’m in a prison made up by my own mind. 

Spike hasn’t seen me since the day after the hospital. When I left the living room and he stormed out, he never came back to be exact. Fake Buffy told me in passing while she was bringing me food that he went away for a few days. I didn’t ask, she just told me. She went by his crypt after he hadn’t come around, he wasn’t there. He left a note saying he’d be back. 

“I won’t touch you, promise! Yo don’t have to worry about that,” he assures with a frown. “They say you haven’t eaten since…” he shakes his head, refusing to speak of that faithful day. “You need to eat Y/N. You look like you haven’t slept in days.” 

He worries, they all worry. What will worrying get them? Why don’t they just put me out of my misery? When will this vision end?! 

“Y/N!” He whispers my name harshly, not to alert the others downstairs. “Come on, Love, I know you’re in there somewhere! I don’t know exactly what Glory did to you or what you saw, but you have to fight this! It was another vision! It was only in your head! Dawnie, Buffy, Joyce, they need you…. I need you….” He barely says the last part, looking down at his hands. 

I process his words, but everything is delayed. Time has been off since I awoke in the hospital or at least changed visions. In my head, time moves slower and the agony is more intense. I’ve missed Spike more than I care to admit, even if he’s not really here with me and it’s all in my head. I welcome the allusion. 

Spike rises from his position with a sigh upon receiving no sort of reaction from me. “I heard of a guru in India who’s apparently dealt with this sort of things before while I was looking for help amongst the covens in New Orleans. I only came back to see if you’ve improved at all...” He moves to step away toward the door. “I’ll check back in before I leave for India,” he informs over his shoulder. 

No, no he can’t leave me, not again! Please, don’t leave me. On impulse, I break free of my mental prison and grab Spike’s wrist. His head whips around as his attention lands on my hand. His eyes meet mine wide-eyed with amazement. 

“Stay,” I struggle to speak for the first time in nearly over a week. 

Spike places his hand over mine. He lowers to my level, knelling beside my bed. A bright smile of glee spreads across his face as relief relishes in his emerald eyes. He cautiously reaches up, cupping my face and I don’t cower away. I ponder the feeling of his touch, leaning into his palm. It makes me feel more alive than I have in days. When I don’t flinch away, he releases a soft chuckle of joy. Before we have the chance to talk, my vision goes black.

____________________________________________________

Masterlist

Tags: @it-was-all-a-beautiful-dream​

@hexmancia

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP Meme from "Chapter Two: The Grove" in the Children of Gaia Tribebook from "Werewolf: The Apocalypse" Part Two of Two

The Hole of the Goddess? Which hole is that?

What will you do for the pack?

The species still lives.

We lamented that their honor was gone

Their honor is gone.

Their honor is gone. But know that their valor and strength are not.

So what do they do? Besides talk.

They move us to remember. And to remember is to act.

The fact that they lived and died should move us to do something!

Good takedown there!

This is the tackiest thing I’ve ever seen.

I think it’s cool. That people feel free enough to do this, you know.

You a fan of this stuff? Or just like the show?

It's pretty neat to watch, yeah.

Y’know, the rave’s starting up soon at the second stage

It didn’t work, really. I don’t know if you noticed.

What didn’t work? What rite were you trying to perform?

I, uh, hope it works out better next time.

You feel okay? Happy? Didn’t hurt you, did I?

I mean, don’t you think it’s wrong or something?

Going to blame it on the cheap beer?

Yeah, I know I’m gay.

But, I mean, you’re a wolf!

When I’m a wolf I don’t want you, or anybody, except when the time and the company are right.

It’s — no, don’t ask. It’s too complicated, take my word for it.

I’m human, or at least mostly human.

Aren’t we supposed to. . . not do this?”

Well, the Bible stuff is for humans, one or two religions’ worth.

Oh, things change.

Sorry. But that’s what it means.

Careful. Really careful. Our bodies don’t work like a human’s, so pills and condoms don’t always work either.

But isn’t that rule kind of, well, outdated?

If I was dating a human, I couldn’t have his head in my lap, not most places.

This is one of the lesser commandments these days.

It’s not something you can wish away.

There’s a reason for that rule.

I think it’s good to be polite.

We can make alliances more easily if we respect others’ beliefs, not just their territory.

Do you think that your preaching nonviolence means we don’t have to fight?

Even humans created diplomacy and statecraft.

When we must have a leader, when we need to order, there are better ways than fighting.

We didn’t invent democracy, but it does work better than one—man rule.

Do we need one? I don’t think we do.

You started it!

I am not some kind of patriarchal authority figure.

I think it’s an outmoded idea.

You don’t even try to understand them.

Look, no offense, [NAME], but you’re crazy.

You got us together, got us here.

You’re not dominating us. You can’t make us do things.

But we need you. Someone. Someone to intersee, not oversee. Someone to subvise, not supervise.

Look, I don’t want to tell people what to do. It would take too long.

Others are the most popular.

That’s practical, because it means you can get others to listen to you.

Is it your pleasure to attend?

That was weird.

Who was that?

Yeah, there are a lot of old forms of courtesy you’ll see sometimes.

Food isn’t always plentiful.

The strong need to be strong.

Social Darwinism, dammit.

So what good is that to me?

It's about sharing, period.

It’s your damn passion for social justice, okay?

It is the truth, not grass to be twisted and woven.

It’s words. If they mean something different to me, you’ve no right to call me wrong.

Just about every human society I ever heard of has rules against eating human flesh, most human flesh, most of the time.

Do we respect them?

We show them respect — sometimes just by keeping our distance.

This is the worst one for us.

We’re all of us closer to the humans than safety would wish

I think that it meant not to waste resources.

The old way was to leave the sick and weak to die.

You say you’re not a leader, but what would you do if we ever ran into bad trouble?

Nothing sexual.

You’re the hero. You should know.

No anarchists in foxholes.

This is a powerful place, no lie.

I think that the humans are safer with us here than not.

What if there’s trouble?

So always ask if you bring someone, anyone.

We need to avoid fighting.

Ants fight, but they don’t waste continents doing it.

I really need to know this stuff, so can we drop the politics?

We are really one tribe.

They’re all women? Are they lesbos?

We were passing a bottle of shine round and telling dirty stories--why are you looking at me that way?

I mean, they have fleas. Some of them.

I don’t own them as my people.

Are they all crazy?

Nazi types?

They hate us for seeking peace, hate all humans--

We want peace; I don’t know what they want.

They hate everything human, hate the human half of themselves.

I have known a few, and they were angry with me, even, because I live with humans.

They’re really more like kings of the spoiled potato salad.

They love darkness, dark magic; it all stinks.

Because we need all the help we can get.

Can we talk about somebody else?

I thought you hated patriarchal authority figures?

They know a lot of secrets.

We are alike in a lot of ways.

They want war, want death, really.

Thanks, your help will no longer be required.

It was like--it was like being told flat-out that we’d failed, that we were no good.

It hurt. It hurt bad.

And you’re left there like you’d just gone through an awful breakup, wondering ‘was it me?’

It’s always tense going.

How weird is that?

If you ever meet one, be polite and respectful, and don’t approach anything looking like their territory unless invited.

Go find that tale-teller, and hear what he has to say.

They have no use for us at all.

They sound pretty evil.

People say they’re evil, too, but they’re not.

It’s not that we slaughtered them, because we didn’t.

There is simply nothing to discuss.

You tread on cracking ice.

Can’t you see just how much we could gain if we actually managed to make peace with them?

Fine. Go ahead. Dream your dreams.

Okay, we get it, vampires.

They’re a wild bunch.

Avoid them if you can.

Not all of them hostile — sometimes they just don’t understand.

We can't always counter them.

These are ghosts, like on Halloween.

I will ask for your help. Thank you.

You handle the rainbow crap, kiddo.

Just know this; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.

It’s beautiful, peaceful.

Too much work here.

I mean, Paradise, it’s cool, but there are no problems, nothing to do, really.

Sounds nice. I'm too busy as it is.

It is supposed to be a place where there is no hatred, suffering or evil.

It does sound nice, doesn’t it. Like Heaven, I guess.

What was different here?

Yo, dude, give me a leg up, willya?

Will I get dropped? Will I get stepped on?

It’s cool, no one’s gonna let you fall.

No one’s gonna hurt you.

I'm not in control.

No one's in control.

What message hid there, that no one person knew?

Have a good time?

It was really positive, really charged me up.

You gonna stay for more?

Yeah, thanks, asshole.

Were there spirits in that crowd?

I felt it, too.

Wow, freaky.

Why would they do that?

You ever crowdsurf?

It makes you happy, man. It makes you fuckin’ glow.

So what did you learn?

Say, where are we all going after this?

You got the list?

We’re gonna get the great unwashed together and shut these fuckers down.

So who have you heard from?

It isn’t much but we call it home.

I know, I know, it’s been a while.

You know, I always wanted to see Europe, back when I was a dumb kid.

You knew all this already, right?

Well, this may be no surprise to you, but I guess I should have thought things through a little more.

The war’s bad over here.

It’s hard, baby.

It doesn’t make us look good, and we have to work twice as hard to get half the respect.

I’m alive, I’m well, I’m eating regularly.

I think I can make a little progress here whether these hardheads want me to or not.

Humans invent causes. And humans make their own history.

America’s not exactly paradise, but it’s the best anyone could do, really.

We organize marches, sometimes just standing because we can’t get government permission to march.

I don’t blame them but it makes our lives very hard.

This hellish, war-torn home of mine has enough problems that we have managed to unmake one more.

We worked so long and so hard that the absence of the laws is almost worse than their presence; evil as it is, it was all we knew.

Now comes the harder work; restoring a civil society, dignity, true peace.

I have lived all my life and will die here, working for justice.

The baby is kicking. Keeps me awake some nights.

The monsoon season was incredible — towers of clouds and endless rain.

It amazes me that a man as strong as he is can be so tender sometimes.

We’re not here to proselytize, just to show them another way.

We have a long, long way yet to go.

I still don’t know if this is something we should support.

It’s as bad now as it has ever been.

This war has gone on for years and I worry that we aren’t accomplishing anything.

[saiilorstars]

The Girl in the Forest

Chapter 27: If I Betray You

// Story Masterlist //

Pairings: Klaus Mikaelson x OFC

Pronunciation of OC’s name: Ma-leh-nee

Requested tag: @queenmj10​ @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter Summary: The time has come for Maleny to return to her original body once and for all. Dahlia, however, may have other plans to get what she wants and Klaus, without a second support, will be perfect to reach.

Because Maleny has been switched bodies once again, her temporary face claim is Adriana Louvier.

Maleny silently observed the spell that was supposed to return her to her original body. Her hand instinctively ran fingers over the burn mark on her clavicle. Behind her was Klaus who awaited with an anticipation he couldn't hide very well. He had told her what he managed to do as soon as she had woken up the next morning so they could immediately start preparing the spell for her.

Maleny lowered the paper and turned to him, "You got it…" she breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to hug him, just so excited, "Thank you!"

Klaus relished hearing her soft laugh of joy. He had finally done her one good deed since she arrived back from France. "I thought you would take joy in this," he kissed her head.

Maleny pulled away to look at him, her smile still wide across her lips, her hands finding their way to his face, "Oh I can't wait to be back in my body again. As glamorous as being an enhanced wolf is, it's just not who I am."

"I don't know," Klaus ran a hand down her hair, as if studying her face, "I've come to like this you in a wolf. It's...attractive."

Maleny pursed her lips, feigning offense, "Well, you're not exactly an unbiased party my dear - my original wolf/vampire. You wouldn't find me attractive as a witch anymore?"

"Now I never said that," Klaus chuckled while she deepened her frown, "This is just novelty."

"Yeah? Well," Maleny took on a smirk that spelled trouble, "Just know that you will never be kissed again if I stay in this body," a look of amusement settled on Klaus' face, "And even the big bad hybrid has needs sometimes."

Klaus caught her hand trailing over his chest and used it to pull her up against him, "Do not start something you will not be able to finish later," he warned her, the darkness in his tone portraying for a very different effect than normally.

Maleny took her hand from under his and tilted her head, "Is that a challenge? Seriously?"

"Seriously," Klaus mimicked her tone and made her laugh.

"Ooh, nice one," Maleny rolled her eyes and pushed herself away from him, "but right now I'm going to go get Alton and tell him the good news. I bet he'll be really happy."

"I know I will," Klaus muttered under his breath, of course still perfectly heard by Maleny nonetheless. Seeing her look, he merely shrugged, "I don't like him."

"There's a shocker," she crossed her arms, "You don't like anyone. But the good thing here is he doesn't like you very well either," she chuckled to herself as she started making an exit, only to come bumping into Hayley on the way. Immediately they both saw the hybrid was disheveled and distraught, the fear practically oozing out from her.

"Hayley, what's wrong?" Maleny reached to touch Hayley's arm in concern.

"Dahlia's here," Hayley choked out the terrifying words, she almost in tears after what she and Jackson had went through only mere minutes ago.

~ 0 ~

Once grouped together, all the Mikaelsons' plus Maleny and Hayley began to discuss the events that unfolded between Dahlia (who had managed to control swarms of people including Jackson for a minute) and Hayley out in the Quarter.

"Isn't that the point of a fortress?" Klaus' anger was the first to make an appearance, "It does a better job of protecting you when you stay within its walls?"

For the first time, Hayley accepted he was right but she wasn't going to tell him that anytime soon. "Let's just figure out what the hell we're gonna do."

"What I would like to do is take a strong leash…"

"Klaus!" Maleny scolded him, making hard eyes at him for his snide response, "I think we should focus on strategies," she looked around the room, "because I assume up to now there hasn't been a concrete one."

"I know a little about how her magic works," Freya got up from her spot and walked over to a round table with a silver tea kettle and five full tea cups resting over it. After hearing what her aunt had managed to do she resolved to at least make their minds stronger, "This tonic will at least prevent her from using any of us."

Rebekah reached for a cup as Freya did, and before drinking Rebekah glanced back at the others, "Well, come on! This should work like a charm!"

"You mean we are to drink one of her spells that could very well put us under like it did with Maleny?" Klaus remained across the group, firmly going against the apparent plan.

"Klaus, that was an accident," Freya pointed out, not surprised he would be the only one refusing the tea.

"And I was fully aware of possible side effects," Maleny added when she got up and walked to get herself a cup as well, "That wasn't her fault. So please, just take a drink?"

But this time not even her asking him to would get the job done. Klaus looked to the side instead, "Our minds are far too strong to be invaded by kenning spells."

Maleny rolled her eyes, seeing his plain excuses, "Well mine isn't. And since I'm still in charge of this body's safety, I'm doing it for Yamilet," Freya smiled when she downed the tea.

The only thing that kept Klaus calm despite her drinking a possible trick was that she wouldn't be spending much more time in that body. Anything happens to it she would be back in her original one. "So what we experienced was a test," he moved on, "Dahlia is watching to see how we respond to aggression. She's preparing for battle. My guess is sooner, rather than later.

"Well, if she was watching us, she would know that we have our own army," Hayley tried to be reasonable.

"She also knows where we are," Elijah reminded, "and, given the immense nature of her power, we simply have no idea what to expect from her. What we need is to create a new stronghold, something that Dahlia knows nothing about, a sanctuary from any witchcraft."

"That's a fine strategy," Freya praised, "I offer another. We could use Jackson to trace her magic back to its source, find out exactly where she is."

All eyes went to Hayley who quickly felt the pressure on her building and building until she sighed and gave in, "Fine, do it."

"I'm sure Camille can get her friend, Gia to look into the Algiers for a possible sanction," Elijah announced.

"Good! Then it's settled," Klaus, pleased, clapped his hands, "Off you pop to your respective tasks!"

"And where the hell are you going to go if I may ask?" Maleny suspected he had already come up with his own version of a plan that involved none of them. Those were the plans that worried her.

