Night Terrors

[Oracle]

<< and so, the photo shoot was completed, contracts where finalized and signed and now Illustra was backed and bolstered by lucrative partnerships between Morgan, Ava and Nicolas, as well as the renewal of the contract with Liquid Crystal Images AND now Delilah would never have to worry about "income" again as she was an investor in Illustra.>>

<< the team definately overcame another emotional hump and were now enjoying one of their "high" moments. night was upon the city of new york and it was time for everyone to play as hard as they worked.>>

<< for Morgan and Nicolas, their first formal evening DATE was now upon them. For Delilah, Alison, Ava and Haleigh there was a choice between XS or the Parthenon since they were both under Illustra's umbrella, they would be greeted as VIP guests. even Ethan now found himself with more time on his hands than he knew what to do with.>>

<< he knew that Morgan would have him killed if she saw him, but with all the "action" going on at XS following Malice's attack on the building and its patrons...curiosity would prevail over caution...he might even end up running into other members of the six there.>>

<< the members of the six are not the only ones getting into their evening across town, Dr.Karen Victoria completes a rather lengthy and tiring day of seeing clients. she is closing down her office, taking her time and considering stopping off at a coffee house in the soho district on her way home. the storefront is supposed to be empty, save her and security guards but things are not always as they seem.>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas rode the elvator up to Morgan's floor. he had changed into a cream-colored tailored jacket and slacks, with a more relaxed tan-colored shirt that left the top couple of buttons unbuttoned. He had showered and cleaned back up quickly so as to make sure he was at his best for the occasion. he had already agreed to meet Morgan at this hour at her place to walk her down, so as the elevators opened up, he walked to the door and pressed the intercom button.
As he waited for her to come to the door, he stood there fiddling with his gift, a crystal pot of fresh wildflowers, already planted and with the correct amount of water and fertilizer.
At the entyrance downstairs, a Rolls Royce Phantom in classic white pulled up. The driver got out and stood in front of the car, waiting for his two guests. He was to transport them to Masa, a five-star Japanese restaurant located on Broadway and 59th street. He knew that the night was important to Mr. King, as evidenced by this insistence that the car be re-detailed and appointed to new and exacting specifications and by the $200 dollar advance tip he had already received.

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah was feeling very "up" after her day of primping with the other members of the Six - she had energy to spare and was genuinely in a good mood. She stood in her apartment, staring into the mirror and dancing to lous music as she brushed her teeth. She still was wearing the dress from the photo shoot, as they had let her keep it and she hadn't bothered to change yet. What the heck, she was all dolled up, might as well do something with it. As she finished freshening up in the bathroom she moved to the bedroom phone and dialed Alison. ]

"Feel like checking out that Parthenon place now that you're the boss lady?"

[Jill Monroe]

<< sitting at her 3 way crystaline vanity, Morgan primped for a few moments. Nicolas would be arriving soon but she would keep him waiting for a moment.>>

<< looking over herself in the mirrors, Morgan's hair was now done up in a chic "crown" do , a suitable evening hair style that allowed her face to show as well as her neck and shoulders. she wore tear drop white diamond earings and matching diamond necklace that sparkled like her icy violet eyes. her dress was a simple, thin strapped- cleavage teasing, lilac colored Versace cocktail dress with a gem toned finish to match the four inch high heels she wore. the skirt of the dress had a "Pencil" cut with an above-the-knee hemline to give a tastefull, pleasing view of morgan's trade mark "flawless legs" to top it off she had a chiffon wrap and clutch.>>

<< her wintery aura was complimented by the subtle fragrance of "Pink" by victoria's secret. not the most expensive fragrance BUT it was certainly a very feminine, subtle and alluring scent and it complimented Morgan's chemistry perfectly. her make up give her a wintery, elegant look as she pouted her lips and "kissed the air" before standing up, grabbing her wrap and clutch and walking out of her "Chamber of dreams" , down the hall and out into the main areas of the penthouse.>>

<< Tinkerbell and the kitten were laying out in the sitting room, very content and only turning their heads to watch as their mistress gracefully walked by. she made her way to the door, and opened it to find Nicolas standing there looking very dapper indeed.>>

<< in an icy voice>>

Hello there, Nicolas. don't you look handsome this evening.

<< she looked upon him slowly and noticed his entire presentation.>>

Shall we go?

[Harbinger]

:: Alison was a floor below, listening to some smooth, modern jazz on her stereo as she poured herself a glass of red wine. she had kept her hair style from the photo session because she "saw" herself going out this evening and sure enough Delilah rang.::

:: picking up the phone::

"Feel like checking out that Parthenon place now that you're the boss lady?"

:: looking out of the windows to the night sky, Alison took a large gulp of wine.::

sure, I'm all for it. :: she said in a cool voice::

Morgan is about to leave on her date with Nicolas...

let us pray they dont get arrested for public indecency :D

so there's no reason why the rest of us should HAVE to stay in for the night when we have so much at our disposal.

there's a party going on at XS, the big ballers in the business world usually converge on XS this time each week and no doubt they'll be buzz on the news announcements about Illustra and the new partnerships. since the new issue of Tempo Magazine won't be on the stands till tomorrow, we can go out and get a sneak peak of the reaction....and then head over to the Parthenon...its Jazz night there in the lounge.

Let's call Ava and Haleigh...Haleigh may be busy with Zach tonight but it doesnt hurt to ask.

[Rampage]

As Morgan opened the door, Nicolas gazed upon her and suddenly had an urge to stay in. She looked incredible and her scent enveloped him. He smiled as she commented on his look and replied in kind.

"Good evening Morgan, you are as beautiful as ever. These are for you."

Nicolas held them out for her to accept and smell, then floated them over to a counter top. He had picked the spot for them already from what he remembered of her place. He offered her his arm and led her to the elevator.

"I hope you like fine Japanese cuisine. This place is reknowned for its natural beauty and for its...ambiance."

As they exited the building and came to the front of the lobby, the driver opened the door to the Rolls Royce and nodded respectfully to the pair.

"Good evening Mr. King, Ms. Victoria," said the driver. "I hope everything is to your liking this evening. If you have need for anything, I am at your service. Call me Michael."

With that, Nicolas helped Morgan to her seat, then entered from the other side, resting his long arm behind Morgan on the top of the seat. The driver closed Morgan's door and the pair drove off to their reservation.

Inside the car was a mini-bar with drinks and two glasses for drinking. On Morgan's side was a small flute vase with a single perfect red rose in it. Tied to the vase with a crystal ribbon was a small card with the words "To the prettiest woman in the room" written in calligraphy.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen begins packing up. her office is dimly lit and she hums softly to herself.>>

<< passing by her desk, there is a picture of Morgan as a young girl with another picture of her as a grown woman side by side. next to that is a picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah, her daughter and two surrogate daughters.>>

<< as she grabs her attache and buttons her black pin stripped tailored blazer up, she turns and is started to see a security guard not only in her office...but RIGHT BEHIND HER.>>

GODDESS!!

<< she exclaims as she backs up and tries to compose herself.>>

you gave me quite a start there.

<< the officer says nothing.>>

is anything wrong? everyone else is gone for the evening. i stayed behind to do some last minute paper work.

<< she looked at the guard directly with her opal blue eyes..he seemed to look a little pale.>>

Security Guard: << in a deep voice>>: sorry, Dr. Victoria....I just came...because i needed to borrow...a pencil.

<< Karen looked at him and narrowed her eyes a bit.>>

a ...pencil? a rather odd request. you could've gotten one from the supply closet, but no matter.

<< she turns around and walks to her desk, passing by the pictures once again. going inside a drawer, she takes out a pencil.>>

here you are. one pencil. already sharpened.

<< she goes to hand it the guard and he just stands and looks at her. >>

security guard: << in a deep voice>> Dr. Victoria, you look very pretty this evening.

<< Karen looks at the guard rather curiously and notes his tendency to lean in close to her, trying to infringe on her space. she tries her best to stand her ground but he's taller than her, even while she's wearing heels. she backs up to the front of her desk...>>

......<< in a colder voice>> well...thank you very much. but i really don't think now is the time or the place for fraternization.

<< Karen looked at her cartier watch.>>

here's your pencil. now if you'll pardon me, i must be on my way.

<< she attempts to leave and the guard blocks her.>>

what are you doing!?

<< the guard is now right up on her, forcing her back to the desk...the picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah falls on the floor and the frame shatters.>>

get OUT of my way right now ...or ELSE...