Klaus glanced back, only stopping to briefly explain, "I've always been of the opinion that the best defense is a good offense. So I'm gonna find a way to murder that God-forsaken witch."

Maleny nervously watched him leave the room before glancing back at the others, "See that?" she pointed after him, "That can't end well. Somebody needs to go with him."

She only made it one step towards the doors before Elijah grabbed her arm and stopped her, "Mal, you have to prepare for your spell."

"But I can't let him go like that," Maleny sighed as Elijah released his hold on her.

"It won't matter if you go or not," Rebekah spoke up, "Whatever he plans to do, he's going to do it anyways. It's best if you stay here and get ready to go back to your own body."

Glumly, Maleny resigned to stay back and attend to her own problems. She still had to call Alton and Amarrah to get them to come over and explain to them what would be happening.

~ 0 ~

Later on in the day, after Cami and Gia had done some research, Elijah and Cami met with Josephine at the St. James infirmary of the Algiers. Josephine was in a surprise to see the place being renovated, as it had been left abandoned for years.

"Oh, this was quite the place back in my day, St. James infirmary…" she remarked to the two vampires, "Vulgar, filthy, loud, some of the best nights of my life, but I assume you didn't go through all this trouble on my account."

"Well, my friend and I did some research and we discovered this place served as neutral grounds for both our communities," Cami explained, "A place where all were welcome and safe."

"And, in keeping with that tradition, we'd like to invite you to cast a spell," Elijah suavely got to the point of the visit, "One that would prevent the use of magic within these walls."

Josephine looked horrified at what they were asking of her, "You'd ask me to create a place where my kind would be utterly helpless?"

"My dear Josephine, powerful as you are, surely you must have sensed this grave new threat?"

"And I am not without empathy, but I have a responsibility to the witches. This is not our fight."

Cami arched an eyebrow, not too pleased the woman was willing to leave a baby on her own. "You do realize that's basically declaring yourself an enemy, right?" she innocently asked, "You're willing to stand aside and allow a poor little baby to be killed?" she knew Dahlia's purpose wasn't exactly to kill Hope but Josephine didn't need to know that.

Elijah smirked when Josephine came up with a compromise. Cami sure had ways with words, he thought.

"Perhaps a traditional blessing to dispel unwanted spirits?" Josephine asked them, "A barrier against those who mean to do us harm? Yes, a blessing combined with a disruption spell should do the trick."

"Thank you," Cami nodded with a beaming smile, afterwards taking Elijah by the arm and leading him out.

"Excellent way with words, Camille," Elijah remarked, still mildly impressed she'd acquired results in such a short time.

"Yeah, I'm thinking of leaving the psychology thing for public speeches. I have a way with words that even allowed me to get to Klaus, remember?"

"Well, what ever you decide I will be there to witness it," Elijah promised her, making her chuckle. She had only meant it as a joke but of course he was always 'supporting her' and whatnot.

~ 0 ~

When Amarrah and Alton arrived at the compound, they found Maleny in the room where hers and Rebekah's bodies were being kept. Maleny had the coffin's top raised to view her original body inside.

"I never thought how awkward it could be to stare at yourself," Maleny remarked casually, her arms crossed, "I mean, not a lot of people can say they have viewed themselves from another person's point of view."

"Is this supposed to be like some weird goodbye thing?" Amarrah came to stand beside her while Alton took the other side, "Because if it is, stop it. It's creepy."

Maleny playfully rolled her eyes, "What part of this was ever not creepy? I stole some guy's girlfriend's body," she glanced at Alton, "Sorry…"

"Not your fault," Alton shook his head.

"And then I committed mass murder with the body," Maleny sighed and glanced at Alton again, "Also sorry."

"Still not quite your fault," he assured, "Before this happened Yamilet had done worse things under Esther's and Finn's orders."

"Still, this entire situation has been beyond creepy and uncomfortable," Maleny shivered and closed the coffin once again.

"Well, I think it's about time we get the spell and get to work," Amarrah announced with a delightful smile, "I saw Freya in the living room so we can ask her for it."

Maleny nodded and led the way out of the room. The trio were a little confused to find only Hayley, Jackson and Rebekah inside with all the needed witches' spell ingredients except the very witch herself.

"Where's Freya?" Maleny scanned the room for the missing blonde.

Hayley and Rebekah exchanged uncomfortable glances, apparently having a secret needed to be told.

"We told her to leave," Hayley answered first, and just as Maleny's face went awry Rebekah added in.

"Mal, Dahlia is channeling her to create these powerful spells. We had to make her leave for now."

"Well, that was clearly something from Dahlia to get you going against Freya," Maleny stuttered, unable to believe Freya would willingly work with Dahlia.

"We couldn't risk it," Hayley shook her head, glancing over at Jackson who agreed with a nod, "I know what she did for your son, but I cannot risk my husband."

"You basically condemned your daughter to the same fate my son had," Maleny sourly said before turning away.

~ 0 ~

Distraught, Freya walked down a street in the corner, still shaken from what had occurred at the compound. Suddenly, all the people in the street started turning towards her, intently staring at her. Slowly, Freya came to a stop in the middle of the road, realizing it was another spell from Dahlia.

"No!" she cried and began to run but it was no use when she bumped into Dahlia herself.

The tall, dark-haired woman stood calmly in front of her, "There you are - after all these centuries I've finally managed to find one of you. Hello, my Freya." When she raised her hand Freya could feel her insides churning with terrible fear at what Dahlia was planning. But when she only made the humans return to normal, Freya gave her a look. Dahlia returned it with a small smile, "Hmm, how convenient that I find you here, mere footsteps from that which I shall take because of you and Nicolas."

Although terrified, Freya still argued back, "We did nothing to you but be your slaves. You have no right coming to take a child that is not yours to take."

Dahlia looked less than interested in what Freya had to say, "Are you here on their behalf?" she questioned instead, "Did you make a promise to your wretched siblings... 'Together we'll fight the wicked witch, side-by-side?' Tell me, darling, how did they respond to your overtures? Did they welcome you with open arms and weep tears of joy at your miraculous return? Hmm?"

Freya knew the woman was seeing right through her at the moment with all her pain exposed. "What are you going to do to me?"

"You always were a selfish, ungrateful child," Dahlia remarked, "And you turned Nicolas into one as well. For centuries, I fed both of you, clothed you, and cared for you, granted you powers beyond anything you could have ever dreamed, and still, you yearn for more, always wishing for another life, never satisfied," angry, she thrust her hand toward Freya, producing a severe pain infliction upon her. As the blonde witch fell to her knees, Dahlia remained watching her, "Soon enough, you will beg for me to bring you back into my home," with another spell, she raised Freya up with a tight neck choke, "After all, once I am done with these poor souls, I will be the only family you have left - apart from Nicolas of course."

Freya was released from the spell and fell to the ground again. She coughed violently as the air flooded her lungs.

"You should know better than to defy me, a lesson your father and brother will learn shortly," Dahlia then walked past Freya like nothing had happened. Freya processed her last words and realized Klaus has probably committed some type of plan that would only lead to destruction. She had to stop it, or at least help him so that it would work.

~ 0 ~

When Elijah and Cami returned to the compound, both were very unhappy to hear that Freya had been "asked to leave". Without her, their chances up against Dahlia minimize to a dangerous low. Fearing the worst, they had all of wolves guarding every inch of the compound. In the middle of the courtyard were Maleny and Amarrah discussing the matters of the location of Maleny's spell-breaking would occur. After reading the spell thoroughly, Amarrah discovered the spell had to be broken in the center of a spirit guided place: the cemetery.

"Are you sure it's safe to go out there?" Rebekah was asking Maleny while Alton retrieved the coffin carrying Maleny's original body. Amarrah was already at the cemetery with Davina, who'd graciously volunteered for help.

"In the Quarter, in these times, no where is safe," Maleny answered with a light-hearted smile meant for comfort. She didn't want anyone worrying over her at a time like this.

"But," a different voice added into the conversation, "there is protection we'd like for you to carry." Maleny and Rebekah turned around as Elijah walked in, seconds later Cami coming in with two werewolf guards of the compound.

"Elijah," Maleny sighed, unsurprised Elijah was pulling this over her. It was very like him.

"I don't want to hear any refusals," Elijah warned her, giving her a playful stern look.

"And I'm also coming with," Cami declared and walked across the room to stand beside Maleny.

"I would come with but I figure I'm useless at that," Rebekah looked to the side, "I don't want to ruin something very important."

"You wouldn't," Maleny put a hand over her arm.

Rebekah looked at her, feeling the woman's honesty in her words. Still, she would refuse, "I can't. I think I'm better here."

"Well, alright then," Maleny breathed in and glanced at Elijah, "We should get going. Please, oh please, keep an eye out on your brother."

"When don't I?" Elijah sarcastically replied then gave her a comforting nod, "But rest assure everything will be fine."

"Thank you, Elijah," Maleny beamed as she looked at Cami, the excitement just bursting out from her, "We have to go!" she pulled the blonde vampire out for the doors.

~ 0 ~

When things took a turn for the worst and Freya returned to the compound to tell her siblings Klaus and apparently Mikael had gone to go up against Dahlia, Hayley swayed to accept Jackson's proposal of fleeing the compound and the Mikaelsons altogether. She didn't feel one good bit about it, even when she had packed Hope's clothes and hers into a bag and Jackson came in their room. It wasn't the best the plan, she knew for sure.

"Hayley, are you ready?" Jackson asked, having no need to whisper since the the remaining Mikaelsons had gone out to St. Ann's church to save Klaus and the apparent new team member Mikael.

"Klaus and Elijah are the oldest, most powerful vampires in the world, and Dahlia's got them scared," Hayley's voice shook with fear, "Dahlia took Maleny's son and I can't let the same happen to Hope."

Jackson walked up to her sympathetically, "It will be fine."

"Do you really think that this is the best plan to protect her?"

"I really do," Jackson nodded. Everything was set to go. They would deviate from the planned spot where Marcel would come pick them up and instead wait for Aiden to arrive with another car to head into the bayou.

~ 0 ~

Seeing the creepy, dark crypt covered in a ring of salt along with other witch marks Maleny didn't quite understand was not a setting anyone would ever pick as a first choice for anything. Davina had gone into her family's crypt and set up for the spell, although no one guessed she had also hid many of Kol's dark objects in there, including the very important, now-working, dagger she and Kol finished before his death.

"Set it over there," Davina instructed the two werewolf guards as they carried in Maleny's coffin.

Maleny, Cami, Alton and Amarrah walked in afterwards, Amarrah carrying in a small bag over her shoulder. She went straight to Davina and set the bag over a small table.

"So this is the spell," she pulled out the scribbled paper Esther had drawn up.

Davina took the paper and gave it a glimpse over, "This...requires a lot of power," she blinked, suddenly hesitant to commit to the spell. She didn't want to do a spell that could put Maleny into a pre-depressive state again.

"You can do it," Maleny put a hand on the teen's arm, "You were able to break part of my curse before."

Davina would've replied 'Because your crazy almost mother-in-law helped me' but felt that would be a downer for everyone. She put on a smile for the woman instead and lightly nodded.

"So, you need to stand over here," she pointed Maleny to a spot across the coffin, "and you have to stay completely still."

"How long will the spell last?" Cami curiously asked.

"No more than five minutes."

"And when will we know if...you know...it worked?" Alton asked next, his beaming smile meant for the arrival for his girlfriend, Yamilet.

"It should take a couple or minutes," Amarrah replied, "If I were you I'd stand a little behind Mal."

"Why?"

"Because chances are she's gonna drop to the ground after the spell. I doubt Yamilet wants to wake up covered in dirt."

Alton chuckled and walked around the circle until he stood a couple feet behind Maleny. Amarrah then turned with Davina, both taking hold of their hands. Cami left the coffin top open and moved away from the circle, backing up to where the guards were, nervous to watch it all unfold.

~ 0 ~

After a bad defeat against Dahlia, the Mikaelsons regrouped back inside the compound, save for Hayley and Jackson who (unfortunately had their plan delayed) were now residing in the safe house of Algiers and Maleny who was still attending to her spell. They were catching Rebekah up with the bad unfolding of the fight they had lost.

"Well, that sounds like a bloody fiasco," she sighed, "Where's Dahlia now?"

"She could be anywhere," Elijah replied, "There wasn't a trace of her left in the church.

Freya, being the only one who was more angry than defeated, remarked, "She's done with us for the night. No doubt, she wants us to take some time to wallow in our defeat.

"Defeat? I disagree," Klaus flashed her a devious smile, "We saw her face. We took her measure. If that's the best she's got, quite frankly, I'm unimpressed."

The most unexpected guest of all, Mikael, spoke up from across the room, "Her aim was not to impress us. She wanted us to reveal our sole weapon, and, like fools, we did."

Rebekah looked between her father and brother incredulously, "Am I hearing things, or did Nik just exchange words with our father?"

"Rebekah. I'd know that wicked tongue anywhere," Mikael said back, almost amused, "What mischief have you gotten yourself into now? No doubt the bastard's doing."

That remark reminded everyone of the ongoing tension. Klaus growled, "Enough. My patience, like this farce of a reunion, is at an end."

"Agreed," Elijah made way for his father, "There only is one question here: What exactly are we doing?"

When Freya saw the discreet glance towards her she erupted into angry shouts, "This was not my plan! You," she pointed at Klaus, "rushed it and made but a single weapon!" she still couldn't comprehend why they would show their one weapon, a dagger specially made, to Dahlia in a rushed fight, "Of course she took it from you, and now we've lost what advantage we had and used up the very materials we needed to kill her."

Klaus remained calm against her shouts, seeing the problem less gravely, "It's a bit histrionic. Your materials are easily found. Let's take stock, shall we? There's an ample supply of your blood. Norwegian soil is hardly scarce. What else? Ah, yes... the ashes of Dahlia's viking oppressors."

"Only priceless relics gotten with great difficulty at a museum, lost due to your worthless strategies," Mikael accused.

In one second, Klaus sped the man against a wall, threatening him with the white oak stake. Freya, alarmed, meant to go for them but Rebekah held her back.

"If I feel even the faintest touch of your magic, Freya, I will end him with a flick of my wrist!" Klaus warned Freya before addressing Mikael, "You don't seem surprised."

Mikael only made a noise when he felt the stake brushing over his heart. Other than that, he was not very surprised by the predicament he found himself in. "Betrayal is in your nature, boy."

"No. I wasn't born like this," Klaus snapped, "Her you fight for…" he motioned back to Freya, "Lovely Freya, the daughter you barely know... yet there was a time when you knew me as your son, a time before all the disappointments, the revelations of betrayal. There were moments when all you had to do was be my father, and even then, you despised me, didn't you? I want to know why."

Although Klaus had nearly broken down Mikael upheld his cold tone, "I don't know. I just... did."

Furious of the answer, and partially overwhelmed by such a simple answer, Klaus acted out and plunged the white oak stake into Mikael's heart.

"NOO!" Freya screamed as her father fell to his knees, burning to death.

Klaus turned back to his siblings, feigning indifference, "Viking ash is indeed rare... but all you really need is a burning viking corpse."

As he left, Elijah and Rebekah now held back Freya together. They had her hands pinned behind her back to prevent her from attacking Klaus with magic. Freya uncontrollably sobbed her father's death. And, although Elijah and Rebekah knew Mikael wouldn't have kept living so long, they both agreed Klaus' rash decision hadn't been the best under the circumstances they were in.

~ 0 ~

Davina and Amarrah were in the middle of chanting the spell that was near ending. Cami and Alton, while both strong, were struggling to stay on their feet under the strong wind that resulted from the spell. Maleny had her hands balled into fists and her eyes shut. Only her hair moved in the midst of the wind. She could feel the spell's power pulsating through her blood, and even if it was slightly painful, she would withstand it all to be back in her own body.

But suddenly, a strange force picked up and blasted everyone in the room away from the ring and into harsh landings, all ending up unconscious. Several seconds later the sound of heels clicked closer, revealing Dahlia herself. She hummed at the sight before her, taking it all with ease, but soon her attention laid on the coffin. She walked towards it and peered inside where the familiar blonde rested inside, still empty.

"Hello again, my dear," she tapped her fingers alongside the edge of the coffin, "Last time I saw you, Nicolas said you had jumped bodies. Now I hear you're trying to do the same...only this time, there's going to be a new destination," the wide, sinister smile spreading across her face would've gave anyone a fearsome tremble if they had been awake to see it.

~ 0 ~

Night had turned to day, and after the previous actions, no Mikaelson had peace. Tension brewed once again when Josephine made a rather strange entrance into the compound.

"Josephine," Elijah came out with his two siblings to greet the woman, eyeing the woman suspiciously. It wasn't like her to come into the Quarter, much less into the compound.

"Forgive me for calling so early, Elijah, but, I've come bearing a message from your aunt Dahlia," the woman declared, "She is owed debts, and since they have not been paid she will come for the next third generation."

Klaus stepped towards her, "She can writhe in Hell first," he snapped.

"If you must harbor hatred, isn't it better spent on the ones who are really at fault here?" Josephine went on, surprisingly calm, "Your mother for creating the bargain in the first place or your sister and your son for running away?"

At the mention of Nicolas, Klaus nearly lunged on the woman if Elijah hadn't grabbed him. Even through that, Josephine showed no sign of fear.

"It's Dahlia," Rebekah realized afterwards, receiving a wicked grin from the woman.

"I prefer Aunt Dahlia," Dahlia, speaking through Josephine, corrected her.

"You dare enter my home?" Klaus, furiously, demanded, shaking off Elijah's hold from him.

"I came to warn you if you don't hand over the child I will come for you all," she declared, though the fearsome aura died down when the spell she held over Josephine began weakening and blood oozed out from under the choker she wore. "Though, I do not detect her here. I see you've used a spell to cloak her. No matter- such spells will yield, as will you. Say your farewells. You have 'til nightfall tomorrow, and then the child shall be mine."

Klaus could see the woman serving as a host for the spell was already dead and therefore made no second thought about chopping her in the neck and decapitating her. The headless body dropped to the ground and there laid the end of the awful surprise of Dahlia. Unfortunately, soon after Klaus' cellphone rang, the call being from Cami.

"Where the hell is Maleny?" was his first question upon answering. It had been many hours and although he knew he was severely lacking in patience, this was just too long for a spell.

On the other side, Cami was biting her lip as she looked back to the brunette woman sitting on a chair, Alton at her side, the woman weak.

"I hate that guy, I hate him so much, Alton," the brunette was telling Alton with the fury only the controller of the body could muster.

"It's alright, Yamilet," Alton had his hands on her head, "Everything's going to be okay now, I promise."

"We have a problem…" Cami finally said to Klaus over the phone, expecting an even worse fury from him after he heard what happened.

~ 0 ~

Davina repeatedly looked over the spell she and Amarrah attempted to do earlier, hoping to find the mistake they could've possibly done. By finding a mistake, they would be able to fix it. But nothing. There was nothing that told them what had gone wrong in the spell and and why only Yamilet had woken up.

When Klaus entered the crypt, she quickly cleared her throat to motion the others trouble was coming. Sensing the same, Cami was the first one to meet him.

"You have to listen," she began urgently, "We don't...we don't know…"

"WHERE IS SHE!?" he angrily shouted at the entire room until he saw the awakened brunette, staring at him, and he easily saw Maleny no longer was in control of those eyes.

"It's not her anymore," Alton stepped in front of Yamilet, guessing he hadn't yet figured out.

"Klaus, you have to listen to what happened," Cami insisted, "Look…"

Cami sat upright near the entrance hallway and rubbed her head, her eyes scanning the room for the others' conditions. Maleny seemed unconscious, lying face down on the ground, near Alton who groaning as he used the wall to get up. Amarrah and Davina had landed near the table of ingredients, now turned over from the blast. Both women raised their heads off the ground in terrible confusion.

"What just happened?" Cami finally asked, watching Alton go to Maleny.

"Yamilet?" he gently turned the body over, able to hear a pulse but who was in control of the body he wasn't sure.

Cami then rushed to the coffin of Maleny's original body, hoping to hear the heartbeat as well. Neither she nor Alton saw the looks exchanged by Amarrah and Davina.

"Yamilet? C'mon…" Alton cradled the head of his girlfriend's body, the heartbeat getting stronger as the woman began to stir, "Yamilet? Is it...is it…?" the woman's eyes opened up and stared at him.

"Alton?" the voice of the woman had changed, but to Alton it had only returned to the softer tone of his girlfriend.

His eyes filled with tears as he realized it was her, it was Yamilet. She was back with him now.

Cami began frowning when she couldn't hear anything from Maleny, "Guys, what's going on?" she glanced at the two witches, "I can't hear the heartbeat. Why can't I hear the heartbeat?"

Dangerous glares landed on Amarrah and Davina next, "What the hell happened here? You had the spell written down for you!" and he tried charging on the two witches but Cami, along with the help of the two wolf guards that had accompanied them helped her keep him back, "How easier could it have been for you!"

"We don't know what happened!" Amarrah exclaimed, equally frustrated and angry as he was, "Yes, the spell was written down but the power needed was something beyond us. Something happened and we don't know...we just…."

"We don't really know where Maleny's soul went," Davina said quieter, for once accepting his anger against them.

When Klaus took another forceful lunge at them Amarrah jumped in front of Davina, "We think someone hijacked the spell!" she shouted and made him stop to contemplate the idea, "The spell was going fine, maybe a little bumpy but it was going fine, I promise. Someone...someone did this, I could feel it."

It didn't take long for Klaus to come up with a person who would be interested in hurting Maleny at the moment, "...Freya," he muttered.

~ 0 ~

In the safe house, Hayley was anxiously awaiting the return of her husband, and to hear word from Aiden. She didn't like the plan they had settled on, but she found it was the only possible way to protect Hope. They would be trying to cut Hope's magic off through a spell that hopefully Davina would be gracious enough to do for them. But she hated the only thing she could do at the moment was wait. She didn't feel any better when she saw magical green vines suddenly creeping into the place from the outside. They grew to be so big they completely covered the windows. She snatched Hope up into her arms and slowly moved closer to the windows, along with several other of the guards. The crimson red flowers growing on the vines reminded Hayley of the previous encounter with Dahlia, thus letting her know what was happening.

"They're dahlias. She knows we're here," she told the to others, "We need to spread out, now!" the guards didn't waste a minute in doing so, spanning around the outside to fight against the witch.

After trying an unsuccessful phone call from the cellphone, she tried using the landline, hoping to get one of the Mikaelsons' to pick up. However, she came up with the same results.

"I need you to go get help," she called the nearest wolf from the outside, "Now, please!"

Hayley only had a minute to think before she heard the cursed tune of Dahlia's carrying in from the entrance. She picked up Hope again, the baby obliviously chewing on her favorite teddy bear, and began to pace again. When she saw Dahlia finally make an appearance, she stopped and glared at the woman.

"What a beauty," Dahlia remarked of Hope, meaning to step inside only to realize the thick line of sand spread over the doorway, "I sense by entering, you would have me at a considerable disadvantage."

Although scared beyond belief, Hayley made the menacing threat, "Why don't you come on in? I would love to show you some hybrid hospitality."

Dahlia took the threat with amusement, "I only came to chat."

"Fine: if you lay a finger on her, I swear I will make you suffer in ways even your evil mind can't imagine."

Dahlia laughed, waving a hand in pure calmness, "Hayley, is it? I have no quarrel with you. Frankly, I think your anger should be directed at the Mikaelsons. After all, it is because of them that I'm here for your child. It was their mother who made the bargain, it was their sister and their firstborn nephew who ran from me when they belonged to me."

"Well, if you're as the big bitch they made you out to be I don't fault them for running," Hayley snapped.

"I feel...very sorry for you," Dahlia flashed a light smile, "You and the other one, Maleny. Both of you were flung into this world and have suffered because of this family. Unfortunately, her loss will now be your loss, and if you're not careful your own death as well."

"I am not afraid of you," Hayley declared, her mother fury masking her fear, "You are not taking my daughter."

Dahlia tilted her head, "I admire your ferocity to save your child, certainly not like the last child's mother I took."

"That's because she wasn't there! But I'm sure if she was she would have fought in the same way she is now," Hayley angrily said.

"Perhaps," Dahlia consented and dug a hand into her pocket, "which is why I came to strike a deal with you. Clearly, you are the most level-headed of all these people at the moment."

"I'm not interested in anything you have to say," Hayley turned away, intending on walking away.

"Not even one that could would allow you to keep your daughter?" the question made Hayley freeze in her tracks. Dahlia smirked as the woman slowly turned back, "You are right, I have no right in taking this child, but I must since I need power to break this sleeping spell. But, your child is not the only source I can use. I will let you keep your daughter if, and only if, you turn in either Freya or Nicolas Mikaelson to me."

Hayley's eyes widened in horror, "Are you...out of your mind? I won't turn in anyone to you."

"Now, my suggestion would be to turn in Freya," Dahlia said calmly, acting as if Hayley hadn't yet said anything, "She's the closest, clearly, and she was never truly part of the family. But, if you see her better suited to stay, bring in Nicolas. With enough power you can break his cloaking spell and bring him here. And if it's the mother's rage you wish to avoid, have no fear, it's all taken care of," she pulled out a small red pendant necklace from her pocket, much like Freya's blue pendant where she had Finn's soul inside.

Hayley's eyes narrowed in on the pendant, trying to figure out what it meant, along with Dahlia's words. She clutched Hope closer to her, "What's that?" she finally decided to ask.

"Imagine it as a little container - it holds Maleny's soul for the moment," Dahlia had a wicked smile stretching across her face, like this was all just a game for her.

"What...what does that mean?" Hayley's insides churned at the idea of what Dahlia could've done to her friend.

"It means Maleny will no longer be a problem if you wish to turn in her son."

"What did you do to my friend!?" Hayley snarled and stalked towards Dahlia, "I swear to God you will regret it if you hurt her, and not by me, but by someone else who's a bit stronger and more angry."

Dahlia put away the pendant back into her pocket, and spoke her last words before leaving, "You have until nightfall tomorrow to make a decision and act on it. Goodbye."

~ 0 ~

As the coffin with Maleny's empty body was placed back into the safe room of the compound, Klaus raged outside in the corridor, Elijah and Rebekah listening from beside.

"It was Freya!" he was shouting, making erratic hand gestures, "She's angry I killed Mikael so she sought revenge!"

"I don't think Freya would do that," Rebekah spoke up rather sure of herself. Klaus stopped pacing to give her a dagger glare, "It doesn't add up," Rebekah insisted, "Ever since Freya got here she's said over and over how she wanted to help Mal."

"Rage makes one act out of order, Rebekah," Klaus snapped.

"Speaking from experience then," Elijah remarked afterwards, earning himself a glare as well.

"This isn't funny! Do you know, out of all this, I am most tired with having to deal with Maleny getting caught in our crossfires?" Klaus' question made the other two siblings stay quiet, allowing the guilt to fill up, "Ever since she came back she has only had one purpose, to find the corpse that would break her spell. I haven't been able to help her because I've been doing this! And, yet, somehow, she's gotten the worst of it."

Elijah could see the pain seeping through his brothers hard words and felt sympathy for him, "Then let all this petty paranoid and stand with us. We will get Maleny back and protect Hope."

"If by "us" you mean you and Freya, then I will not be standing with you."

Elijah sighed, "She is the best chance we have to save your child, not to mention the needed power to help Mal."

"We need her, Niklaus - Freya is our family. If you cannot see the greater picture here-"

"You see only around the next curve in the road! I am looking from above. Freya gave herself away when she complained of our single weapon to kill Dahlia. Now, I know there is a way to defeat our hated enemy without her."

Rebekah rolled her eyes, "So enlighten us already and we will do everything in our power to help you!"

"Forsake Freya, and I will let you in!"

Elijah had reached his patience with Klaus and began to rise in volume, "This is insane! Hope is also our family. Now, if you continue to walk this path, you will lead her towards harm. And do not fail to understand me when I say this to you - I will do whatever it takes to prevent this."

"So will I. So, the choice remains yours, brother - Freya, or me," Klaus gestured with open arms before walking past them. He didn't care who stood by him, or who didn't. He would get Maleny back from wherever she was, all in the meanwhile of taking down Dahlia for Hope.

~ 0 ~

After finally seeing Hayley's calls, Elijah made it to the Algiers to hear about the events that had unfolded.

"Of course I tried to call you, Elijah!but Hayley was fuming, "But since Dahlia was able to take down both Klaus and Mikael, I'm guessing that a cell phone tower was a piece of cake."

"And where were the wolves who stood guard?"

"Getting their asses handed to them by Dahlia, just like Klaus did."

And at that moment, Klaus made an entrance as well. Surprised by his presence, Elijah questioningly looked at Hayley.

"I called both of you," she explained, suddenly quieter, "Dahlia is willing to make a deal in order for us to keep Hope."

"Oh, and I imagine the price is extra high," Klaus sarcastically smiled.

"Either we turn in your sister, Freya, or your son, Nicolas or she comes for Hope."

The smile was quickly gone from Klaus' face, and replaced with fury, "And you agreed!?"

"Yes," it was Hayley's turn to be sarcastic, "because if I had agreed then I would definitely be telling you about the deal in the first place," her tone then shifted to a soft, stern one, "I want my daughter safe, Klaus, but the cost of staying here will be too high for your family. Also," she knew her next words would probably bring the tip of the iceberg, "I don't understand how, but...she has Maleny trapped in some type of pendant necklace."

"She took Maleny!?" Klaus roared, only this time there was no one to attack.

Hayley sighed, "Look, with everything that's going on, we have to go," she received the expected alarmed, confused faces of the brotherS so she quickly added in, "Jackson is out getting supplies, and then we're taking the wolves and we're headed to the Bayou."

"The swamp?" Klaus arched an eyebrow, completely unamused with the silly plan, "So my child can be protected by the very wolves Dahlia so easily defeated? Absolutely not!"

Frustrated, Hayley marched up to him, coming face to face, "You know, I am so over taking advice from you, Klaus. All it has done so far is put Hope in danger. From now on, I am going to do what I want to do. We're leaving."

He shoved her back before she could leave the place, "You're not going anywhere unless I tell you to."

"I am not your prisoner, Klaus!"

Elijah sighed, trying to break them apart, "Both of you, please- we're playing into Dahlia's hands."

"Not doing as I say plays into her hands!" Klaus snapped, "While you two have been kow-towing to Freya and devising ways to flee with your tail between your legs, I've been forging a new path. I know what Freya was planning, and I know how to kill Dahlia.

But suddenly, they heard Jackson's booming voice calling out for Klaus. A couple of seconds later, he came in holding Aiden's dead body over his shoulders with a werewolf guard behind.

"Oh, my God," Hayley blinked when Aiden was placed down on a table. The corpse was marred in what looked like claw marks and had his heart taken out.

"Klaus made Aiden spy on us. Instead, he told me everything," Jackson turned to Klaus, fully accusing him, "so you killed him!"

Klaus only had a second to look over the corpse when Hayley was already accusing him as well.

"You killed one of the wolves sworn to protect our daughter?" she frowned.

Seeing all the accusing faces, and thinking it over for a minute, Klaus went with, "So what if I did? This is what happens to anyone who dares cross me!"

The werewolf that had come in with Jackson made a remark, "just give us the word, Jackson."

"Yes! Come and have a go!" Klaus shouted, motioning them to have at it, "But you'll be putting your life on the line for one who is all too willing to betray you. Perhaps this never would have happened if he'd had a real Alpha."