<< before Karen can finish demanding that he move, he grabs her wrist..and bends it backward, exposing her hand. taking the pencil, he SLAMS it down through the palm of her hand....and she...SCREAMS.>>

Security Guard: sorry Doctor, but you can't leave. I have orders to make SURE that you stay.... << his voice sounding a bit warped now>> you're really very pretty, you know that?

<< Karen gasps as she falls back..stumbling to the side...looking at her hand in disbelief. with her other hand, she grips her car keys between her fingers and lashes out and forward, SLICING the guard across his face before pushing him aside and running for the door.>>

<< breathing rapidly, Karen is in shock, pain....she's about to panic!>>

man....hurting me....wants to rape....hurt.. kill....have to get out! HAVE TO GET OUT!!!

STOP IT!! << she yells out loud at herself.>>

<< running quite fast, despite wearing high heels, Karen rushes down a darkened hall, and ducks into the medical lab. slamming the doors behind her she locks them down tight and moves over to the exam table.>>

okay...calm down. you're not powerless....you have magick...

<< her icy voice is shakey...but she does her best to ignore the burning pain as she opens up her wounded hand and with her good hand...she begins to ignite her magicks. a golden halo forms around the wounded hand...and soon, the pain is replaced by a soothing, cooling feeling. with a soft chime, the wound is healed.>>

allright...i don't know what this is about, but i can't risk revealing my status as a witch to this bastard security guard.

<< she looks around and spots a phone.>>

I'll call the police. they'll come quickly and deal with it....problem solved!

<< the doctor moves to the phone but as soon as she picks it up she discovers there's no signal and at that point....the maniac security guard comes SMASHING THROUGH the locked medical doors! Karen jumps and screams as the severe sound catchs her attention. the guard is running for her like a maniac...waving his baton in one hand and blowing his whistle madly.>>

GET AWAY!!

<< Karen frantically looks over and spots a large glass jar of ALCOHOL. she grabs it and SMASHES it over his head...causing the guard to scream and grab his head in agony. she rushes forward and KNEES him in the crotch before pushing him aside and running out of the medical office and down the hall...FORGETTING HER PURSE..and the KEYS with which she would need to get out or drive her car.>>

<< down the hall, a flight of stairs and another hall, Karen finally reaches the doors...and its just at that point that ANOTHER security guard, a FEMALE who was on the outside happens to shine a light through the door...>>

Female Security Guard: Dr. Victoria!? are you allright?

get the POLICE!! i'm being ATTACKED!!! OPEN THESE DOORS!

<< the doctor yelled.>>

<< the security guard wants to help but finds that she CANT.>>

Female Officer: i dont have any keys to this building ma'am...im contract! where are YOUR keys??

<< karen looks in dismay and realizes she's forgotten them. turning back to look down the darkened hallway, Karen knows it would be foolish to try to run the whole way back....if she can just duck out of site, she can get transport herself to the medical lab and get her keys and the guard will be none the wiser.>>

I....I must have left my keys back on the other FLOOR!! please, stay at this door...watch for him. yell if you see him. I'll be back as soon as i can.

<< the female officer seems to be radioing for police to come to the building as Karen moves away from the doors. she ducks out of site behind a wall and transports herself in a swirl of golden orbs back to the medical lab. THIS TIME she's ready to lash out with her magicks before she risks letting him hurt her like that again or worse but to her surprise and uncertain relief...he's not there.>>

<< she spots her keys and her purse...and grabs them but as she does...>>

Male Officer: you've been a very, VERY bad girl.

<< he back hands her across the face and she hits the floor. she lays there...feining being knocked out.>>

Male officer: my master doesn't tolerate disobience...pretty doctor.

<< as he leans down to turn her over...she opens her eyes...KICKING HIM square in his face with her high heel and sending him flying backward. she scrambles away, finally getting to her feet and rushing out again. wasting no time, she transports herself down to the main floor and rushes to the main doors...>>

Female Office: Oh Doctor, THANK GOD!! the police are on their way now!....do you have the keys!!

<< Karen, still shaken, nods... and begins get them out.>>

Female officer: DOCTOR!!! he's COMING!!!

<< Karen looks over her shoulder...and there is the man..looking terribly derranged.>>

oh NO!!

<< she doesnt show any fear, she just goes to get the doors open and what is USUALLY a simple task now seems so HARD as she can't stop shaking...>>

<< the officer screams for the police to come and Karen cant help but feel herself panicking AGAIN..almost as if CHRISTOPHER VICTORY were after her again....but just as it seems he's about to be UPON HER...she gets the doors open and bursts through to the other side.>>

HELP ME!!

<< the female officer rushes forward to help her shut the doors. the male guard's hand still trying to get through so Karen SLAMS her high heel down on hit, causing him to scream and pull back. finally she gets the doors shut and LOCKED from the outside..>>

<< thinking herself safe, she looks up at the sky and exhales>>

thank the goddess....i dont know what happened...he just...attacked me...but now...

<< she looks and see's the the female officer, now with the same dark, ghostly look as the male. the officer had faked radioing for police...no one was coming, and Karen was no more safe outside than she was inside.>>

you....you're with HIM!!

<< before karen can do anything, she's struck down...and beaten into unconsciousness...as her eyes close....she calls out for her daughter....>>

Morga...**

<< the doctor blacks out and is carried away into the night.>>

[Harbinger]

:: as Alison zips up the back of her boustier that she plans to wear this evening, she turns to look in the mirror and GASPS as images of KAREN come to her mind's eye.::

:: looking out the window to the west, toward the direction of the doctor's office, Alison calls out Karen's name.::

KAREN!!

:: she knows that Morgan will sense her mother's distress as well, and so she BLINKS to Delilah's quaters.::

Delilah, we have to go. Karen's been attacked, beaten....she's HURT.


:: pressing a com link button on Delilah's wall::

Alison to Haleigh and Ava: Haleigh, Ava there's something wrong. Karen's been attacked in Soho, but i can't "SEE" who is behind it. all i can see is Karen being beaten into unconsciousness!

:: looking to Delilah.::

this is odd, i should be able to sense..SOMETHING.. My precognition, my powers as a seer can't be hampered by mere mortals or even telepaths.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan was taking the evening in like it was a dream. it was so hard to believe she was going on a date ..with a MAN. She had said she'd never trust men after her father, but here she was...with a most beautifull man who was charming her right from the start. the flowers were beautifull and now in the exquisite RR Morgan sat with her legs crossed at the knee, smiling softly as she took the rose and inscription and ran her hand over it.>>

<< in an icy voice>>:

Oh, how darling! thank you Nicolas, but you needn't have gone through so much trouble to impress me.

<< Morgan couldnt help but BLUSH. this was not her usual element...to be in the company of a man and NOT trying to out do him in some way or make sure he knew not to trifle with her.>>

<< she looked over at Nicolas and smiled as she placed a hand on his leg.>>

i bet you do this to ALL the girls you take out.

<< she said playfull as she pushed his leg and smirked. her way of trying to lighten her own mood and she was curious to see what he'd say..>>

Japanese...hmmm...sounds lovely, I.....

<< Morgan shuts her eyes and cries out from pain...>>

Oh.... mother!!!


<< she opens her eyes.>>

My mother!! she's being ATTACKED at her office in Soho!!

<< the last time Morgan had prepared to go out for a lovely evening, Sharon Kelly and Alycia Barnett were attacked by Master Mold and although Morgan was the first on the scene, she could not save Sharon. Morgan began to look very worried and showed signs of distress as she feared it would be the same way THIS TIME!!.>>

I have to get to her!!

[Rampage]

Nicolas was enjoying Morgan's reactions to him. They wer chatting, and she had even placed her hand on his leg. He was hoping she would move up a bit when she suddenly exclaimed. Karen was being attacked in Soho, and she was beginning to freak out on him!!! He yelled up to the front.

"Big Mike!!! Special problem here, go to the restaurant and apologize for me. Tell Chef Masa I was unavoidably detained and give him his money for tonight's meal. We are out."

Mike nodded knowingly and kept driving as if nothing was wrong. The truth was, Mike was Nicolas right-hand man on the East Coast, taken care of VERY well in exchange for loyalty and silence. Many of the recent deliveries...thanks to Mike. Nicolas didn't use his powers for EVERYTHING.

Nicolas grabbed Morgan by both hands and looked into her eyes.

"She will be fine. Take us to her now. Mike is secure."

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh and Zach, as can be expected, are tangled in a post-coital bliss. Haleigh traces circles through his chest hair as they cuddle, whispering back and forth about wedding details. They both wanted to take their time witht he engagement, and since they'd only been engaged for a couple of weeks, neither were in a hurry, but it kept being pushed to the back burner what with everything happening in the Six. Tonight, unfortunately, wasn't going to be any different. The bedside phone rings, and Zach picks it up. In his deepest 'sexy' voice he answers playfully.

"Miss Davidoff's bed, future MR. Davidoff speaking."

Haleigh giggles and kisses his neck.... she loves that he's okay with changing his name because she wants to honor her father by continuing his. Zach squeezes Haleigh's shoulder and sits up, saying Thank You abruptly and hanging up. Haleigh's expression immediately darkens, as she asks him what's wrong.

Z:"There was a disturbance at Karen's office, she's been abducted."

He says, and Haleigh's face drains of color as she gets up and scrambles for clothes. Alison's voice breaks the pressured, urgent silence with a distress call. Seconds later, still pulling down a tank top, Haleigh appears in front of Alison and Delilah, as Alison is talking about her powers not picking the attack up.

"Alison! Has Morgan been notified? My men say she's been abducted... they're going to tail the woman she was last seen with... but if They managed to subdue Karen... I can only imagine the kind of power it'd take... My men might lose track of them. Can YOU see nothing?"

[Pam De Beaufort]

Preparing to head to Club XS, Ava was dressed in simple black casual drawstring pants and a black tank top as she got finished doing her hair. With 'Let My Hair Down' by Nelly Furtado playing softly in the background, Ava placed her curling iron down on her bathroom counter and teased her locks with her fingers. Taking one final look at her hair, she spritzed some hair spray in it to keep it looking perfect. With her make up and hair now done, all she needed to do was get dressed and leave. Heading out of her bathroom, Ava crossed her bedroom, heading to her closet. Suddenly Alison's voice buzzed over the intercom. She sounded frantic; Karen was in trouble. Immediately, a tornado of winds circled around Persephone's body as she disappeared from her bedroom and reappeared by Alison, Delilah, and Haleigh.

"What's going on?"

Alison explained her powers seemed to be dampered down. Not a good sign, but something the team would have to get around. They relied far too much on Alison's powers of precog instead of their own intuitions. Morgan was probably already in Soho looking for her mother, so relying on her stepping discs were out of the question. Delilah's warmholes on the other hand would come in very handy.

"We shouldn't waist any time. We can travel through Delilah's warmholes and meet with Morgan and Nicolas."

[Jacob Black]

As his mother left his penthouse, Ethan began to feel brightly optimistic about the future. He had secured his position at Columbia and he was about to be on the board of the Cruise Foundation which would be a great responsibility and give him a great amount of influence and connections throughout the world. He decided that he would celebrate his recent victories with a night on the town. After everything that had happened in the past two days he needed some time to clear his head and plan his next move. There was only one thing left that could boost his evening even more and that would be to secure a spot within the Six, but he wasn't counting his chickens before they hatched. He entered his bedroom and changed into a rather smoking outfit from the new fall line of J. Lindeberg {Seen Here} (http://men.style.com/slideshows/mens/fashionshows/S2007MEN/JLMEN/RUNWAY/00220m.jpg). It was a little different but Ethan was a slave to fashion and he just couldn't resist. As he headed out of his penthouse, he made sure to lock the door. This wasn't London and he headed to XS. Supposedly there was a big party with a ton of businessmen and socialites and it sounded like a good tme to Ethan. He began to walk down the streets of Chelsea, making his way through Soho and eventually after a lot of walking he would make it to XS.

"Perhaps I should invest in a cab?"

He smiled to himself. He would walk. The night was young and beautiful and for the first time in a long time he wanted to be able to enjoy it. Things were looking up for Ethan Cruise.

[Harbinger]

:: Haleigh and Ava joining them in Delilah's luxury apartment, Alison took a moment to try to reach FURTHER with her powers as a Seer even while Haleigh asked her if there was nothing more she could "see".::

:: in a cool tone.::

I'm afraid not, Haleigh. Whatever...WHOMEVER took her, is able to mask themselves from my precognition. They are a POWERFULL anamoly to say the least and that is why this FEELS worse than usual for me. I only became AWARE of the attack at its tail end, I saw it happening in "real time" and that isnt supposed to HAPPEN, i'm supposed to know BEFORE HAND if anything.

:: looking over, Alison nodded in agreement as Ava suggested that Delilah use her worm hole to connect them with Morgan and Nicolas.::

I KNOW Morgan has felt it as well..the bond between mother and child is stronger than any power that I possess. She and Nicolas are heading to Soho right now....and apparently, Ethan is there as well.

:: that last bit of the statement was tinged with contempt. Haleigh knew that Alison didnt like the fact that he was "conviniently" in the area at the same time that Karen was abducted.::

WHY he is there....

:: alison stopped herself.::

nevermind, we are wasting time, let's go.

:: Alison looked over to Delilah, who would take the four women to a meeting point with Morgan and Nicolas...outside of Karen's office.::

[Oracle]

<< and with that, Delilah transports herself, Alison, Haleigh and Ava to directly to the front of the storefront where Karen's office is located. Morgan and Nicolas arrive almost at the same time.>>

<< it is evening time but there are no unusual sights around them. Haleigh, however, will detect that ETHAN CRUISE is nearby...VERY nearby and its only a matter of seconds before Morgan and Alison spot him. They will most likely think HE is behind it and it could get violent...and BLOODY if he doesnt explain himself.>>

<< Morgan is aready at the doors, noting the blood on the ground and looking very upset. unlike capers in the past, they will have to "investigate" and build on the clues they find. something they would prefer NOT to have to go through, but with Alison's powers as a Seer seemingly being hampered by an outside force that has yet to be identified, they have no choice.>>

<< and so the search and rescue operation for Karen begins. little do they know that this is not really about Karen AT ALL, it's about bringing someone BACK to a place they thought they had long left behind...there are secrets to be revealed this evening.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< bending down to get a closer look, aside from some spatters of blood, there were signs of a struggle around the doors that were locked from the outside now. a few lights were on in the hallway inside on various windows could be seen lit from outside.>>

<< Morgan realized she was still in her versace cocktail dress, but there'd be plenty of time to switch to her costume inside.>>

<< in an icy voice.>>

Alison, can you "see" my mother? or what is going on??

<< watching as Alison's cobalt blue eyes went solid white, Morgan hoped the Seer would detect something but after a few precious moments, Alison sadly nodded to the negative.>>

<< Morgan put her hand to her forehead and exhaled slowly.>>

okay...i can't panic...not yet.

there must be a person, entity or force with enough power to have taken her AND be blocking her from Alison's attempts to "see" her. the only person i've ever known to be able to counter Alison's powers as a precog is Imagiomg, but we've not seen or heard from him in over a year since the destruction of the Citdale.

<< looking at the doors.>>

we'd better go inside, and change up. we can look around for any clues, including any footage from the security cameras.

<< Morgan was going to simply yank the doors open but realized she'd set off the alarm if she did, so instead she THOUGHT ahead and turned to Haleigh.>>

can you get us inside subtlely?

<< looking around the area, Morgan noticed a tall figure in the distance, cross a street and heading toward the "center of town". something about him looked familiar.>>

look over there...

<< she pointed.>>

that looks like....like ETHAN! << she bellowed.>>

WHY would he be over HERE of all places, and right during the time my mother disappeared!

<< she narrowed her eyes with contempt.>>

[Harbinger]

She's not here...at all, ANYWHERE. I can't exactly "see" her but the distance that seperates us is well outside of the city, or even the STATE. beyond that, i can't figure it out.

:: as Morgan looked at the area outside the doors, Alison closed her eyes tightly, she was obviously still grappling with the sudden "black out" of most of her precognition. it was like losing an arm or a leg. BUT the true test of any tactician, especially one as good as Alison, was to be able to adjust accordingly and overcome a setback, making it work for her still.::

I...I don't understand!

:: she said with a cold, irritated voice.::

I've gone from being a precog to feeling like a two-bit "clairvoyant". All i'm getting are ghost like images of the recent past..and the strongest impression i get NOW is for us to go inside and look for clues. I feel like i'm being LEAD!

:: the idea that SHE of all people could be under anyone's thrall or power was especially upsetting to Alison.::

:: waiting for Haleigh to get them inside, Alison turns to where Morgan is pointing.::

That IS Ethan, i "saw" him while i was at Illustra just as my precognition was being dampened. as for WHY he is here of all places, i couldn't tell you..but considering our last meeting with him..perhaps we should question him.