Jackson lost it and lunged for him, punching him across the face. In retaliation, Klaus sent Jackson backwards, into other wolves that had come in from the commotion. Hayley tried getting in to defend Jackson but suffered a blow to the stomach and flung to the side. It wasn't until Elijah put himself between Klaus and Jackson that things froze.

"Do you wish to die?" Elijah darkly inquired from Jackson.

Furious, Hayley got up and shoved Elijah back, "You wanna kill me, too, Elijah?"

Elijah moved back to where Klaus stood, "If you come at him, you come at me."

Klaus smirked with such a pleasant outcome, "You lot should make better use of your time. I suggest burying your dead."

"GET OUT!" Hayley screamed, violently pointing at them to the doors.

Elijah sighed and glanced at his brother, "Niklaus, you mentioned a plan. I recommend you begin. Hayley and Hope are safe for the time being and not going anywhere."

With a fake smile, Klaus nodded, "Shan't be long," he promised and calmly walked off.

~ 0 ~

In Marcel's apartment, he and Rebekah were discussing what apparently had happened to Aiden. And though she knew her brother perfectly, Rebekah was still stunned of the news.

"I can't believe this is happening. My brother's lost his bloody mind!" she exclaimed, slumping back against the couch, "I don't know whether to blame this on what happened to Mal, I mean...did his anger really drive him to do this?"

"You really think those wolves are gonna fight to protect Hope now?" Marcel asked the winning question, one that left Rebekah deeply pondering of the consequences Klaus' action would bring upon them.

"He ruins everything he touches! Turns everyone against us!" Rebekah raged and shook her head. "Honestly, sometimes I don't understand how Maleny can stand him!" But then she got to wondering if Maleny had been around, would he still have done such an outrageous thing?

Suddenly, Davina appeared by the entrance, teary eyed from the catastrophe, "Marcel?"

"We just heard," Marcel went for yer, "Is Josh with you?"

"No," she shook her head, "When Jackson came to get Aiden's body, he just took off."

"D- D, I'm so sorry," Marcel took her into a hug, letting her cry for a little.

Davina pulled herself together and stepped back, "I brought something for you," she dug into her purse and pulled out the gold dagger she and Kol finished.

Rebekah caught sight of the familiar dagger and gaped, "Is that what I think it is?"

Davina nodded, "The dagger Kol and I made. I want you to use it," she looked at Marcel, "Mal's gonna have to forgive me but I want you to put Klaus down."

Without saying a word, Marcel took the dagger from her, glancing at Rebekah to see what she wanted to do with it.

~ 0 ~

Amarrah and Cami had been going through Maleny's room in search of her mother's spell book. The idea was to find to a spell that would either locate Maleny's whereabouts, or bring her back from wherever she was. Amarrah squealed when she found the book in one of the drawers set against a wall.

"Aha! Yes!" she cheered and turned back to Cami, "Got it!"

Cami was relieved to see the book back and motioned for the witch to follow her out. When they did, they caught Klaus heading into his art room. The two women exchanged concerned looks, and after a moment they walked for the art room them selves.

Klaus was lurking through his things when he heard one of them clearing their throat. He was slightly confused to see them both smirking at him. "Can I help you both?" he asked the empty, sarcastic question.

"We've been thinking," Amarrah announced, ignoring the loud scoff he gave in response, "about the whole Aiden thing, and we have something to tell you."

"I believe everyone else has covered the basics of insults and whatnot," Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Why are you lying?" Cami sharply asked, starting him, "No one is here but us. We're trying to help you and you lying does no good."

"I'm not lying," Klaus frowned.

"It doesn't make sense," Amarrah continued, "None of it does. See, Elijah thinks you did it because Aiden betrayed you, but Rebekah thinks it's because of what happened to Mal."

"Yes," Klaus slowly, and darkly, said to the women, meaning on scaring them.

Cami took a step towards him, smirking even wider, "Liar, liar, pants on fire. We don't believe you, so just stop and tell us what it is you're planning."

"You have us, Alton and even Yamilet who's craving for revenge against your family," Amarrah reminded him, "Tell us."

Klaus considered the many things he could tell them, but never the true plan. He did think, however, of one detail they would be perfect in working at.

"Dahlia intercepted the spell you tried earlier," he looked over at Amarrah, "She placed Maleny's soul into a pendant necklace much like the one Freya wears around her neck. Figure a spell to get Maleny back."

Amarrah blinked, her mind racing to process the horrible news. Cami, on the other hand, pulled herself together rather fast in order to think.

"We have to know why she did it first and with what spell."

"She meant it as part of a deal she made with Hayley, which she didn't take clearly," Klaus turned back to his things, "Get Mal back, that's your task. The rest is for me."

But at that moment, Elijah strode into the room, "You put them in the paint," he accused, "Father's ashes, the earth from sacred ground, all hidden in plain sight."

Klaus turned back in anger, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding Hayley."

"She's gone," Elijah declared rather calmly despite what was to come next, "She and Jackson took Hope, and you will not find them, brother."

"You helped Hayley escape? With my daughter?" the anger settled instantaneously over Klaus.

Cami was horrified to hear Elijah had done such a thing, especially without even talking to someone about it, "Elijah…" she whispered.

"Someone had to protect that child," Elijah began but Klaus has fully vamped-out and shoved him back until he was practically holding him over the balcony rail.

"HOW DARE YOU?"

Elijah grabbed Klaus' arm and twisted it to turn him around, shoving him back into the room. Klaus ended crashing through his tables.

"Cami…" Amarrah was horrified, and frankly scared, of the sight before them. The blonde gently pushed her out of the room and considered the idea of going in to help, but...she wasn't quite sure which brother to help. Klaus had his reasons, but Elijah was at a disadvantage due to his lack of knowledge about the truth.

Klaus had come back and thrown Elijah across the room then sped over to continue, "I'm a hybrid, Elijah. Why provoke a fight you cannot win?"

Elijah didn't say a word back and instead pulled out the golden dagger and jammed it through Klaus' heart. The hybrid was so caught off guard he didn't have a moment to think and pull the dagger when it already started taking effect.

"Elijah!" Cami screamed in both horror and anger. She didn't think twice before speeding over to take the dagger out herself.

"No, Cami!" Elijah yanked her back but the blonde was willing to fight him for it. She punched him in the face with all her might, sending him a decent amount of distance away.

"Amarrah!" Cami called and motioned her with a nod to get the dagger.

But Amarrah was suddenly grabbed by Rebekah and Freya from behind. She dropped the spell book and struggled against the two women.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Cami meant to go for the two sisters and help Amarrah when Elijah was back on his feet and grabbed her from behind.

All in the meanwhile, the desiccation was taking full effect over Klaus. He had fallen to his knees and could only watch the last of the events in struggle.

"Cami, just stop!" Elijah was in and full struggle against the blonde in his arms.

Cami was jumping and making attempts to punch him from behind. She was beyond furious with the recent decisions that had apparently been taken without a word of consultation with her. After all that Elijah had told her about being part of them, a part of their family, she felt she was owed at least that much.

"CAMI!"

"NO!" Cami screamed and elbowed Elijah harshly, making him pull back. She sped towards the now desiccated Klaus on the floor, however Elijah got to her first and, with an immense pain in his heart, snapped her neck.

"No!" Amarrah exclaimed, teary eyed, as she watched her friend drop to the floor with a thud.

Elijah didn't look at all pleased with the happenings. His own teary eyes had blurred his vision, and though it hurt him, he stood by his actions with all the consequences that would follow.

[zeravmeta]

fuck it. soma cruz fgo servant profile bc i make my own content

Servant: / Servant Class: Soma Cruz / Alter Ego

Origin: / Region: Castlevania Series / Japan, 2035

Alignment: Lawful Neutral(?) “Yeah, not sure how I classify as Lawful given my past life, but whatever.”

Aliases: The Dark Lord, Dracula, Soma Cruz

Parameters: STR (B) / END (A+) / AGL (B+) / MP (EX) / LUK (A) / NP (???) 

Class Skills: Authority of Beasts (Fake), Core of Chaos (A), One Who Severs Fate (A)

Character Info: “In order for God to be perfectly Good, there must always exist an embodiment of Chaos, a Dark Lord to emerge from the evil of humanity’s hearts.”

For one thousand years, the Belmont bloodline had opposed the terrible night that Count Dracula would bring with his powers. After generations of suffering, the Belmont’s latest mantle bearer, Julius Belmont, along with their generational allies, the Belnades clan and a nameless soldier, had managed to permanently defeat Dracula with the help of the Hakuba Clan’s shrine magics. Severing his connection to his power and sealing Castlevania, the embodiment of his power, within a solar eclipse, Dracula had finally faced his demise in 1999, prophesied by Nostradamus one millennium ago. Thus, the strongest Dark Lord had fallen, his throne empty and awaiting a new master.

In 2035, Soma Cruz had visited the Hakuba Shrine to meet with his childhood friend Mina, unaware of the birthright he would claim.

Skills:

Chaos Ring A: An extremely powerful construct that channels the very essence of Chaos. It can only be found by the one who can traverse and control the Chaos Realm, the Dark Lords personal right. Wearing it grants the unlimited magical power of the Chaos Realm, but actual output depends on the user. If the Demon King’s Ring is the symbol of Dracula and his reign, then the Chaos Ring could be considered the symbol of Soma and his new beginning.

Thematic narratives aside, it’s a very convenient tool for Soma.

“It’s weird, but it feels like…it was made for me. Almost like a welcome gift.”

[5->3 Turns] [Charge NP (20%->30%), Increase NP Gain (10%->25%) (3 Turns), Gain a Delayed buff 1 turn after skill use (Unremovable): [Charge NP (20->30%)]

Armament Master D: Soma is extremely proficient at using any and all forms of weaponry. Due to Dracula’s vast reach, Soma has a vast number of different modern and mythical weapons and gear at his disposal, notable weapons including Excalibur (sealed in the stone), Hrunting, Caladbolg, Mjolnir, and even a Positron Rifle, to name a few. However, one weapon unique to Soma is the Claimh Solais, an Irish sword of light mentioned in many legends and defining the archetype of “Sword of Light.” It provides a great boost to parameters and is surprisingly light weight despite its size. Another unique weapon he wields is the Valmanway, the “Blessed Wind” that is always ‘cutting’ even when still.

(The rank is D because despite his proficiency, Soma has never had any formal training.)

“I mean, it’s just a sword, right? How complex is it? You can just swing it and things die. Though…considering I have ol’ Drac’s memories…sorta, maybe I’m just remembering it?”

[8->6 Turns] [Increase Atk (10%->20%) (3 Turns), Gain Critical Stars (5->15), Increase Critical Star Absorption (3000%) (3 Turns), Increase Critical Damage (10%->20%) (3 Turns), Apply Special Attack against Sky, Star and Beast attribute enemies (20%->40%) (3 Turns)]

Power of Dominance (EX): Soma’s inheritance from Dracula, or more fittingly, the Chaos Entity opposite to God. The Power of Dominance is a unique ability that grants a complete mastery over the abilities of any and all souls Soma can acquire from the enemies he defeats. All the monsters that Dracula unleashed in his crusade against humanity are the countless souls under his domain, even that of Death itself, and their powers rightly belong to him.

Soma can differentiate between the types of Soul Arts he uses, and this reflects accordingly in his Noble Phantasm.

“I never wanted this power, but I guess I’m stuck with it. I’ll always carry the target on my back, but at least I can look awesome as hell while doing it, I suppose.”

[5->3 Turns] [Decrease Enemy Charge by 1 (20%->50%), Select own NP Command Card’s type between Quick, Arts or Buster for 3 Turns. Effect of NP changes depending on which Command Card Type is selected. This skill is immune to debuff effects (such as Skill Seal)]

Noble Phantasm:

Advent of Sorrow – He Who Severed His Fate Against Chaos and God / Anti-Divine, Anti-Self / Rank (???)

A manifestation of Soma’s power truly made his own, separate from the title of Dark Lord and Dracula. Having defeated the Chaos Entity, he managed to sever its connection to his soul, and be saved from his Fate. Even so, he carries the Power of Dominance with him always, and the countless souls and followers of Chaos always wait and offer themselves unto Soma to lead and command them. In his own imperfect way, neither holy nor demonic.

After all, he’s only human.

(Note: If used by the true Count Dracula, this would be considered an Anti-Humanity NP)

[Type: Buster] – [Deals massive damage to a single enemy (1200%->2400%), Chance to Decrease Charge by 1 (80%->100%). Overcharge: Increases own Buster Card Effectiveness (20%) (1 Turn) and NP Damage (1 Turn) (20%) (Activates First)]

[Type: Arts] – [Deals heavy damage to all enemies (400%->800%), Chance to decrease Atk (15%->25%) and Critical Chance (20%->30%). Overcharge: Inflict Curse (5 Turns).]

[Type: Quick] – [Apply Debuff Immune (1 Time), and Restore HP each turn for self (3 Turns) (1000->1500), and Increase NP Gauge each turn for self (3 Turns) (5%). Overcharge: Apply Def Up for all allies (3 Turns) (25%->50%).]

Bond Lines: 

Bond 1: “Heh, thanks for having me! I’m still not too sure about how all this stuff works here, but if you need a monster taken down, I’m your guy.”

Bond 2: “So the rest of those dudes call you ‘Master’? Kind of awkward, but I guess they’re magical familiars at the end of the day. What? So am I? Sorry but, vampiric powers aside, I’m just a normal guy. I was even in University before I got dragged here. I’ll just call you [name] for now.”

Bond 3: “Do you like curry? Arikado said I shouldn’t be using these monster souls for dumb stuff, but they don’t mind. They always talk to me and really want to help me out wherever I am. Except Death, that guy sucks. He’s always breaking into my home and trying to convince me to become the next Dark Lord and to ‘accept my throne’ and stuff.”

Bond 4: “…It scares me, sometimes. Knowing not only what I am, but what I’m very capable of.”

Bond 5: “Y’know…you could always come back with me to my world, if you want to escape. I’ll take you to meet Mina, and Hammer and Yoko and Julius and Arikado and…Hm. Sorry. I know you can’t abandon this world, it’s where you grew up. There’s…a lot of people here who love you. You should always remember that and hold it close. It saved my life when I thought I couldn’t go on, and I know it will also save yours.”

Voice Lines:

(1): “I’m glad this place is a lot simpler than the castle. That place had so many hidden rooms and puzzles that I felt like I was going insane…No, as a matter of fact, DON’T tell me about all the secret workshops here.”

(2): “Hm? What’s up? I’m just relaxing here. Sorry if I’m taking up space. It’s nice to just take a moment.”

(3): “No, no, don’t worry. Even if I could, I’m not the type of guy to just go around stealing souls. I only do that to monsters, and even then, they become complacent once they return to me. I could show you some of the fun ones, like the Skeleton Gardener, if you’d like.”

Likes: “What I like? Curry! Oh, and Mina. She’s been with me for my whole life. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Dislikes: “This is gonna sound cliché, but garlic. It just tastes bad.”

Event: “Whoa, a party! Let’s go, I’m super bored cooped up in here.”

About The Holy Grail: “Wish granting? No thanks, I’ve read a ton of comics and things always go wrong. What? Of course, it’s a valuable source!”

Summon Quote: “Yo! My name is Soma Cruz. I’m just a regular high school student. Um…Where am I, exactly?”

Happy Birthday: “Happy Birthday, [name]! I’m so gonna throw you the coolest party ever! I’ll even invite Mina…If, uh, if that’s cool with you?”

(King Hassan): “D-Death!? Why are you…Oh. Uh, sorry about that. You reminded me of...someone. I’m sure you’re a cool guy underneath all that armor.”

(Vlad/Vlad III (EXTRA)): “Huh. So, in this world, the legend of Dracula is just that? A legend? Well, that’s a huge relief. I’m not exactly the kingly type.”

(Gilgamesh/Gilgamesh (Caster)): “Hey [name], could you give me a hand? This gold idiot keeps saying I stole his weapons, but they’re mine! …Hey! Stay back with those portal things! Someone, help!!!”