:: looking down, she too thought about the way she was dressed. hardly appropriate battle attire and no doubt that smug Ethan would have something to say about it. But with the way she was feeling right now, she knew it was best to go back to her "marble hard" persona. not only for her sake, but to make sure no one else sees just how BOTHERED she is right now.::

[Jessica Hamby]

Alison mentioned Ethan... and Haleigh realized she forgot to tell anyone that Ethan had recently moved into a place in Soho, but as she was about to say as much, Alison dismissed it and Delilah moved them to the scene. Ethan was around the corner, and moving this way... Haleigh knew an encounter was inevitable and she wondered at the coincedence of his timing.... but she prayed he wasn't STUPID enough to be hanging around here if he HAD had anything to do with Karen. Morgan was understandably stressed and Alison was visibly angry. Everyone was upset and a little ruffled... after all... all of them knew the kind of power Karen had... for someone to kidnap her... was quite a feat. Haleigh knew that the best thing for Karen was for them all to keep their heads.

"Morgan's right, NONE of us have the luxury of panic right now... everyone just STAY CALM... and lets use our heads here. We may not know exactly what happened or why... but there are plenty of ways to find out."

Morgan asked Haleigh to let them in quietly and Alison suggested looking for clues, but Haleigh was already on it. She knelt down by the splatter of blood, taking note of the DNA. It was Karen's... but Haleigh didnt say so out loud... no one, least of all Morgan, needed to HEAR it, though they were probably all thinking it. There was a fair amount of splatters, and Haleigh glanced over her shoulder to gesture for Delilah to come over.... pretty handy to have a cop who could help develop theories.

"Hey D... what do you think about these splatter patterns? definitely more than one hit? there's a partial bloody footprint over here... looks like a woman's... its pretty small. That might explain why Karen didn't put up too fierce a fight... she let her guard down because she thought she was safe."

Haleigh peeked into the window, taking in the scene in the reception area. A floor lamp was knocked over, and it threw a skewed, slightly creept light on the silence inside.

"Door's locked from the outside...." Haleigh noted aloud, placing her hand on the knob. A soft click is heard as it unlocks and she twists the knob slowly and pushes it slightly open. She draws a handgun and a small flashlight, crossing her wrists out in front of her in a trained fashion, one that Morningstar would recognize as a cop/military stance. Alison and Morgan catch sight of Ethan. They both reacted and Haleigh, who was about to enter the building, stopped. Suddenly red-eyed, her voice came out in a bristled growl.

"MORGAN, ALISON.... If Cruise had ANYTHING to do with this, I'll Kill him MYSELF. If you two are going to give him the third degree, you'd better do it on the move.... we need to see if we can pick up any kind of trail."

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Upon arriving at Soho, the situation became even more intense once finding Karen's blood splattered on the concrete ground. Karen was no kitten, if she was taken, it was by a very powerful source. Shaking her head hearing Alison state that she cannot sense where Karen is, this was the worse possible scenario. Their seer had no idea where Karen was and Morgan was desperately trying to keep calm given the situation. Haleigh and Delilah immediately got to work analyzing the blood spatter pattern. But what caught everyone off guard was the fact Ethan was near by around the same time Karen was taken. ::

"I'll take care of Ethan."

:: Seeing the doors open via Haleigh's powers, Persephone nodded reassuringly to the group letting them know she wouldn't harm him unless necessary. Heading in the direction in which Ethan was last saw, as Persephone walked, winds began to blow around the goddess, surrounding her body in a cyclone like fashion. Thunder clapped loudly as a bolt of lightning struck her. The lights faded and the winds subsided, leaving Persephone in her signature black leather cat suit with silver vine pattern surrounding her torso. Picking up the pace to a quick jog, her heals dug into the concrete ground indicating to Ethan that someone was approaching him from behind. ::

"Fancy seeing you here, Cruise."

:: Slowing to a walk, Persephone stopped crossing her arms along her chest. Her long chocolate locks were pulled back into a low pony tail with only a few pieces framing her face. She looked fierce yet elegant at the same time. Like a true goddess. ::

"Care to explain the unusual coincidence that you're in the same vicinity as Karen Victoria's office? Choose your excuse wisely."

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah was just finishing applying lipgloss in her bathroom mirror when she was startled by Alison suddenly blinking into her apartment. She actually jumped and turned to face her friend, ready to scold her for entering so abruptly until she saw the look on her face. Before she could ask what had happened, Alison told her and it was much worse than anything she could have thought of. The Doctor, beaten and hurt. She gasped and her hand went to her mouth. ]

"No..."

[ Karen was an extremely powerful being. What could have hurt her? She had always thought of Karen as a surrogate mother - but now she realized how much the Doctor really meant to her. And aside from subduing Karen - what sort of being could impair Alison's "sight" this way? She had a very bad feeling about this...

She picked up her Browning Hi Power handgun still in the holster she kept it in and slung it over her shoulder. The shoulder rig would chafe in the dress she was wearing, but she didn't have time to change. Haleigh and Ava appeared, and Delilah transported them to the front of Karen's office building.

She saw Morgan nearby, and as they reached her she could see the blood on the ground. She forgot to breathe for a moment as the reality of the situation came crashing down around her. Distant memories long pushed deep into her psyche fought to get out. Memories of her other mother... ]

"Morgan! Did you see anything? Can you feel her presence?"

[ Delilah knew that Morgan's bond with her mother would be tight, and that it was possible she could detect her presence if she were near to them. Morgan asked for Alison's guidance, only to find out as they had that something was blocking Alison's abilities. The appearance of Ethan Cruise only worsened matters. She narrowed her eyes in his direction and clenched her fist. ]

"If he has done anything to hurt Karen I swear I will tear out his heart and throw him into the fires of hell myself."

[ Haleigh called her over to observe the blood spatters. While she had been in the FBI Academy she had taken a course on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, plus she had had enough practice on the force to be of some use in this instance. She knelt near Haleigh, careful not to contaminate the scene. They would need to photograph the area to study later for clues. ]

"Yes, I would say she trusted and probably knew her assailant. Most of the markings are close together and thick - that would indicate that she was probably on the ground while she was being attacked. Probably the attacker took her down with one blow - it appears to have been with a blunt object - then continued the attack once she was down and probably unconcious, knowing what we do of Karen's powers. If they were able to take her by force, she must not have been ability to fight back with her abilities. See how the footprint is close to and facing the direction of the path of the spatter? She was moving towards her attacker at the time she was hit, not running away from he or she.

The shoe print does appear to be female, as Haleigh said. The person stepped carefully - didn't shuffle their feet through the spots - which tends to be a female trait. Also, the angle of impact would indicate an average height woman - or a relatively short man.

You can see that the blood did not pool, so she could not have been on the ground for long, which is a good thing. I also see no cast off pattern from the weapon. Those together tell me that her attacker's intention was only to incapacitate her in order to take her alive."

[ She rose and watched Haleigh open the door, noting that it was locked from the outside. ]

"Karen took the time to lock the door...but there are signs of a struggle inside. Unless...there were two of them. One to push the prey to the trap..."

[ She followed Haleigh's lead and drew the Browning from its holster. The gun felt strangely comforting in her hand. She had it loaded with Homady Custom XTP handgun ammo - they would make a big hole going in and do a good bit of damage to the insides of anything that got into their path. And at that moment, she would have gladly fired all thirteen rounds into whatever it was that had Doctor Victoria. ]

[Rampage]

Morgan transported them by stepping disk to Karen's Soho office. She was visibly upset and he was so angry that he was shaking. Karen was the only mother figure he had known, and he could not imagine that she would leave him so soon. That and the pained look on Morgan's facedrove him nuts. But he knew that he had to be calm, try to be strong. If not for himself, for Morgan. He knew she was already sick with worry that her mother was no more, especially since Alison could not detect her. He surveyed the scene and spoke in a whisper to Morgan.

"Don't worry. We WILL find whoever did this to her and we WILL make them pay."

He immediately began to search the perimeter around the office, careful not to disturb the area of the actual confrontation.He knew that Haleigh and Delilah knew more about crime scene analysis than he did, so he left them to that as he began to look for any sign that maybe the doctors was nearby.He found nothing immediately, and returned to Morgan's side as they realized that Ethan Cruise was walking nearby.

"He better have the best alibi ever, or..."

Nicolas stopped mid-sentence, realizing that his temper would only cause him to lose control at this point. Persephone took the lead in intercepting Cruise, a wise decision since Nicolas could only think of how to hurt him at this point., even though he knew that logically, Ethan was probably incapable of dong this to Karen, and had NO way of keeping it from Alison.

So Nicolas followed Haleigh and Delilah into the house. He was completely silent, even deciding to forego breathing so as to not allow anyone to get the drop on them. He saw Delilah draw her handgun and he silently followed their lead. As he did so, he did a telepathic sweep to see if any other minds were in this house.

[Jill Monroe]

<<Morgan was a little tense. she turned to Nicolas and her icy violet eyes had a look of bewildermint in them...a far cry from the way they were just moments ago at the start of what would have been their first OFFICIAL date.>>

i can't STAND not knowing....

<< he assured her that everything would work out and that they would find her. indeed the six had triumphed over seemingly IMPOSSIBLE odds, and most of them had defied death at least once before. If her mother were dead, she would have DEFINATIVELY felt it. Delilah asked if Morgan could feel her at this point>>

i felt her pain...she called out for me just as she was being beaten into unconsciousness...but it happened so fast....I...i BELIEVE she's still unconscious. if she were DEAD..i would have felt it...believe me I would have REACTED to it.

<< the surprisingly and unexpeted variable of Ethan provoked an equal parts reaction from the group..they ALL were ready to annihilate him if this was his doing. as Ava announced she would handle Ethan, Morgan looked at her with a soft smile of relief.>>

Thank you! we'll have Nicolas open a mindlink to you so that if anything happens, you can give a shout AND so that you can come back directly to us, where ever we are in the building.>>

<< Morgan felt better knowing that everyone was on the same page as she. She was THANKFULLY that Ava went to deal with Ethan. Whatever his reason for being in this area, if he wasnt involved with Karen's disappearence, then she couldnt be bothered with him. They would know soon enough once Persephone rejoined them. She asked Nicolas to open a mindlink to Ava so that they could lead her to them at all times.>>

<< INSIDE the multi floor level office, Haleigh and Delilah were taking in the scene on either side of the double door entrance. they were able to determine that there must have been TWO people involved, one to flush Karen out and the other, a female to take her down. it must have happened hard and fast. Morgan nodded slowly, knowing that these two women were accurate in their analysis>>

they took her down hard and fast..knowing that was the only way to keep her from using her magick. they must have KNOWN she was a witch..which means we aren't dealing with a normal OR "stupid" foe.

<< she looked down the darkened hall.>>

Haleigh, can you tap into the security system? download the footage of this evening. we can go to my mother's actuall office and view it there, see if any of her personal effects are there. I may be able to sense her with my bond as her child...but ill need something of her's to AMPLIY the connection. without Alison's power....that's the only thing i can think of.

<< the group walked together, and cautiously. Nicolas scanning the area for any other thought patterns, Delilah posturing as a police officer would, while Morgan and Alison walk together.>>

it's so dark...

<< Morgan's voice echoed down the halls.>>

she wouldn't have been here this late after hours unless she was doing some paper work. it is Thursday...so that's usually when she does it.

<< once inside the office, the found much MORE evidence of a problem.>>

look at this place....

<< around the area of her desk, a picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah lays on the floor, SHATTERED..and DELILAH'S face is noticeably SCRATCHED UP. the phone is ripped out of the wall as well. Karen's coat hangs on the coat tree and her attache case is nearby but the files therein were ripped out and strewn about the place. it appeared someone was looking for information.>>

<< more blood, and other biological remains...on the end of the desk, this was from when the guard slammed the pencil through Karen's hand. the bloody pencil itself was now on the floor, where the guard dropped it after Karen slashed her across the face>>

oh no.....

[Harbinger]

:: Alison walked along, her facial expression betrayed the feelings of agitation she had.::

:: she remained quiet. Ethan didnt know how LUCKY he was that Ava had gone to intercept him. Not that Ava would be ANY EASIER on him but with the way Alison was feeling, and her precognition and "sight" powers being hampered, she was in no mood to be trifled with by the flippant Ethan. Nicolas said there was no way Ethan could have been capable of taken Karen down like this, and Alison agreed, though would have liked to, she couldnt BLAME Ethan for this and worse...he might even end up coming with them...to be of some USE to the effort to find and rescue Karen.::

:: inside, and down the darkened hall, Alison walked with Morgan. Haleigh and Delilah took in any clues they could find and Nicolas scanned for any rogue thought patterns.::

I suspect we are quite alone...at this point.

:: once inside of Karen's office, Alison too noted the extremely messy and chaotic state that the office was in.::

this is where the attack started...i get the strongest impressions here.

:: looking around, she too noted the files strewn about the office, that Karen's coat was still there , and that around the desk, on the floor there was a picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah that had fallen and shattered...Delilah's face in the picture was almost VICIOUSLY torn out.::

:: as Morgan tried not to visibly fret over the sight of her mother's blood and the bloody pencil.... Alison was drawn to the picture.::

this picture...

:: she knelt down to pick it up and as she stood up, she gasped as she was PULLED INTO a "vision."

a young girl, with blonde hair, looking rather catatonic was brought into a hospital, a doctor's office. everything was dreamy looking. the young girl sits and a much younger looking DOCTOR VICTORIA comes forward, in a white lab coat, smiling warmly as she reaches down to touch the little girls hand.::

Karen Victoria: Hi Delilah! I'm Karen.....i'm glad to meet you!

:: before Alison could pullherself back and gain control, there was a flash and switch of scenery. it was the OUTSIDE OF the hospital...WESTIN HILLS PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY

:: Alison dropped the picture..::

:: Karen and DELILAH? it wasn't impossible, Delilah, Alison and Morgan were the same ages...Karen was Morgan's mother and could easily have been Alison or Delilah's. Delilah....was a patient of Karen's in the past! but for what? and why hadnt Delilah or KAREN for that matter ever said anything? why hadnt ALISON detected it until now?::

:: before she would say anything, she looked at Haleigh, composing herself.::

Haleigh, do you have the footage from the security cameras?

:: Alison walked over to another area of the floor and began to selectively look throgh the files that were strewn about. carefull not to move them too much. it appeared that Alison might be ON to something, but she wasnt saying just "WHAT" it was, yet.::

[MorningStar]

[ The group, minus Ava, slowly moved through the building and to Karen's office. Morgan had suggested that Haleigh access the surveillance tapes. ]

"Good idea, Morg."

[ But in her mind Delilah was hoping that the perp had not been smart enough to think of that ahead of time. But she wasn't feeling very hopeful in that respect. Someone who could take down the Doctor was no rookie to this type of crime, she was sure of it. But if they could get an image of one of the attackers, Delilah could run it by some friends at the department and try to match it against the known criminals database.

They reached the office and looked around at the chaos that had been left. Karen had done the smart thing - left her belongings and ran. Let a thief have what he was looking for. But what could it be? She looked at the open attache case, the files. What could he or she have been looking for? What could be of significance in a doctor's office?

She saw Alison pick up the broken picture frame, but before she could tell her that they would need to dust that for prints, she had dropped it. Delilah pulled a scarf off the coat tree and too knelt beside the picture, using the scarf to pick it up. She stood and gazed into the frame. Who would have wanted to deface the picture and why? Was it a coincidence? Or was there a deeper meaning there?

She shivered as she realized her bare arms were covered in gooseflesh. She had the feeling there was more to the kidnapping of Doctor Karen Victoria than met the eye. Her gut told her to run. And her gut had never let her down yet. Too bad she couldn't listen. ]

[Jacob Black]

Ethan could hear Ava walking behind him and as he turned around sure enough, she was standing there. He let out a deep sigh as she spoke, wondering how he was able to be in trouble for being in the same neighborhood as Morgan's mother. Sometimes these people were utterly unbarable.

"It is unusual that I am walking through the bustling district in Soho, very close to where I now live in the city, on a popular party night in club attire just because this happens to be in the same vicinity as Morgan's mother? Explain that to me, Miss Cassadine..."


He looked her up and down. She was a tasty morsel if he ever saw one and couldn't help but wonder why Nicolas had such an interest in Morgan. This woman was a Goddess, an ultimate personification of power and immortality, and she was smoking. His thoughts were snapped back into reality as he awaited Ava's response.

[Rampage]

Nicolas mind-linked with Persephone as she moved over to Ethan. He accompanied the laides into the office as they combed for clues. His psi-scan turned up nothing and he was trying to think of how they could somehow detect WHO exactly did this. From the information they had already gathered, he guessed that this was done by proxy, that would be the only way to get the drop on her so easily, at least in his estimation. So, the question was, how could osmeone do this and not leave a trace? Was there a weay to look that they hadn't tried yet? He had a couple of ideas...

"Delilah, your powers over light, that is an expression of radiation in a certain part of the spectrum, correct? Could you possibly EXPAND that control to try to detect any unusul energy signatures? And Alison, could you somehow use Morgan's link to her mother to amplify your own precognition powers? I don't know if it will help, I am just getting nothing here...and it was just a couple of thoughts I hoped might help."