(Scathach): “Jeez, I bet Arikado will get along with that slave driver. Seriously, Arikado’s method of teaching me my powers amounted to locking me in a room with monsters and a pocketknife. Huh? She’s stomping over here!? [name], help me!”

(Marie Antionette): “I don’t know why, but…Looking at you makes me sad. I’m sorry.”

(Sessyoin Kiara): “Master, this lady is coming onto me WAY too hard. She keeps telling me to ‘embrace what I am’ and junk. I already get enough of that crap from cultists back home.”

(Sakata Kintoki/Astolfo/Romulus/Romulus-Quirinus/Ashwatthama): “Hey, you’re a pretty cool dude, huh? Finally, someone with some style!”

(Amakusa Shirou): “Ugh, you remind me of Fortner. And stop using rosaries around me, I’m not Satan, you jerk!”

(Mephistopheles): “Please, leave me alone. I’m not evil, nor will I ever be the Dark Lord. Just because I have those powers doesn’t mean I’m defined by them. Also, the alarm clock you gave me exploded, so I don’t think you’re all that trustworthy anyways.”

(Beni Enma): “Aww, you’re so cute...Wait, from the Underworld? A yokai? Guess you’re one of mine, then. If you want, I can loan you some Skeleton Waiters for your chain.”

(Any Avenger-Class Servant): “Hey, you guys are kinda like me! Everyone says you’re evil, but you’re actually really nice!”

(Arcueid Brunestud): “Master, that girl is shooting me some pretty weird looks....Huh? Reincarnating vampire? Oh, I guess I’d look pretty weird in that case. That’s not her fault, though. Maybe I’ll go say hi.”

QQABB Deck:

Buster Card: 2 Hit / -Soma raises Excalibur (still in the stone) and smashes it into the enemy-

Quick Card: 5 Hit / -Soma holds Valmanway in front of him, turns around, and multiple slashes envelop the enemy-

Art Card: 3 Hit / -Soma does two horizontal strikes, then a third overhead strike with Claimh Solais-

Extra Card: 6 Hit / -Soma punches twice, does a spin-attack with Claimh Solais, then jumps back and fires his Positron Rifle-

Level Up: “Whew…I feel so powerful.”

Ascension 1: “Whoo! Good job, [name].” 

Ascension 2: “This…This is just like then…[name], maybe don’t do this anymore.”

Ascension 3: “Please…stop. I don’t know if I can pull myself back this time…”

Ascension 4: “I see. Well…as long as you’re by my side, I’ll never succumb. So please…don’t die.”

Battle Start ½: “Just how many monsters out there!? In any case, let’s do this thing!” / “I’ll carry the mantle and defeat this terrible night!”

Skill ½: “Bullet, set…Enchanted, set…Guardian, set…” / “How about some of this!”

Attack Selection ½/3: “Hmm.” / “Seriously!?” / “Nice.”

Attack ½/3: “Hraagh!” / “Take this!” / “You’re going down!”

Extra Attack: “Let’s see you handle THIS!”

Noble Phantasm Selection ½: “Are…Are you sure?” / “I’ll trust you on this.”

Noble Phantasm: “I will never be the Dark Lord…You, God, and The World will just have to deal with it!”

Noble Phantasm Damage: “I won’t…Submit...!”

Regular Damage: “Gah!”

Defeated ½: “Mina….” / “Julius…our promise…”

Battle Finish ½: “That was a close one…” / “Anyone need some healing? I have some spare spoiled milk…Oh wait, none of you have a Ghoul soul, huh?”

[rosesnink]

The Cursed Heiress, Chapter 3: Consequences

A/N: This took longer than expected to publish! But it’s here and I hope you guys enjoy it! 

Summary: While Joanna experiments the courtly life, a dark force threatens her life. 

Previously: Prologue Chapter I Chapter II  

TW: Some violence. 

Word Count: 3861 

The day Joanna woke up, she looked at her fingers. She knew what happened: she was getting attached to a human, and soon, all she worked for would be gone. Forever.

If Elias taught her something, it was that everything came with a price. Even for half-bloods. That was living between two worlds. Two different legacies. Two ways of living.

She sighed as the clock ticked it was now dawn. She got dressed with her witch habit: high-heeled boots, a skirt with leather leggings, a short corset and a tailcoat that fitted her just fine. She descended the stairs where she embraced Elias fraternally: his gray eyes, his white, long hair and his dressing of the Tudor era with his headpiece, showing his role in the Circle.

“Elias, at long last. We don’t have much time before the Countess calls me upon the other ladies”

“Leave that to me. Now, follow me. I found a perfect spot for us”

The field was near a ruined castle, all the yellow and amber tones.

She looked at Elias and saluted him. Then, they faced each other, waiting for one of them to strike. Her staff was tight and magical, and his was but a simple staff. She decided to start it. She ran upon him and jumped high, preparing the strike and the accompanied spell. Elias barely dodged it, but it hit him. He striked and she blocked, sometimes dodging a high and low attack, her eyes never leaving Elias. He got her extremities blocked, but she casted a spell that sent him flying across the field and jumped with a backflip and grabbed his neck.

“How about we slow time so we can perfectly do this?”

“Anything to avoid sewing”

They both grabbed their arms and casted a slow time spell, and when everything went slow, they stared at each other.

“Again?”

“Though you’d never ask”

She threw away her staff and guarded herself, following Elias’s lead. He jumped high, and so did she, a protection spell on her. They both collapsed, but Joanna’s side won and she fell on the top of him, rolling across the field. They both jumped up and Joanna dodged a punch and kicked high, kicking him in the chin, gave him a left crochet, dodging his jab and attacking with a swing. She hitted him with a right jab and a needle, dodging his left crochet and kicking him in the ribs, then on the knee and casting a spell that threw him to the floor.

He laughed “Nice job, kid. I guess you’re improving”

“Guess? I am improving”

“Oh yeah?”

She smirked at him and helped him up and then casted a spell “Ventures” And sent him flying across the forest!

She ran for him in a minute and catched him in the Edgewater gardens, a proud smile on his face “Ha! Should’ve seen that coming”  

“You should, yes”

She helped him get up and brushed off the dirt and mud off his clothes. They walked across the estate, casting protection spells and warning of when someone with bad intentions, human or not, came in and out of the estate.

“You should really prepare yourself for the sewing circle. My power lasts that much, alas, I have matters to attend”

Joanna sighed as she nodded, a pained expression on her face.

“May I?”

“You must”

With a blink, he disappeared.

It was a nice day in the Royal Court of the faeries. Lamrian was all gold and glory, and the man hesitated before coming in. Once in the throne room, he bowed down the monarchs.

“Lord Elric. Lady Thalissa. I’m glad that you acceded to meet with me. Is your son well?”

“Tialo is just fine”

“But what do you want?”

“As you know, a half-blood lives among us. She’s half witch, half human.”

“We know. She seems harmless.”

“But you forget that she carries an important duty and that her birth means a big change in all our species”

“What do you mean?” Lord Elric seemed confused.

“She’s very powerful, my lord. So powerful it might mean the unification of all of us… or a real destruction of the supernatural world. And she’s getting close to a real darkness and I know who it is.”

“What do you suggest, then?”

“The same I suggested to the Alpha of the London pack and King Gaius… destroy the girl before her power increases. And the magician who is corrupting her”

As Joanna ran across the halls of the estate, damning Elias for a good breakfast before sewing circle, she could already hear the women’s giggles and conversations. She made a last sprint… slamming the door open and panting. She recovered her shape quickly and bowed in greet.

“Morning ladies. Countess Henrietta. A thousand apologies in my delay to our meeting, but my tutor insisted on a benefitting breakfast after some arduous lessons. However, that’s not excuse”

Some women were there. Miss Sutton. The Masked. A black woman with a rather dashing port. Countess Henrietta.

“We were wondering if you were too ashamed of showing up, but do join us!”

“Hmmph, lateness on sewing circle is unladylike-“

“That is a matter that you can discuss with my tutor and the earl since the agreement is between them, since you seem to have a say on my activities”

The Countess glared at her and watched instead her embroidery. She snorted “Your mother is a seamstress and yet you lack of an ability of sewing”

“It wasn’t in my raising activities, I’m afraid” But I can surely crack your skull like a wood stick.  

“Ahem, Lady Joanna, I see you haven’t been properly introduced to the ladies! This is Miss Donna Bowman” She whispered to her low, but Joanna’s impressive hearing did the job anyways “She’s the earl’s bastard, remember?”

“Ohhhhh, I see now!” She turned her attention to her with a smile as fake as her whole I Am A Respectable Woman dress. “It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Lady Joanna!”

Call me bastard again and I’ll rip off your curls and make of them food for poltergeists, you rich scum “The pleasure is all mine”

“And this is Miss Annabelle Parsons of Hazelvale Manor” Continued Miss Sutton.

She took a look at her and smiled warmly “Pray tell, this is the beauty I’ve tampled the other day?”

Miss Parsons blushed at the compliment but stayed still on her composture.

“I am, indeed. Pleased to finally meet you, my lady”

She could see there was a major reason why she seemed different to other people, other ladies. But she wasn’t quite sure. But she’ll find out surely. She thought of what Elias told her about the mortal women: they were taught to find a husband, compete against each other and live for men. Joanna found that absurd. Why live for such a weak sex? Not that Joanna hated men, just most of them were quite manageable, manipulative and easy to control. Her mother didn’t even need to use the charm spell or a love potion. She just had to adjust her corset, unbutton a simple button, bat eyelashes and smile innocently and that man was at her mercy and command. The majority thinks about power, glory and make of women their instrument to produce heirs and keep their useless lives going on after they were ashes. Things weren’t like that.

In this world, kids were made nonstop, armies of them and all were sun and the moon, marrying them off with strangers with temporal money and glory, and women were sold off to old and rich lechers who had seven mistresses and carried bastards around the country. They gambled, smoked, fornicated nonsense and made money in the most stupid way. But she had to say, that Harriette Wilson mortal was giving them a lesson and she was there for it.

She looked again to her companions, sewing and talking, not noticing she had spaced out… At least most of them, for Miss Parsons was staring at her curiously. She looked at her back and arched an eyebrow “Trying to guess what’s on my mind?” She nodded “Any success yet?”

“Not at all, my lady. You’re an absolute enigma”

“At least I look good?” She teased her, leaning closer to her, a smirk on her face.

“I won’t deny it”

“I take this is your awful routine. Giggling ladies, talking about tasteless buffoons called men and sip tea?”

Annabelle chuckled “It’s not always that bad, but your presence makes it quite amusing”

“Oh, I try, but apparently it’s not proper, but why should I lose my sleep for some idiots who assume things that aren’t true at all to explain themselves some senseless things?” Joanna declared, observing some of the ladies.

“You have truly made up your mind about nobility”

“Miss Parsons, Lady Joanna, what’s that you’re talking about? It seems interesting enough to increase your voice and let us have part in it” Countess Henrietta said.

“Yes! Maybe I do have something to apport in this conversation!” Miss Sutton continued “I hate to be left out”

Even if Joanna wished to shut their mouths with a flock of her wrist, she contained herself and made up a well-rehearsed smile “Apologies, ladies. You all seemed so in your own world that I didn’t mean to impose. Miss Parsons and I were just getting along”

“Oh! We’d love to get along with you too! Don’t we, ladies?”

Please say no

“We do!”

She was about to say something when Elias busted into the room, looking worried. He scanned the room until he found Joanna and looked at her “Mills, emergency. Code Raines. Gather your things. Now”

Joanna’s breath catches as she remembers the Code Raines: Adrian Raines was one of Gaius’s soldiers and that meant he had brought some of his army to destroy despair and bloodshed all because he could. She excused herself to the ladies as an ‘important matter that couldn’t go supervised without her’ and she left a fire message to her father to stay safe and close the Edgewater manor until it were safe to open them. She jumped out of her bedroom’s window and charged her rifle with bullets full of holy water and her staff, a present of the high Colonel, that was touched by Angel Miguel. A caress of this and it could melt a vampire, but not kill it. She wasn’t like Gaius Sociopath Agustine. She checked the gardens and the surroundings of the manor. She felt a tap on the back and prepared a punch to the person. It was Elias.

“I’ll check out the other places, you defend your father’s manor”

She nodded as she held her staff tight, looking for any signal of a vampire. She looked around, and with a snap of her fingers, she was in a witch’s armor and with a few more weapons. She was about to inform Elias that it was all a scare when she heard a snap! And Gaius, Adrian all covered so the sun wouldn’t harm him and Kamilah Sayeed bursted out of the shadow.

“There you are, you sons of bitches”

She showed her staff as the vampires showed their weapons and ran straight at her, but she dodged two of them and saw Elias and another creature on her line defense. She found herself face-to-face with Adrian, a growl on his face “We’re here to kill you”.

“Good luck with that, fella” And she striked, dodging his attacks and striking as fast and efficiently as she could, using also her body as a weapon. She’ll stab him with the staff later. She dodged a punch and threw a high kick and then she hitted lower, making him lose balance. They rolled down the gardens and Adrian hurled her out of her grasp and she landed elegantly on her feet, her eyes now amber. She growled as she jumped high and kicked him in several places of the head and landed on her back and rapidly landed on her feet again, dodging another attack and kicked him hard in the chin and twirled her leg to kick him in the jaw, grabbed his attacking arm and twisting it, using now his body in pain to make a deadly spin all over his body and hurling him to the lake, where the bad-tempered ducks seemed positively offended by the intruder’s entrance. She got him out with magic and saw the perfect moment and ran, flexed her knees and jumped as high as she could to then fall like a rapid meteor, stabbing the holy staff on his ankle, making him screech of pain! She kicked him in the knee and broke three of his ribs as she saw how the vampire monarchs started to see the intensity of the sun and retired. She smirked at Gaius as he carried his creation and ran off, screaming that this wasn’t over.

“Anyone else who volunteers to kill me? No? Great, I need refreshments”

“Nice job, kid. You managed him just fine”

“I have a pretty good tutor”

They embraced as she yelled “It’s safe now, Father!”

The ladies busted out of the manor, perplexed. Countess Henrietta glared at her “What have you done?!”

“Countess Henrietta, considering that I saved all your asses for a big disaster and being some bad creature’s dinner, you should show me some respect or your corpse would now belong to some cult fanatics. De nada”

She heard the chuckling of Elias and her father and the giggles of the ladies as she winked at Henrietta and wiped off Adrian’s blood and headed to the mansion. She could feel all the looks on her as she changed and went to the drawing room, all the other ladies following her, expectant of what she’d tell them of the screams and sounds of battle outside. But she had already lied to countless mortals about this. She knew what to say and do to make them believe. Empty lies, sighs, a little of illusion magic on her skin and some occasional charm spell to fulfill the mortal’s constant and annoying curiosity.

“What happened outside, my lady? The earl was pretty distressed when you went outside and the staff locked us in! We couldn’t see a thing!” Ah, Elias, you smart bastard “We only saw shadows moving and then, something jumped high in the air and we heard the scream! It was unhuman!” Miss Sutton said.

“There were some rabid animals that we had to take care of and one of those happened to be a boar, so I attacked it in the air. A simple jump and a little scratch to scare him off, nothing else. We secured the houses in case it tried to attack someone else”

“And the third man?” Miss Bowman asked

“Some friendly backup that was passing by and jumped to help us”

“This is ortageous! Women who fight and take care of a man’s matter and with the help of some white-haired freak?”

She looked straight at Henrietta and the spell started to work on “I know your son could’ve managed it just fine, but he is unfamiliar with rabid animals and could’ve gotten hurt easily, alas me and Elias, who is an expert on these terms and have taught me everything I know, handled worst situations and made it safely. It was all precaution. And the screech was a boar I hurt badly to scare off, you know how these beasts are. You got it clear now?”

Countess Henrietta muttered against her will “I g-got it”

She smiled content “Good! Now, Miss Parsons, how are you so well acquainted with my family?”