Nicolas waited for their response, hoping they would see that he was only trying to assist. He could feel the tension in the room, his included, and he just wanted Karen back safe. Meanwhile, Ethan decided to be a smartass to Persephone which, given the group's current mood, was a risky move at best. He could also "hear" Ethan's admiration of Persephone's body and had to admit, the man had taste, even if he failed to fully appreciate Morgan's rather considerable...assets.

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Lifting a brow at Ethan's more than obvious head to toe stare, Persephone rolled her eyes. Funny, even gay guys can't seem to get their eyes of her. Letting out a heavy sigh, she was growing tired of his tone and his snippy remarks. ::

"Spare me your condescending babble, Ethan. I don't have time for it."

:: Her accent thick, yet beautiful, the goddess managed to keep most of her temper in check. She couldn't afford to gut him alive and hope for Delilah and Haleigh's efforts to come through later. ::

"So, coincidently you happen to move to Soho around the same time frame that Karen Victoria was attacked and kidnaped. Oh, and coincidently walk across the street from her office moments after her abduction."

:: Taking a slow step forward, Persephone lifted her hand to stop Ethan from making any sudden movements. Her heals tapped gently against the concrete sidewalk as she made her way closer to him. ::

"Calm down, I’m not going to attack you. You’re no use to me dead....Although that would be a wonderful collateral benefit."

:: Stopping, Persephone was now within his ‘personal circle’. With her heals, Persephone could look straight into Ethan’s eyes. Glare really. ::

"Just give me the answers I’m looking for, and you can go off and grind your cock into the next available playboy, to your hearts content."

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh nodded at Delilah's suggestion, as she frontlined the group towards Karen's office, leading with the barrel of her Smith & Wesson.

"I think you're right... whatever was chasing her.... it had her pretty frightened... but she calmed enough outside the building to try to lock them in. I'm guessing it was a man.... that way when she came across the woman... she'd feel instantly safer. Its an easy game to play."

Morgan asked Haleigh to get the security footage, something she was already working on. Haleigh nodded again as the group made their way into the doctors office. Alison picked up a photo and promptly gasped, then dropped it. Delilah moved in with a scarf to pick it up again, and Haleigh knew what she was thinking. She stepped in closer to get a look at what was on the picture, glancing at it before eyeing Alisons expression... which had now gone back to default.

"I doubt you'll find print on that Delilah, though its a romantic thought. See how the desk is jarred crooked? I'm guessing in the struggle they skewed it, knocking the frame to the floor.... Alison? Is something wrong?"

She prodded, as she rounded the desk and logged on to the computer network, bringing up a viewing window for them all to watch the footage. Haleigh selected the camera for this room and rewound the footage back a while to a time she estimated the attack began.... it all seemed pretty effortless for her to manage, but she was using her powers to grease the electronic gears.

"Over here guys... it looks like she's just getting ready to leave."

[Harbinger]

:: as Alison, jarred by the vision she had, dropped the picture and immediately moved over to the files, her reaction had not been lost on Haleigh and even DELILAH felt on a subtle level a sense of dread. this was beginning to look like MORE than just a violent kidnapping.::

:: Nicolas asked if Alison could somehow tap into Morgan's "mother/child" bond with Karen and use it to "see" her...it was a clever idea, but it wouldnt be quite that simple.::

::looking over her shoulder as she continued to squat down at the files on the floor, she spoke in a cool tone::

A clever idea indeed, Nicolas. but i'm afraid it wouldnt be that simple. I COULD cast a spell with Morgan that would let me "hear" her thoughts..but all i would be able to get from that was what SHE was feeling/hearing. Whatever's clouding my vision..it's having an effect on ALL of my "seeing" abilities. I'm having "flash premonitions" now...it's like being BLIND with random , PAINFULLY teasing bursts of SIGHT.

:: she thought for a moment.::

however, with the SCRYING GLASS and morgan and i combining our magicks, we MAY be able to at least pinpoint Karen's general location once we have a better understanding of what's happened here. Delilah will use her contacts with the local and state authorities to put an APB out Karen...we don't want to go to the feds...we still have to protect our own true identities as well as Karen and its too soon to try to tap into Alycia right now.

:: she knew Nicolas desperately wanted to "KNOW" where Karen was...if she were allright. THEY all did..but Alison was now beginning to sense, even with her limited "seeing" ability that there was MORE to this and that DELILAH was somehow involved. not as a perpetrator...but something else...something that SHE must not even be aware of.::

:: as Haleigh asked her was anything wrong, she looked up at the woman. standing up, she took Haleigh to the side. Knowing that Delilah had perfect hearing, it wouldnt avail much to try to whisper, but she didnt want to bring Morgan or Nicolas in on this just YET. Once again, she needed to let someone with a cool, analytical head in on it first. Alison pushed some of her blue/black hair back behind her ear, taking a moment to compose herself. She was clearly still irritated by her own powers being on the FRITZ at the moment. ::

:: quietly to Haleigh::

There may very well be..and not just the OBVIOUS in front of us. When i touched that picture...i had a "flash premonition"..but not of what was to COME..it was a view of the PAST. I saw Karen....younger, and apparently working at a psychiatric hospital....and she was introducing herself to... a young girl...couldnt have been more than 10...her name was DELILAH. But i couldnt get anything more than that...the vision ended as abruptly as it began.

:: turning back to the others, who were moving around the office, gathering evidence.::

this is going to be MORE than what we see here...i can't "SEE" it coming, but i can FEEL it.

:: moving back toward the others across the office, Haleigh announced that she found the footage and was now rewinding it to the point of where the attack first began.::

:: Alison turned to Nicolas::

Ava's made contact with Ethan, hasn't she?

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan went around the desk to the chair, looking around, making sure not to disturb anything unecessarily. although her mother was missing, she could still smell her mother's scent in the room, the perfume she wore so well..and the atmosphere..although tainted with violence and uncertainty STILL maintained a bit of her mother's presence. it was slightly comforting.>>

<< she only half listened as Nicolas attempted to suggest solutions to the burning question of "where is she...", and the response that Alison gave. Alison was just as competent and knowledgeable a magick user as Morgan...maybe even MORESO in someways since Alison dedicated her young life to the pursuit and study of dark magick around the globe prior to meeting Morgan. they had their unique differences ..which was why they worked so well together. Morgan felt better with Nicolas, Delilah and Haleigh here. the two women..one a police officer and the other a former military soldier, using their experience and knowledge to piece together the mystery...and ava was outside, handling Ethan. they were ALL doing what they could TOGETHER and it gave morgan a quiet sense of hope.>>

<< in an icy voice>>: Alison HAS "seen" something...i recognize that reaction when she touched the picture. I'm sure she'll tell us when the time is right..she has that knack about her, you know?

<< Delilah looked a bit fearfull herself, and Morgan went over to her...>>

Hey... << gently touching her shoulder..>> i thought I was supposed to be emotional wreck between the two of us?

<< she smiled softly>> YOU have to keep it together so i can be hysterical for both of us...

<< her icy voice was kind of shakey as she joked.... but then she returned to being serious.>>

we're going to find her...you know if anyone can beat the odds, its US and when we find her...we'll make the person(s) or THING responsible for this REGRET ever crossing her's OR our path...

<< looking across as Haleigh announced she had the tape, Morgan nodded...>>

okay, let's see what we have.

<< they all gathered to watch the footage unfold....>>

[Jacob Black]

"I didn't know it was a crime to move to the city, Ava. Secondly, why on Earth would I attack the mother of the woman who tortured and interrogated me in Limbo, do you really think I am that dense?"'

Her words were raunchy at best and he was quickly getting irritated. She didn't know the first thing about him and he felt it was getting a little too convienient for them to blame anything that happened to somebody from the Six on him. Obviously, Haleigh had not talked to any of them about Ethan. He was appalled at her graphic language in the next sentence and sighed.

"I gave you your DAMN answers, and NOW on your horribly graphic use of words and lack of class, I am leaving. If Morgan needs to send any more of her lackeys to pester me, I will be at XS for the better part of the evening, that is of course, if I don't find a "playboy" to get randy with..."

Ethan rolled his eyes as he walked away, thinking of Drew. He hadn't been on a date since Drew had died, and that was nearly over three years. He shook the thoughts from his head as he continued down the street and headed towards the club, trying to forget the Six. He wanted to be a part of the TEAM, not one of their enemies. He knew emotions were running high and he knew if went over to the others, they would only accuse him of something and it wouldn't help his case any. He turned around and smiled at Ava as he walked away, returning the cattiness...

"By the way... Those shoes hurt like a hangover..."

He winked as he turned back around. The shoes were hot. He knew that, but he couldn't let her walk away feeling all high and mighty.