Joanna walked through the outsides of the estate as she was engrossed by a big essay by Mary Wollstonecraft titled A Vindication of the Rights of Womans: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects. All she said and pointed did had a point and it was better explained than a man could never explain. She passed a chapter as she heard a familiar neigh. She smiled delightedly as she saw Clover and Mr. Harper walking around.

“Hey stranger. Clover”

“Reading a book, I see.” His eyes went wide in curiosity “A forbidden one, I see. Aren’t you afraid that they’ll catch you?”

She smirked at him “Not quite. I happen to be smarter than those brute buffoons. And how’s my beautiful Clover?” She neighed in happiness and she chuckled in delight “I’m glad that you’re alright. And you, Mr. Harper?”

“I’m quite good, taking a walk with Clover so she can breathe fresh air. Right, girl?”

The horse nuzzled her head against Mr. Harper and he petted her head.

“I heard that hours ago you took care of some rabid animals and injured one badly. I’d ask you if you’re alright but you’re unscratched and allow me the boldness, also radiant” Mr. Harper observed.

“Well, it was quite troubling. That boar was big and fast, but nothing I never mismanaged before”

“I’m glad that you’re safe and in one piece. I was concerned about your well-being”

Clover neighed in protest and Mr. Harper chuckled “I’m sorry. We were concerned about your well-being”

“It’s very sweet of both of you to care, but I can take care of myself just fine” Joanna chuckled.

“As much as I enjoy this conversation, I should get going” Luke sighed.

“Don’t let me stop you. I was about to go visit the forest anyways. See you around!”

She turned back where she was going but, in the way, she found her father.

“I see that you and Mr. Harper are getting along” He beamed

“Ah, yes, I find him a delightful company”

“I can see why. We’ve only had him for a year and yet I cannot imagine how the estate was without him”

Even if he was smiling, something seemed to be on his mind.

“Is everything alright, papa?”.

“Yes, it is. I was just trying to find the ideal words to tell you this: in a matter of days, I’ll host a garden party in honor to you and introduce you to society”

“Truly? It wasn’t necessary, Father!”

“I do think it is. I want everyone I know to see who is my daughter!”

She cupped his face in her hands and whispered “You know you have nothing to prove to them, right? Nor I”

“I know, but think about this as a friendly gathering to meet new people and-“

“Please don’t say new romance or I’ll hurl myself to the sun”

He laughed at his daughter’s disgust and squeezed her back “I wasn’t going to say that… exactly. Now, how was Henrietta in the sewing circle? I hope she wasn’t too cruel on you”

“Ah, where to begin…”

She was preparing for bed with Briar when she heard a knock on her door. Joanna looked at her body in her bath and with her view she saw her grandmother’s shape and opened the door with a movement of her finger. Briar curtsied and left them two in the room.

“Is this visit about the garden party?” She asked as her fingers underwater boiled the water and looked at her quizzically.

“It is and I happen to have the most wonderful news!”

She arched an eyebrow as she asked herself to read her mind or let her. She talked again before she could even decide “I just got confirmed that the Duke Tristan of Karlington is coming to your garden party!”

“And that’s good because…?”

“He wants to meet you, obviously! Isn’t it great?”

How could it not be a stupid, probably old man who had a meaningless title came to meet her and compete to have her hand in marriage great? It was utterly stupid. In the Circle, she’d surely be whoever she wanted without a man who followed her day and night. Or a person at all.

“I guess” She shrugged as she got up of her bath and grabbed a towel and started cleaning herself “But be frank with me, Lady Grandmother, how old is he?”

“He isn’t so old! He’s, like, 51 I think-“

“Pass”

The Dowager Countess seemed horrorized “My dear, don’t be so severe on him! In my opinion he is an agreeable gentleman and he has a title, lots of money and impressive lands!”

She turned her head on her and dropped the towel as she looked at her grandmother “Is that all you think about? Sell me off with an old lecher with money that won’t last, a meaningless title that will die in a matter of years and stupid lands? Where’s the longing, the passion, the mutual respect and my opinion on this matter? I don’t even want this life, I just want to be there with my father, not whoring myself to men who will never see me as their equal and losing contact with all I love! I cannot afford love, Lady Grandmother! I-I can’t!”

She digged her long nails in her palms as she breathed and steadied herself “I will not live to serve a man. I hate the idea of marrying for wealth and power and give a stranger unwanted children and endure that I will never be anything else but someone’s wife! I wasn’t raised like that”

Her grandmother was in shock as she processed all she said. Then, she collected herself as she pressed her palm to her shoulder, a little compassion on her eyes “I know you come for a different culture, but you’re now here and this is the only way to ensure a future. I know you don’t want it, but not all men are horrible: Mr. Sinclaire is a very respected gentleman, Mr. Chambers is surely a breath of fresh air and Viscount Westonly can be quite amusing with his hearing problems. We’re humans, we’re flawless, but I surely know you’ll find a man that will love you or grow to and knowing him, living with him, loving him will be the greatest of all adventures. In fact, let’s make a pact”

“Hm. I do love pacts”

“You’ll meet all of them and spend time with them, and if within a year you still think they’re all, ahem, tasteless buffoons as you say, we will not mention marriage and we will see an alternative to make of the Edgewater state a still good state.”

After a few minutes of cavilating, she nodded and shook hands with her grandmother “We have a deal. Now tell me how you court in here and what I’m about to endure, I need to know the territory”

“I was fearing that you wouldn’t be at all interested! Allow me to explain you the art of the fan”

And with that, they talked about boys and fans and courtship until the hour grew late. Joanna repeated to herself ‘Play their game, make them fall for you, but never fall for them’. Yes, that’d be her plan. And no one will ruin it. She won’t make the mistake of her mother. History wouldn’t repeat itself.  

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Tagging: @lorirwritesfanfic​  @missameliep and @hellospunkiebrewster​ @kamilahsqueen @marlcasters​ @mrsnazariowalker​ @amomentofsinclairity​ @princess-geek​ @lovemychoices​ @eiko-helena-kamilah-medusa​ @i-put-the-sin-in-sinclaire​ 

[perspective-series]

Vampire Perspective (13/17)

By: @arc852 and @hiddendreamer67

Warnings: tears, talk of owning people, talk of #rude relatives, grief (?)

First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

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 Logan’s confusion soon turned to pure shock as he looked up at Virgil. “Are you...are you crying?”

“NO.” Virgil growled, feeling the tears leaking down his cheeks even as he kept his eyes shut. 

 Logan didn’t know what to do. He was terrible with emotional outbursts like this, even worse when that person was his captor and had never shown anything like this before. “Why...why are you so upset over this? You said it yourself, you still plan on eating me eventually and even encourage Patton to eat Roman...I don’t understand.”

“It’s better that way.” Virgil tried to choke through his tears. “You- you’re too weak on your own, and at least it helps us. It’s just cruel to drag it out like this. Circle of freakin’ life.”

 “You really don’t seem too happy about that. Or even really believe it.” Logan commented softly.

“I’ve seen it happen!” Virgil cried out, finally opening his eyes to reveal how irritated they had become. “Yeah it’s absolutely wretched but the world is full of wretched creatures like me and the ones who try to survive just get crushed if they end up in our path. It’s a vicious cycle where the strong get stronger and mercy is just another term for weakness. You have to look out for yourself and your coven, and do what’s best for them.”

 Logan was silent, taking this all in. Virgil was clearly frustrated, bordering on angry so Logan didn’t know why he said what he did next. “You’ve...never eaten a borrower before, have you?” Logan asked, remembering an earlier question Virgil had shot down before. Everything was lining up, if only it could reveal something a bit easier to decipher.

“...no.” Virgil hiccuped, his breath hitching as he fought to regain control of himself. “No, I haven’t. I thought it’d be easy, I thought I could do it, but…”

 “Virgil...it’s-it’s alright…” Logan tried, almost not believing he was actually trying to comfort his vampire captor.

“No, it’s not.” Virgil insisted, wiping at his eyes. “Because I’m just screwing it all up again and you’re gonna die and Patton’s gonna be miserable and weak and everyone is just going to suffer because I can’t even follow my own biology correctly-”

 “Virgil!” Logan yelled, interrupting him. Logan sighed. “You are still stuck on the concept that you must follow your biology. Follow your family and other vampires you have seen. But you don’t. Being a monster is not determined by what species you are. It’s determined by what you do. You can choose to not be this vile creature if that is what you wish.”

Virgil looked at Logan in surprise, his tears beginning to dry up. “How?” Virgil spat. “How can I be anything but terrible when I’m made to take the lives of others to survive?”

 “But...you already don’t.” Logan said, carefully. Virgil seemed to finally be getting it, so he had to go about this slowly. “Yes, you go out and hunt humans to feed off of but from my knowledge, you haven’t killed anyone in a long time, and it’s obviously not required to get what you need.”

“Yeah, but that’s just humans.” Virgil shifted anxiously on his feet. “You’re...different. Just a taste could be fatal, if I was even able to strike, because you lose it so fast and it’s so addicting. And there’s so little.”

 “That may be true.” Logan said, wincing as he did so. “But you also do not have to eat a borrower. Yes, our blood may make you stronger but it’s not necessary as long as you are regularly drinking from humans.”

“Yeah, and then we’re vulnerable again the next time my ex family decides to take a whack at Patton!” Virgil grit his teeth, fangs barred.

 Logan took a step back, swallowing the lump that had jumped into his throat. “Wait, has that happened before?” He said, after a moment to collect himself.

Virgil froze, shrinking back slightly at he seemed to realize what he’d said.

“...vampire covens are very possessive.” Virgil revealed quietly. “They loathed me enough to let me go, but I’m still part of their blood. Turning someone gives you a claim on their life- er, afterlife. They see any claim of mine as a claim of theirs.”

 Logan frowned. “Well that doesn’t...seem very fair.” Not to Virgil or to Patton.

“It’s not.” Virgil agreed with a low growl. “I was selfish, dragging Patton into this mess, and now he’s forced to be almost my prisoner because he’s too weak on his own to ever stand a chance. We’ve only gotten lucky before. And if Patton would have just eaten Roman, he could be free of all this and stand his own. Stronger than my family, even, because the borrower blood would be fresher in his veins.”

 “But...Patton doesn’t want to eat Roman...does he?” Logan guessed, putting more pieces together.

“No.” Virgil said begrudgingly. “And now we’re in this freaking mess and everything’s just gonna be worse whenever my ex family does attack because now we reek of borrower anyways.”

 “That...is quite the problem.” Logan admitted. “But even so, I doubt even with the added strength of eating us, not much would change. You might drive them away but they would just come back later. Which I assumed is what always happens.”

“Well yeah, for now, ‘cause we’re weak.” Virgil’s expression turned darker. “But the strong conquer the weak. With enough strength, we could take them down for good.”

 Logan shook his head. “No, you’ve got it all wrong.” Logan stepped a bit closer, hoping he wasn’t overstepping. “The strong can be conquered as well, by the intelligent.”

Virgil frowned, looking down at Logan with consideration. “...explain?”

 “Strength can only take you so far.” Logan started. “But ultimately, the ‘strong’ will always fall to the ones who know how to play the cards.” Logan face grew more serious. “I believe we can come up with a plan to stop your family once and for all, without any added strength on both your parts.”

“I think that’s impossible.” Virgil argued. “They’ve got several thousand years of experience accumulated between them and a small army of peons.”

 “Yes, but an army falls if the leaders are gone. If we manage to trick, trap, and off them, then the rest will follow. Who would you say the leaders are? Your parents?” Logan asked.

“My parents are dead.” Virgil crossed his arms. “My brothers took charge a handful of centuries ago, after...” Virgil paused, his lips feeling suddenly very chapped. “After they came across a very effective power supply.”

 Logan winced. “I’m to assume you mean all the borrowers that had taken residence in your house?”

Virgil swallowed the lump in his throat, not meeting Logan’s eye as he gave a nod.

 “I see...am I also to assume that you blame yourself for that?” Logan asked, seeing the signs of guilt.

“Well duh.” Virgil’s voice lacked its usual bite. “It’s my fault. I led my brothers right to them.”

 “How?” Logan couldn’t help but ask.

“I found...Emile.” Virgil explained. “And then I was selfish, as I always am, wanting company so I kept him close. But then Dee found out, and Remus took Emile, and- well after that then they tracked the rest down- and-” Virgil took a shuddering breath, his explanation coming out in pieces.

 Logan’s eyes widened. “Hey, it’s alright.” Logan tried. “You cannot be at fault for wanting a little company. For wanting a...friend.”

“Yes, I can!” Virgil grasped at his hair, looking ready to pull it all out. “That’s not how the world works. That’s not how vampires work, we don’t ‘make friends’.”

 “Says who.” Logan exclaimed. “Your family? Because we have already established they are psychopaths bent on murdering you and taking Patton. I don’t really think they have any say in ‘how things work’.”

“I think they’re the only authorities with the power to do so.” Virgil retorted. “Considering they’re some of the most powerful vamps on the planet, yeah, I think they know a thing or two.”

 “Or maybe they simply say that so they may stay in power. After all, a lot of people rule with fear. It’s quite the tactic when it comes to controlling people.” Logan explained further.

“I was one of them.” Virgil reminded him. “I watched from the inside. I’ve seen what happens to those who stay in their lane and get stronger; and I’ve seen what happens to those of us who go soft.”

 “All I am saying is that just because they are powerful, doesn’t mean they are right.” Logan said gently. “And I think you know that, you just, again, keep lying to yourself.”

“For once I’ve never been more sure of myself.” Virgil argued. “I want them to be wrong, because being lonely eternally is just about the worst fate I could imagine. But being with others is worse, because then you’re giving yourself a weakness. And you’re putting them in danger, too.”

Virgil turned to the side, pressing his shoulder up against the wall. “I don’t want to be alone, I really don’t. But it’s selfish of me to keep forcing people to stay close who don’t want to be near me.” Because why would anyone want that? Virgil was dangerous, and he knew it.

 Logan sighed, once again the only one around to do any comforting. “I may not know Patton that well and...the two of you may have just had a fight. But it seems to me that Patton wants to stay with you.”

Virgil snorted humorlessly. “Yeah, he’s getting really good at acting. I can see the sadness in his eyes. He hates what he’s become, what I forced him to be.”

 Logan frowned. “Have you...talked with him about it?” The borrower asked.

“A bit.” Virgil shrugged. “When he gets all freaked out by blood or can’t control himself and I’ve gotta help clean up the mess.”

 “That...I believe that is not an ideal time to talk about something like that. Especially if most of the ‘talking’ is the two of you yelling angrily at each other.” Logan sighed, pushing up his glasses to rub at his nose. “You need to talk to him when the two of you are not high strung with rampant emotions.”

“It’s not exactly a casual topic.” Virgil huffed. “And he’s already made his position clear, there’s no need to bring it up again.”

 “I think there very much is. If not to settle things then to at least put your own mind at ease.” Logan continued to encourage. “I doubt he would have stayed with you this long if he truly hated you.”

“He’s stayed with me because he can’t survive on his own.” Virgil argued. “Even without the threat of my psycho relatives he’s wretched at being a vampire.” Virgil frowned, looking contemplative. “He’s just… Patton was always so full of life, and I ripped that away from him, making him a living dead.”

 “I just ask that you at least think about talking with him. For real. I think it would help the both of you in the long run.” Of course, Logan couldn’t make Virgil do anything, so all he could use was his words and hope for the best.

“Okay, great, so Dee and Remus are going to come for our throats, but at least in the meantime we’ll have a tender therapy session.” Virgil scoffed mockingly.

 Logan let out a small groan. “If you never talk to Patton, you’ll always be more open to such attacks. The two of you need to be on the same page in order for you either stop them or get away depending on what you decide.” Logan was voting for stopping them once and for all.

“We’re on the same page.” Virgil insisted. “We’d love to not have to deal with them, but we’re too weak, so we run like cowards, tails between our legs.”

 “Let me reiterate, strength is nothing compared to intelligence.” Logan repeated once more, feeling frustrated at this point that Virgil refused to listen. “If you are smart, then you are the strong ones and you can stop them.”

“Are you calling me an idiot?” Virgil growled. “Over a thousand years and you don’t think I’ve tried to out-smart them?”

 Logan found this intriguing. “You have? And what did you try?” He ignored the question of thinking Virgil an idiot.

“I don’t know…” Virgil groaned, tilting his head back and trying to remember all his failures. Not exactly a fun time. “Well-placed stakes, arson, stalling into the day, salt traps, basically all the traditional stuff that wouldn’t immediately be super painful to us too. My brothers are strong, and they aren’t stupid. Well, one of them, at least.”

 Logan hummed, deep in thought. “I’ll admit...you have certainly tried many things.” If so many things had already been tried, it would be a bit more difficult to come up with something. “Still...it’s not impossible to find a solution that will work.”

“Oh yeah?” Virgil crossed his arms. “Go ahead and try, I’m all ears.”

 Logan blinked. “Wh-What? Right now?” Logan was unprepared.

“Yeah, right now.” Virgil glanced at the blinds. “Better do it fast too, sun’s coming up soon.”

 Logan looked over to the window, seeing that the sun was indeed going to come up soon, perhaps in the next few minutes. “I, well I have a lot to think about, I can’t just come up with a solid plan on the spot like this.” Logan argued, fidgeting with his hands.

“See? Not so easy.” Virgil seemed to consider this a win, crossing over towards his coffin. At this point, the only thing that could stop his brothers was a miracle.

 “I will think of something.” Logan called out, glaring.

“Sure you will.” Virgil waved him off, climbing in to sleep. “No guarantee I didn’t think of it first ages ago, though.” With this last remark, Virgil pulled the lid closed, sealing himself away for another day.

[weaselle]

Dead Earth 3rd installment

Ringer had killed a couple men back in Quorum, and that was the problem. Quorum was pretty rough and tumble; those men he shot were mean and tough, and he figured it made him a real bad hombre.

He was tall and slim, and he fancied himself a gunfighter, wearing a pistol in a shoulder rig and another in a holster tucked into the back of his belt. Somewhere along the way he had joined up with Daily, a big beefy man who loved to hit things with his fists, and the two of them pretty much thought they were the toughest dudes to ever live. Geo, a smallish young man, was impressed by them, and latched onto the pair.

Breen only had two other crew members: Cee W., a copilot he’d met on a night the young man was fed up with his previous employer, and Hanah, an old ship hand who kept to herself, knew how to do her job and everyone else’s too. Breen’s ship The Grabbyelle was already warming it’s engines for take off by the time Ringer, Daily, and Geo showed up, late as usual.  

“They’re on, Cap’n” Hannah’s voice sounded in Breen’s ear.

“Lift it” Breen told Cee W.. Once they were on course, he turned over control to his copilot and called a crew meeting in the galley. Hex and Jackal would be there, Cee W. would listen in on the com.

_____________________________________________________________________

Breen did a double take as he entered the galley and saw Hex. She was wearing a kind of business suit in crimson and black, with plenty of gold jewelry, somehow managing to look like both a CEO and a pirate -- the pirate effect highlighted by the nine inch blade strapped to her left thigh and a long wool coat draped over her shoulders like a cloak. Jackal was beside her in similar if less flashy garb. His large foxy ears were plainly visible through a brimmed hat with two holes for them, but looked at first glance like they might be part of it, like feathers stuck in the hatband. Wearing a vest and no jacket, he had a sort of short staff slung across his back. It was the least number of visible weapons Breen had seen on them yet.

When Ringer and Daily came in trailing Geo behind them, Hex and Jackal had their interest right away. Ringer leaned insolently against a counter eyeballing Jackal, and Daily walked over and lewdly ran his eyes up and down Hex.

“Well well, Captain, what have you brought us?” Ringer said, looking at Jackals ears, then glancing at Hex. “Pets? Are they house trained?” Jackal’s eyes narrowed a little, and one ear flicked. “What do think Daily, she got a tail hidden away behind her? Aww, what am I sayin’, you probably don’t care if she’s human or not”

“Shut up, Ringer” Daily said flatly, leaving his eyes on Hex.

“You’re out of line, Ringer” said Breen, with more confidence than he felt, “You too, Daily, back off! Don’t be rude to our clients” Daily lingered a second, then moved to sit at the table with Hannah and Geo.

“Oh clients!” said Ringer, bowing sarcastically “So sorry, I didn’t realize.”  Suddenly ignoring Hex and Jackal, he dropped into a chair and faced Breen, who also sat.  “What’s the job?”

Before he could answer, Hex said “I’ve hired this ship and its crew to retrieve something of mine. A box my uncle left me.”

“We need a whole ship for that?” said Geo skeptically “Must be a big-ass box”

“Not so big,” said Hex, as Jackal brought her a mug of black caff and sat at the table, “it’s not the size, it’s the location. I hope you all are ready for a rough time -- we’re going down to the Old World.”

Well, they didn’t like to hear that, and with good reason. The Lunar Colonies had been established close to 200 years ago, and the Earth had been considered a dead and dangerous planet for most of that time. Oh, there were things living on it, but it mostly wasn’t a fit place for people to live. Some did anyway, such were the ways of humans, to claw existence from the barest chance of survival. They lived amid the wreckage left by a combination of environmental disaster and global warfare, an apocalyptic  wilderness considered uninhabitable by most of what was left of humanity. Many of those left on the planet were either genetically altered or cybernetically augmented, the progeny of laboratory creations during the last, war-torn decades of a fully populated Earth.

Called derogatory names like “grader” “shifter” “alter” and “mutie” (slurs short for upgraded, gene-shifted, altered, and mutant) people with cybernetic or genetic enhancements were not welcome in the lunar colonies. First generation Upgraded and Gene-shifted entities had been designed for war and terror, often mimicking horror story creatures such as vampires and zombies, or housing weaponry and programing for battle and assassination. Not just people, there were many human-created animals, some of which were quite intelligent. And there were micro-organisms and nanobots still swarming the planet, as well. When a last large-scale evacuation had finally been implemented, the Planetary Evacuation and Transfer Agency had screened for and denied entry to all Enhanced Beings, a policy meant to prevent “infecting” the supposed purity of the Lunar Colonies.

“I shoulda known a couple of damn shifters would try to get us down the well” said Daily, referring to the gravity well created by the planet. “Like hell I want to go there, full of vampires and borgs and nano-mites and who knows what.”

“That box of your uncle’s must have something worth a whole lot of money in it for you to hire a ship and land on that death rock,” mused Ringer. “What’s our share?”

Hex looked at him coldly “Whatever worth that box has is only valuable to me. There’s nothing in there for you. What you get is a working ship in operation, with its dock fees paid off and plenty of food and water, and your normal crew rates.”

Ringer scowled and looked over at Breen “That right, Captain? We working for zero percent of the haul? Doesn’t seem fair, that.”

“Can’t make money on a ship with empty tanks and unpaid dock fees, Ringer. I saw a chance and I took it. You’re getting paid your crew rate. Sometime in the next few hauls maybe we’ll find something that’ll earn you a nice bonus. Meanwhile, eat up, sleep tight, do your job, and draw your normal pay.”

“I don’t like it at all,” Ringer replied “and I know Daily and Geo don’t either. How ‘bout you, Hannah? You want to go down to Old Earth? Getting old to try that kind of environment, aren’t you? And I bet you don’t like to work a run and not get a percentage”

Hannah, never impressed by Ringer and his friends, shrugged “You ever shipped out on one of those big ol’ EA astroid miners? They charge you for room and board the whole time you’re on the ship, gotta pay it out of whatever you manage to mine while you’re out in The Black. If you don’t find enough ore to pay your bill, you don’t get to leave the ship when it docks, gotta head back out on the next run and hope your luck is better. Plenty of them miners never manage to get free, spend the rest of their lives working for that EA mining corp, never see a single kuai in their bank account. This here’s not my favorite deal, but it’s a deal, and a better one than I’ve had from some. Captain says we might get something extra later on, then I expect there’s a good chance of that, he ain’t lied to us yet.”

Hannah grinned nastily at the lanky troublemaker, “As for taking a trip down the well, you don’t worry me none with that talk, Ringer, what with you never even breathed the Old World air. You might be surprised to know I actually been down there before, an’ I ain’t so old I can’t go again. What’s more, I’m twice as likely to make it back as you are yourself, and that’s facts. That there planet eats up men think they’re tough like you, just plain eats ‘em right up; why, you oughta be scared more than you are, really.”

“Scared?” Ringer was outraged. “You keep talking, grannie,” Ringer bit out, “I’ll show you who’s tough”

“Alright, that’s enough,” said Breen, “In 52 hours we’ll be landing. It’s a dangerous world, but we’re just making a pick up, and taking off. No reason for everybody to get all wound up. Now you’ve heard the job, and that’s how it is. Everybody back to work. Hex, I’d like to speak to you on the bridge at your convenience” and with that, he walked out.

Daily stood up, looking at Hex, “How ‘bout it, lady, you want to come see me in my quarters when you’re done with the captain, I’ll show you a real man.”

“That’d be nice” said Hex, “I been looking for a real man since I got here.”

“Oh yeah?” said Daily, grinning lustily.

“Yeah,” said Hex, wryly, running her eyes slowly up and down Daily “and I haven’t seen one yet” and turned her back and left.

“Fucking bitch!” Daily exclaimed and leapt up to follow, but suddenly Jackal was face to face with him, fangs bared, staff out with the tip resting against Daily’s chest, stopping him. Ringer put his hand to his gun, but Jackal said “Daily dies if you do, Ringer. Daily, you better call off your buddy if you want to live. You know what a bangstick is?”

Off to one side, Hannah chuckled. “You boys sure went knocking on the wrong door. Better go easy there, Ringer. Bangstick is a compression gun, Daily, in case you don’t know. Just a pipe with a round loaded in, usually shotgun shell -- you jab it against anything and it hits the pin, fires the round. You’re mighty close to having a big hole right through you, boy.”

“That’s exactly right,” said Jackal “and your pal Ringer there could make me nervous, with his hand on his gun like that.”

“Let’s go, Ringer,” said Daily, slowly, “this is a bad start to a fight. We can pick a better time and finish it.”

“Anytime at all, cabronés,” said Jackal, as Ringer took his hand away from his holster and Daily backed away. “You try it anytime you want”.

Daily and Ringer left.

Hannah looked at Jackal. “You remind me of some folks. You ever ship with any of the Old Fleet?”

Jackal grinned at her and winked, touched the brim of his hat and left.

Hannah whistled soundlessly and looked across the table at Geo. “Kid, I never liked those two you hang out with, but you seem okay, so I’ll give you some good advice for free. If they go after these two, you just let them go and do it without you, I’d hate to see you killed. That there was a Galloglas, or I’m Queen of the Moon.”

Geo wrinkled his brow at her. “What in the diyu is a Galloglas?”

“You ever hear of the Old Fleet?” Geo shook his head at her. “The Council of Captains?” Geo shook his head again. “Well, you know how Sol Union got started?” Geo shrugged. “Por su madré, what all are they teaching people these days?” she said, “Well okay then, listen up, I guess this here is story time.”

“Back in the day, the Old Fleet was called the Station Supply Fleet, or the Service Fleet. A handful of giant ships created to service the seven space stations.

Life on these stations was secretive even back then, and from the beginning, their smaller populations tended to have a lot of brains and be in the top of their field. Then those folks raised a few generations of children who were certainly very, very smart, even if no one has ever proved they’ve been genetically enhanced to be extra intelligent, as rumor says.

Those stations, whole little worlds unto themselves, were busy developing goods and services in their areas of specialty -- those things they still produce, like robotics, medical research and narcotics, specialized food production, entertainment. But that wasn’t all they developed while floating around out in The Black. They also developed their own ways of life.

Sort of the same way, the Service Fleet was making their own cultures too. Most of those ships were crewed by several hundred men and women on back to back between-station journeys that could take three years or more each trip, and they naturally started their own way of living.

So anyway, it wasn’t long before the stations began to have differing opinions about what the law should be on-station. Different from each other, a bit, and very different than the governments that thought they controlled them.

More and more those opinions disagreed with the opinions of Earth and the Lunar colonies, and when one of those disagreements came to a head on Station Delta, the old Space Command  found out very quickly that one of the things all the stations had in common was an opinion that attempts at military boarding and take-over of a station would not be tolerated.

The long and short of it was, the few surviving members of the Lunar Military incursion team wound up reporting that yes, the extremely intelligent people of Station Delta had, in fact, thought to engineer quite well against armed intrusion. Planetary authorities were further caught with their pants down when the seven stations of Sol System immediately unionized and seceded en mass, announcing themselves an alliance of self-governing bodies. Looking back, they had to have been planning it for a while, secretive messages going back and forth in the dark for years. Anyway, that’s how Sol Union was born.

The days-old Sol Union then gave the Supply Fleet that serviced them an offer, which was simply: join us.

Now those ships relied heavily on those stations to supply and refuel. There was no way to land them on the Moon or on Old Earth, they were designed to dock with the stations. And I imagine a lot of those ships didn’t care for being ordered around by government folks who didn’t know what life in the Fleet was like, most of who’d never even served on board any ship at all.

On each ship of the Fleet, decisions were made about the Sol Union offer. On some ships, there were votes. On other ships arguments were more pointed. Explosive, even. Two ships were lost entirely.

In the end, the Council of Captains was formed (some of whom were very new to their captaincy indeed). They defined each ship as an autonomous entity, and unanimously offered an alliance with the Sol System Union, simultaneously offering Earth and the Lunar Colonies a peace-treaty with trade agreements. Once the Sol Union signed that alliance with the Council of Captains, there wasn't really any choice for Terran or Lunar governments; the station labs produced a lot of the best goods and technology: medical equipment and vaccines, personal electronics, as well as widely enjoyed arts and entertainment- that last bit was particularly tricky for Space Command to get around. It was extremely difficult to keep the support of the citizenry when the 'enemy' was so damned popular.

But mostly it was that the ships of the Fleet were almost all of the serious space-craft humanity had made up til then. There was no space navy, nor any kind of second fleet to provide shipping. In effect, the rebel Union, while refusing to trade any of their products with Terra, had agreed to sell to the Fleet, who was offering to sell those things to the Earth and Moon. And buy goods from them to sell to Sol Union, of course. Neither Terra nor Luna could afford to refuse, and indeed, the Delta Solar Treaty worked well for all concerned. Still does.

Now, one of those ships, the captain was a woman named Reilly Galloglas. Nobody is sure how or where, but her crew started buying or building smaller ships. They spread out some. Some of them turned Pirate. Some of them started raiding Earth, scavenging and selling black market goods. Some of them even left off shipping out and worked security for a station here and there, or started a business. Mostly they’re one big family, even if distantly related. They’ll adopt long time crew members, and I’ve heard tell some people marry into the family. But they never take in or keep anybody who doesn’t live up to their standards, born in or not. And there are three things you have to know about them Galloglas folk.

First, they’re honest and honorable, even if half of ‘em are criminals and pirates. I mean they might steal all your money, but they won’t lie about it, they’ll keep any promise they make, and they’ll only kill someone who’s armed and facing them. Second, they’re a hard, dangerous, deadly folk. They don’t run from a fight, you can believe it; there’s just no back up to ‘em. And third, they are loyal as fuck. They mostly handle their own business, but gods help anyone who backshoots one, or gets one too outgunned and they have to call for reinforcements.