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Laughing softly at his remarks about her 'lack of class', Ava simply smirked. She had more class than half the population of New York City, but overly confident men never seemed to take anything seriously unless handled in a certain 'explicit' way. Obviously that didn't apply to the gay man. Nevertheless, Persephone stepped forward, slipping her fingers under the lapels of his jacket. Softly smoothing the material, she leaned close to his ear. ::

"For your sake. I hope you're telling the truth."

:: Leaning back, she smoothed her fingers down his chest as he turned away to leave. Stepping off the curb to head back across the street, Ava turned to Ethan who decided to get a small catty jab at her. Ah, so he liked to play it that way. Ava made a mental note. ::

"Darling, don't kid yourself."

:: Turning back away, Ava jogged across the street and back to Karen's office. Entering the door way that Haleigh had opened, Ava made her way down the hallway to meet back up with the group. ::

[Rampage]

Nicolas was a bit disheartened by Alison's response to his questions. He realized that she would do her best, and he was a bit more at ease when she mentioned the scrying glass. He then realized that the problem was that he could sense dread in this room. From Delilah. In droves. He as about to speak to her when Alison asked him about Ava. Ethan at this point was being smartassed and Persephone was being very cool about it. But one quick run around his short-term memory let Nicolas know that he knew nothing of this.

"Alison, Ethan is being his usual CHARMING self. But he knows nothing. If he knew something, I would be tearing it from him now, to be sure. So Persephone should be with us any moment."

Nicolas tried to match each worried gaze he saw with a confident look and tone. He was worried also, but he was confident that there was NO WAY she could be kept from them for very long. And then someone would pay...

Haleigh turned on the recorder and began to set up the tape. Nicolas stood beside Morgan as he waited for the tape to play. He placed a hand quickly on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring rub...

[MorningStar]

[ It took Delilah a second to process that Nicolas was speaking to her. She shook her head as if coming out of a daze, like she had been somewhere far away. She felt nothing out of the ordinary in the building, except...

Her head jerked towards the direction of Alison and Haleigh as she heard the Seer's whispered conversation. About her. Her eyes sought Alison's, showing half surprise and half feeling of betrayal. Why wasn't Alison speaking to her about this? What did it mean? Could the girl she saw have been her? But she couldn't deal with this now. She pushed those thoughts far down inside her. She looked away from them, away from everyone.

Work the case, Delilah. Focus on the case, that's all that matters right now.

As Morgan came to her and made the joke about being an emotional wreck, she thought of that old saying, what was it? Half joking all serious? Morgan had to be holding it together by a string, and it should be Delilah comforting her, not the other way around. She nodded and threw an arm around her friend's shoulders, turning back towards the room together. ]

"Nicolas' suggestion put me in mind of something...I didn't feel anything unusual. But - shouldn't there be some sort of security on duty for this building tonight? Where are they?"

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened to Delilah's question as the tape was being set up by Haleigh.

"Hey, that's right. If there was security here they should be here, or their bodies, something. What if the kidnapper took them also? Or what if they were in on it? Either way, whoever employs them should be able to contact them via radio. Or we could use the signal to find them, if we knew the frequency. Were the guards our guys?"

Nicolas turns to Haleigh almost pleadingly as he asks his last question....

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Finally meeting back up with the group, Persephone noted everyone working on their individual tasks. Obviously nothing of use came up otherwise they would be on their way to help Karen. ::

"Ethan was of no use. He denied having anything to do with Karen's disappearence. But considering he's a lying pig, I slipped a pinhead sized tracking divice on his jacket. Virtually undetectable."

:: Taking out a small black PDA--from where was anyone's guess--and turned it on. A bright screen flashed on showing a map of the general area and a small green dot, Ethan. ::

"If whomever took Karen is strong enough to damper Alison's powers, i'm not going to take a chance that they wouldn't be able to cloud your telepathy as well, Nicolas."

:: Tossing him the PDA. ::

"Track his movement. If he does have anything to do with this, we'll know exactly where he goes."

[Oracle]

<< Persephone returns, explaining the dead end conversation she had wiwth the catty Ethan. He apparently was on his way to some social gathering, and so wrapped up in trying to put persephone in her place, he MISSED the opportunity to make GOOD with Haleigh and others by perhaps offering to HELP find the doctor.>>

<< Back inside the office, the team does their best to piece t hings together and comfort each other. Nicolas, Morgan and Delilah stand together. Morgan's arm around Delilah's waist and her other hand touching Nicolas' hand which is on her shoulder. Guardian moves away from the files and joins the group as Haleigh begins the playback . it was time for them to see what happened on THIS end of the mystery. the tape plays...there is CLEAR audio, due to the fact that Karen often TAPES her sessions with her clients...as well as digital quality vision.>>

<< Karen begins packing up. her office is dimly lit and she hums softly to herself.>>

<< passing by her desk, there is a picture of Morgan as a young girl with another picture of her as a grown woman side by side. next to that is a picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah, her daughter and two surrogate daughters.>>

<< as she grabs her attache and buttons her black pin stripped tailored blazer up, she turns and is started to see a security guard not only in her office...but RIGHT BEHIND HER.>>

GODDESS!!

<< she exclaims as she backs up and tries to compose herself.>>

you gave me quite a start there.

<< the officer says nothing.>>

is anything wrong? everyone else is gone for the evening. i stayed behind to do some last minute paper work.

<< she looked at the guard directly with her opal blue eyes..he seemed to look a little pale.>>

Security Guard: << in a deep voice>>: sorry, Dr. Victoria....I just came...because i needed to borrow...a pencil.

<< Karen looked at him and narrowed her eyes a bit.>>

a ...pencil? a rather odd request. you could've gotten one from the supply closet, but no matter.

<< she turns around and walks to her desk, passing by the pictures once again. going inside a drawer, she takes out a pencil.>>

here you are. one pencil. already sharpened.

<< she goes to hand it the guard and he just stands and looks at her. >>

security guard: << in a deep voice>> Dr. Victoria, you look very pretty this evening.

<< Karen looks at the guard rather curiously and notes his tendency to lean in close to her, trying to infringe on her space. she tries her best to stand her ground but he's taller than her, even while she's wearing heels. she backs up to the front of her desk...>>

......<< in a colder voice>> well...thank you very much. but i really don't think now is the time or the place for fraternization.

<< Karen looked at her cartier watch.>>

here's your pencil. now if you'll pardon me, i must be on my way.

<< she attempts to leave and the guard blocks her.>>

what are you doing!?

<< the guard is now right up on her, forcing her back to the desk...the picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah falls on the floor and the frame shatters.>>

get OUT of my way right now ...or ELSE...

<< before Karen can finish demanding that he move, he grabs her wrist..and bends it backward, exposing her hand. taking the pencil, he SLAMS it down through the palm of her hand....and she...SCREAMS.>>

Security Guard: sorry Doctor, but you can't leave. I have orders to make SURE that you stay.... << his voice sounding a bit warped now>> you're really very pretty, you know that?

<< Karen gasps as she falls back..stumbling to the side...looking at her hand in disbelief. with her other hand, she grips her car keys between her fingers and lashes out and forward, SLICING the guard across his face before pushing him aside and running for the door.>>

<< breathing rapidly, Karen is in shock, pain....she's about to panic!>>

man....hurting me....wants to rape....hurt.. kill....have to get out! HAVE TO GET OUT!!!

STOP IT!! << she yells out loud at herself.>>

<< running quite fast, despite wearing high heels, Karen rushes down a darkened hall, and ducks into the medical lab. slamming the doors behind her she locks them down tight and moves over to the exam table.>>

okay...calm down. you're not powerless....you have magick...

<< her icy voice is shakey...but she does her best to ignore the burning pain as she opens up her wounded hand and with her good hand...she begins to ignite her magicks. a golden halo forms around the wounded hand...and soon, the pain is replaced by a soothing, cooling feeling. with a soft chime, the wound is healed.>>

allright...i don't know what this is about, but i can't risk revealing my status as a witch to this bastard security guard.

<< she looks around and spots a phone.>>

I'll call the police. they'll come quickly and deal with it....problem solved!

<< the doctor moves to the phone but as soon as she picks it up she discovers there's no signal and at that point....the maniac security guard comes SMASHING THROUGH the locked medical doors! Karen jumps and screams as the severe sound catchs her attention. the guard is running for her like a maniac...waving his baton in one hand and blowing his whistle madly.>>

GET AWAY!!