I only ever heard one time it happened. ‘Bout sixty years ago, the Theta Station Mining Co. had a difficulty with one, and blew her ship up while she was on station talking to them about it. They musta figured to strand her there, or something. I don’t know if they realized that little ship had her husband and kids on it, but she sure made sure they knew it by the end. Every Galloglas near got involved, and that right there is why there’s only six stations left in Sol Union. The rest of them stations looked at shrapnel left where the station had been, checked their options, and allowed as how Theta had fucked up and got what they deserved. They sorta buried the whole story and moved on quick. They surely didn’t want to push the issue with that Galloglas crew. I reckon if it came to it, they’d all of them show up, and I don’t see how there could be less than 500 of them Galloglases, maybe two or three times that number, a bunch of ‘em with their own ships, and every one a demon in a fight.”

Son,” Hannah looked into Geo’s eyes, “you take an old lady’s advice, tell your friends to lay off - them two are a lot more trouble than Ringer and Daily can handle”

“I will Hannah, thanks” said Geo. And a couple hours later, he did.

But the problem was, Ringer had killed a couple men back in rough and tumble Quorum, and he figured it made him a real tough guy.

[the-beastslayers-queen]

Magic and Moonlight: Chapter 3

I’m on a roll today. Enjoy! Tagging: @queenofthearchitect

I was at the PC, doing my daily yoga routine to cool down from my training today and I saw Colby walk in with Roman and Dean. On his shoulder was his NXT championship belt. This was the first time I had seen him in the PC with his title. But I was pulled out of my thoughts and day dreams about Colby by a throat being cleared.

“Are you coming to my party,” Sasha asked as she sat next to me. Becky, Bayley, and Charlotte join her.

“I am,” I replied as I exhaled, “Is Colby going?”

“Yeah, him and his stable mates are coming,” Sasha smiled, “You like Colby don’t you?”

“Maybe,” I tried to hide my smile, but failed when Colby’s eyes met mine, “When’s the party?”

“After the tapings wrap tonight,” Becky replied, “Charlotte and I are going to help get you glammed up for tonight. You and Colby are so drawn to each other that we’re going to make him want you tonight.”

I groaned as the girls got up to head to the locker room to change into their ring gear before going to Full Sail for the tapings. Colby had broken away from Roman and Dean, and came over to sit across from me as I continued my yoga.

“Hey Thea,” Colby greeted me as he laid his title on his lap.

“Hi Colby,” I greeted him back as I exhaled, “I see you brought your title in today. First time I’ve ever seen it, actually.”

“Do you want to hold it,” he asked as I got into position to meditate to finish my cool down.

“Sure, pass it here,” I held out my hands and he set the title in them. It felt heavy in my hands so I draped it over my shoulder.

“Wow,” Colby breathed at seeing his title on my shoulder, “You look good when you have a title on your shoulder. One day you’ll be NXT women’s champion. I can see it now, the whole crowd chanting for Casey Ferguson as you hold that title high over your head.”

“Easy tiger,” I giggled, “I haven’t even debuted on NXT yet. I’m actually debuting in the taping tonight.”

“And you’ll do great,” Colby smiled at me, “And I’ll be there, happy to see you make an inpact.”

The tapings just finished. I felt so bad for Colby. He was so proud, and happy as the first NXT champion, but he lost it to Big E Langston. I know he must be crushed by this. Maybe he won’t end up going to Sasha’s party tonight.

I had just finished changing out of my ring gear and into the dark purple skater dress Bayley lent me for tonight along with the black wedges heel Becky donated to my outfit. Charlotte handled the jewelry and Sasha did my makeup and hair. I looked amazing. I was ready to go have some fun tonight.

I was walking up to Sasha’s house when I saw Colby’s car parked by the curb.

He actually came. Guess he really wanted to come to this party. I wonder if he came because you’re here. Or just to get drunk to forget that he lost tonight.

Morrigan, really? Can’t just stay quiet for a whole day, please?

Morrigan fell silent as I entered the party. The music was loud and there were bodies everywhere. There was even a couple making out on the stairs. I just shook my head and went to find the kitchen to get a drink.

“Well hello there,” I heard a familiar voice in my ear as I poured myself a shot of Jameson.

“Colby,” I smiled as I set the bottle down before grabbing my drink, “I didn’t think you’d come after your loss tonight.”

“And miss out on seeing you,” Colby admired my appearance before continuing, “Not a chance. You look beautiful, Thea. This purple is perfect on you.”

“Awe Colby,” I couldn’t help myself as I blushed like mad, “Thank you. And you clean up nicely too.”

Colby was wearing a black button up shirt with a dinner jacket over it, a pair of black jeans, and a pair of all black sneakers. His hair was pulled back in a low bun, keeping his hair out of his face.

“Oh this,” Colby smirked, “I just threw this on. You really like it?”

“Yeah,” I replied, “Black is your color.”

I took my shot, letting it slide down the back of my throat before you grabbed Colby’s hand and dragged him over to living room, which was turned into the dancefloor for the party. I began to sway to the music and Colby fell in behind me, taking my waist into his hands. I was lost in the music and the scent of his cologne, I didn’t notice the pair of sinister eyes watching me as I danced with Colby.

After sharing several songs with Colby, I opted to leave him to get another drink. As I was pouring my drink, I felt my magic flaring up. I stopped pouring my drink and I bolted out of the house. I knew I had to get away from all the people. I felt bad that I didn’t tell the girls or Colby, but for the safety of others, I had to get out of there.

As I was walking, I could feel something was off. The air felt cold and unease. I looked behind me and I saw a dark figure following me. I decided to dip into an alley around the corner, hoping to lose my pursuer. But I was wrong. So very wrong.

“Hello, lovely,” the man teased as he slammed me into a nearby building, “You tried so hard to run. But you only made all the better to catch you.”

“Leave me alone,” I begged, fighting my tears and against his grip on my arms.

“Not until I’ve had my fill,” shit he’s a vampire and I don’t have vervain and my choker was blocking my stronger magic.

Morrigan, help me!

I can’t! The charms are too strong for me to take control.

That’s when I heard a feral growl. I looked out the corner of my eye and I saw my wolf there at the entrance of the alley. He was growling loudly, his teeth barred. He was ready to strike at the vampire.

Before the wolf could strike, the vampire latched onto my neck, biting down hard and began to feed on me. The wolf charged, surely seeing red, at the sight of this vampire hurting me.

The vampire was ripped from my neck as the wolf pounced. I sank to my knees and grabbed at my neck, trying to stop the blood. I heard the vampire scream as the wolf tore into him. Soon the screams died down as the vampire died. I was struggling to stop my bleeding as the wolf came over to me.

That’s when the wolf saw my choker and grabbed it gently with his teeth before tearing it off. That’s when my magic surged to the surface. For the first time in years, I wasn’t afraid of my magic. I immediately began to heal my wound, repairing the damage done by the vampire.

“Thank you,” I breathed heavily as I felt my magic withdraw itself from the air, “You saved my life.”

I grabbed the remains of my choker, a little saddened that it had to come to this. That I had to lose my safety net to save my life.

“Thea,” I heard Charlotte call out to me.

“Char, I’m right here,” I rose from the ground and I went to look back at my wolf companion, only to find he was gone.

“So you’re telling us that you were saved by a werewolf,” Bayley tried to clarify what I was telling her about my eventful night.

“Yes,” I replied to her.

“And this wolf has imprinted on you,” Becky added.

“Yes,” I replied again.

“And you have no idea who he is,” Sasha asked next.

“Correct,” I responded.

“And now you have no binding charms to keep your magic in check,” Charlotte added the final detail as she held my choker in her hands, “Are you going to be okay without it?”

“Honestly, I have no idea,” I told all of them, “But I’m tired of fearing my magic. It’s time that I learn how to control it. And I think I can learn how to control by being around Colby more. He knows I’m a witch and I’ve used a bit of magic on him before. I’m sure he can help me stay in control.”

This was going to be risky, practicing magic with Colby around. Especially since I have no idea what he is. He knew what my mark meant, which means he wasn’t human. But I needed to know what he was.

[politicalfilth-blog]

Article: The Elites Perversion With Power and Control – How Deep Does The Rabbit Hole Go

We Are Change

Alright, this is going to be an important video. I will be discussing the open Hollywood conspiracy that is being exposed. One of the main reasons why I wanted to make this video is because the big media entertainment news industry never admits to any wrongdoing and criminal behavior. This time they have been caught red-handed covering up aiding and abetting. They are accomplices to not only sexual predators but also pedophiles. In this video, we’re just going to get to the tip of the iceberg which many people feel will destroy this entire industry. I don’t know about you, but for me, an industry that protects and harbors monsters should be toppled.

You can watch this video on DTube and YouTube.

The tip of this iceberg is, of course, media mogul Harvey Weinstein and this case by itself proves that there is a conspiracy.

Dozens of women are coming out talking about the sexual abuse that they suffered under this politically connected media mogul. As further details emerge, the situation becomes even more disturbing.

We’re finding out that Harvey Weinstein preyed on victims that were 17 years of age and tried to get them drunk and sexually abuse them. I know a lot of people are shocked by these latest revelations but they shouldn’t because Hollywood has been giving us hints for years.

The actress Deanna Russo tweeted in 2010 that “My friend says I need to have sex with Harvey Weinstein to make it in Hollywood. Could I opt for getting beat up instead, like in a gang?”

Gweneth Paltrow spoke about this in 1998. “But he will coerce you to do it. So Harvey said I tell you what go on and talk about your movies and what would Harvey say and in return what Harvey would do for you?

30 rock even made a skit about this topic with one of the actresses saying “She’s not afraid of anyone in show business. That she “turned down intercourse with Harvey Weinstein on no less than three occasions out of five.” Seth MacFarlane even made jokes about this. “Congratulations you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein, ” and people in the industry knew full well what Harvey Weinstein did. They chose to remain quiet about it for over 30 years even while Hollywood demonstrates its complicity while dropping hints about Harvey Weinstein out in the open for everyone to see. Ultimately what we see from this is just how much the corporate Hollywood media empire industry loved this sexual predator at least until he got caught. Meanwhile the media celebrities, politicians, and even local law enforcement knew about it and still decided to look the other way.

I mean this man was praised and thanked more than God at the 2015 Oscars while everyone was still running inside jokes about him being a dangerous sexual predator.

The cover-up here is the most sinister aspect of this entire case as we’re learning about how NBC actively protected Weinstein. The top NBC executives squashed the bombshell Harvey Weinstein story and a reporter had to leave the network and give the story to the New Yorker after facing months of opposition. NBC is responding saying that they “let the story slip away” but in reality, they killed the entire story. The reporter on the case saying “NBC did everything they could to delay it, complicate it, and ultimately kill it.”

The New York City Police Department had secret audio of Weinstein admittedly claiming he groped a woman while sexually harassing another woman at the time and they still never pressed any charges.

The New York Times sat on this story for over 13 years with the reporter who initially worked on this piece in 2004 saying that “I was told at the time that Weinstein had visited the newsroom in person to make his displeasure known. I knew he was a major advertiser in The Times and that he was a powerful person overall.” She also claims that she got personal phone calls from Matt Damon and Russell Crowe personally vouching for him. The story never ran until 13 years later.

The Weinstein Company was aware of the payouts in 2015. The money Harvey Weinstein would pay his victims to sign NDA’s and their life over so they couldn’t speak out against his crimes. They still didn’t do anything about it.

Imagine being a victim of Harvey Weinstein and NBC, The Times, local law enforcement, his company and other celebrities are actively covering up his crimes. Imagine viewing all this coverup and the pressure of actively speaking out against this man. The odds of even getting justice. Due to this suppression for over 30 years they’re most likely won’t be any justice in this case.

We’re learning that Harvey Weinstein just fled to Europe on his private jet to allegedly turn himself into a sex addiction rehab clinic.

We see a very similar move made by famous director Roman Polanski who raped teens and underage children and ultimately fled to Europe to avoid prosecution.

Polanski is a man who’s still seen as a big hero in Hollywood and praised by celebrities. Harvey Weinstein in 2009 wrote that Polanski has served his time and “must be freed.”

You can now clearly see how these sexual predators and pedophiles all protect each other because they’re in the same industry. They are in the upper echelons of it. The FBI just opened up an investigation into Harvey Weinstein after they feared he would flee the country and that’s precisely what he just did.

That way he could just never come back like Polanski and never be held accountable for his horrible actions.

The reason why I stated that Harvey Weinstein is just the tip of the iceberg is that Hollywood is filled not only with sexual abusers but also pedophiles.

As Corey Feldman even said, “The number one problem in Hollywood was and is and always will be pedophilia.”

“As the children?” – Interviewer “Oh yeah. Not in the same way. It’s all done under the radar.” – Corey Feldman “Does no one talk about pedophilia?” – Interviewer “It’s the big secret.” – Corey Feldman “Then it’s widespread?” – Interviewer “Oh yeah, I was surrounded by them when I was 14 years old. Surrounded. Literally. Didn’t even know it it was until I was old enough to realize what they were and what they wanted. What they were about and the types of people that were surrounding me. Until I went, oh my god, they were everywhere like vultures.” – Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman came out afterward and said that he would love to name names, but he still hasn’t. Terry Crews has even come out and discussed how he was sexually assaulted by another high-level Hollywood executive.

So has James Van Der Beek and even Rob Schneider who said the mogul is not a lone wolf.

Rob Scheider knows it because he too was sexually harassed by a director. Elijah woods even came out previously and said that “Hollywood has a pedophile problem.”

This industry needs to be exposed, needs to be toppled, because it is filled with pedophiles and sex abusers. With a lot of these abusers being so powerful that they have still yet to face any repercussions for their horrible actions. Many famous, powerful celebrities are even afraid to name the individuals that likely continue to do this. These people are not only connected to the police, the news business, but also to high-level politicians.

We all know the same exact thing is going on in US politics. We exposed the horrible actions by Denis Hastert, former UK Prime Minister Ted Heath, Jeffrey Epstein, and of course Jimmy Savile. The Savile situation that the BBC actively covered up and made sure that Jimmy Savile’s connections to the UK establishment were never exposed. It’s not just in Hollywood that these crimes happen, they also occur in the upper echelons of the supposed elite community especially amongst politicians.

To make the situation worse, we’re even finding out that Rose McGowan the actress who has emerged as a Hollywood voice in the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal has just revealed that Twitter has locked her account. On Wednesday night she posted evidence that multiple producers were involved in this entire scandal.

We have to understand all of the bigger dynamics behind whats happening here if you examine sexual abuse its all about power and the powerful being able to get away with these activities. Once you reach a certain level of fame, once you reach a certain level of money, sadly human beings naturally seek something more than just those two basic things. Damaged people who have an empty void within themselves trying to fill up that void with those two superficial things fame and money. When they reach enough of that, they seek other things like power. The power over other human beings. Being able to dominate them, control them, hurt them, silence them, and abuse them. All with the elitist perversion of being able to get away with it entirely.

If you look at the upper echelon of any industry ether political or media, you will see rampant cases of these types of abuse. It needs to be stopped, and the only way to do that is to expose it. To shine a light on the darkness and reveal these private, monstrous, evil, dark energy, vampire-human beings for what they are.

We can only do that with a free and open press not an official corporate press. We need one that will not ignore the victims of such abuse. Ones like YouTube who are now deciding to do just that by taking away voices like mine and those of other independent journalists. They censor us while endorsing other alternative news sources as authoritative. Voices that of course cover up and protect pedophiles and sexual abusers. This is why an independent and free press is more important than ever and could only be possible because of you and your participation.

I’m very curious about what you guys think about this situation and how far the rabbit hole goes in this story. I’ll be paying attention very carefully to your comments, and of course, I’m thank you so much for watching, reading, and supporting us.

Thank you for financially supporting us on WeAreChange.org/donate and allowing us to be a free and independent news organization. An organization that is free to discuss these important issues without any fears or concerns.

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The post Article: The Elites Perversion With Power and Control – How Deep Does The Rabbit Hole Go appeared first on We Are Change.

from We Are Change https://wearechange.org/article-elites-perversion-power-control-deep-rabbit-hole-go/