<< Karen frantically looks over and spots a large glass jar of ALCOHOL. she grabs it and SMASHES it over his head...causing the guard to scream and grab his head in agony. she rushes forward and KNEES him in the crotch before pushing him aside and running out of the medical office and down the hall...FORGETTING HER PURSE..and the KEYS with which she would need to get out or drive her car.>>

<< down the hall, a flight of stairs and another hall, Karen finally reaches the doors...and its just at that point that ANOTHER security guard, a FEMALE who was on the outside happens to shine a light through the door...>>

Female Security Guard: Dr. Victoria!? are you allright?

get the POLICE!! i'm being ATTACKED!!! OPEN THESE DOORS!

<< the doctor yelled.>>

<< the security guard wants to help but finds that she CANT.>>

Female Officer: i dont have any keys to this building ma'am...im contract! where are YOUR keys??

<< karen looks in dismay and realizes she's forgotten them. turning back to look down the darkened hallway, Karen knows it would be foolish to try to run the whole way back....if she can just duck out of site, she can get transport herself to the medical lab and get her keys and the guard will be none the wiser.>>

I....I must have left my keys back on the other FLOOR!! please, stay at this door...watch for him. yell if you see him. I'll be back as soon as i can.

<< the female officer seems to be radioing for police to come to the building as Karen moves away from the doors. she ducks out of site behind a wall and transports herself in a swirl of golden orbs back to the medical lab. THIS TIME she's ready to lash out with her magicks before she risks letting him hurt her like that again or worse but to her surprise and uncertain relief...he's not there.>>

<< she spots her keys and her purse...and grabs them but as she does...>>

Male Officer: you've been a very, VERY bad girl.

<< he back hands her across the face and she hits the floor. she lays there...feining being knocked out.>>

Male officer: my master doesn't tolerate disobience...pretty doctor.

<< as he leans down to turn her over...she opens her eyes...KICKING HIM square in his face with her high heel and sending him flying backward. she scrambles away, finally getting to her feet and rushing out again. wasting no time, she transports herself down to the main floor and rushes to the main doors...>>

Female Office: Oh Doctor, THANK GOD!! the police are on their way now!....do you have the keys!!

<< Karen, still shaken, nods... and begins get them out.>>

Female officer: DOCTOR!!! he's COMING!!!

<< Karen looks over her shoulder...and there is the man..looking terribly derranged.>>

oh NO!!

<< she doesnt show any fear, she just goes to get the doors open and what is USUALLY a simple task now seems so HARD as she can't stop shaking...>>

<< the officer screams for the police to come and Karen cant help but feel herself panicking AGAIN..almost as if CHRISTOPHER VICTORY were after her again....but just as it seems he's about to be UPON HER...she gets the doors open and bursts through to the other side.>>

HELP ME!!

<< the female officer rushes forward to help her shut the doors. the male guard's hand still trying to get through so Karen SLAMS her high heel down on hit, causing him to scream and pull back. finally she gets the doors shut and LOCKED from the outside..>>

<< thinking herself safe, she looks up at the sky and exhales>>

thank the goddess....i dont know what happened...he just...attacked me...but now...

<< she looks and see's the the female officer, now with the same dark, ghostly look as the male. the officer had faked radioing for police...no one was coming, and Karen was no more safe outside than she was inside.>>

you....you're with HIM!!

<< before karen can do anything, she's struck down...and beaten into unconsciousness...as her eyes close....she calls out for her daughter....>>

Morga...**

<< the doctor blacks out and is carried away into the night.>>

<< the footage...was violent and most definately hard to watch, but it certainly cleared up some questions. the security guards were not there because THEY were the ones who attacked the doctor. their faces...the pale, ghostly, DEMONIC looking faces would GRAB Delilah's attention for she would REMEMBER these faces...from YEARS ago! it was a shocking sight....but it brought back jumbled memories...memories that WANTED to put themselves together for her ...but something was blocking. all she knew, was that those faces were not NEW to HER...she'd seen them as a little girl.>>

<< Karen had been HURT, beaten down outside the doors and dragged away, but as they dragged her, the two guards BLINKED out of sight. this meant that they had POWERS...whether they were physical or magickal, it was too soon to tell. but now that they had the faces of their enemies, as well as the indication that the guards were working for someone ELSE...they could go to the scrying glass and begin the search..the HUNT for Karen's abductors.>>

<< but even as some questions were answered, OTHERS were now raised. the conversation Alison had with Haleigh..and the sight of these two guards in the security footage...were both pointing toward Delilah and she certainly had a RIGHT to know if Alison saw or knew anything ELSE beyond the immediate issue. >>

[MorningStar]

[ Though Delilah knew in her mind that she should be comforting Morgan right now, she let her arm unconciously drop from around her friend's shoulders. She was staring now where the tape had been playing, but she wasn't seeing it. There was something else behind her eyes. Like when you just wake from a dream and fight to put the vision back together. A memory of some sort. But why couldn't she remember it?

She turned to Alison, looking at her with pleading eyes, silently asking for help. ]

[Jacob Black]

OOC: Lol... Nice hint Farrah! Sometimes I am retarded. Sorry other things have been on my mind lately.. like 8 days until I move! Ah!

BIC:

As Ethan continued to walk down the street he began to feel even more bad about walking away from Karen Victoria. Was he that big of an idiot? This was a perfect opportunity to help the Six with something and perhaps gain favor with them. He decided to turn back around and see if there was something he could help with. As he made his way back to them, he took a deep breath and made his entrance known.

"I'm sorry.. Ava. The last comment was uncalled for. I figured you might want or possibly need some help with this. I know we aren't on the best terms, but I just can't shake of what I would be feeling if something happened to my own mother. You don't have to take it if you still don't trust me, but my offer stands, if you need help with ANYTHING let me know..."

He knew there would be many hard feelings from Morgan and Alison. Only those that were there would know what happened to Ethan during what he called "the interrogation". Most likely they would yell at him, badger him or even cause him physical harm, but there was something that just wouldn't let him walk away from them. He felt for whatever reason that his destiny, his path of salvation was through the Six, that he was destined to be a part of this team. He awaited his response.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan watched the tape, and she tensed up with distress...seeing her mother fight off her attacker not once but TWICE and then desperately trying to escape the building, only to be assaulted AGAIN by a WOMAN outside where she thought she was safe...>>

mom...

<< Morgan said softly.>>

I was too late...AGAIN and my mother...she could be paying for it right now, just like Sharon did!

<< the tape finished and Morgan rubbed her face with her hands...>>

<< in an icy voice>>

Alison, did you find anything else? any reason as to why the files might have been disturbed so?

<< she looked at Delilah, who was already looking at Alison. something was amiss here>>

what's wrong? what is it?

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian watched the footage, refusing to turn away even if she found some of the harrowing moments hard to watch. she was too focused trying to get SOME kind of vision, trying to FIGHT through the haze that clouded her "seer's" eye.::

:: the two guards, something about them seemed to CONNECT to her vision that she had of Karen and the little girl that appeared to be Delilah. another piece of a larger puzzle? most likely. but now it was time for her to share her vision, her suspicions with the rest of the group.::

:: the footage ended and Morgan of course was still upset, wishing she could've gotten here sooner. Alison felt the same way, blaming herself for something that was obviously BEYOND her control. it was the byproduct of her being such a perfectionist.::


:: after a fruitless effort to fight through the haze around her precognition power, she seemed a little dazed at the moment, even as Morgan spoke to her. Delilah was looking at her...with an urgent, KNOWING look. Alison couldnt withold what she had seen from them any long. she shook her head and got back on her focus as she turned to the rest of the group.::

:: in a cool tone, she began to address them, even as black clouds rolled pass the full moon outside and made the office seem even darker than it was before.::

From the moment we arrived, i "FELT" there was more to this than Karen's attack and abduction, but without my precognition, I didn't want to say anything....i feel BLIND almost...at BEST, i have the flashes and impulses of a clairvoyant...nothing that I would trust but now, too many things have confirmed what I was "feeling."

:: holding the picture of Morgan, Alison and Delilah in her hand, she continues.::

i touched this picture and had a vision, not of what was yet to come..but of the PAST. I saw Karen, younger, probably an intern or presiding resident at a psychiatric hospital at the time. She was introducing herself to a patient, a young girl with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes....the little girl's name was DELILAH.

:: gesturing to the files::

this files were strewn about.......but there was something in common...they ALL came from the what WAS a LOCKED and SECURED file cabinet over there....no other files were touched. these files also are of the clients with last names that began with "T". Delilah's last name is "Trelevan"

:: pointing to the screen::

the video footage, showed two guards, who had a demonic countenance and one of them claimed to be working for a "master", which means they were not acting independantly....and judging by Delilah's own reaction to the sight of them...it MUST be evoking some kind of hint or whisper of the past...a past she cannot recall for some reason.

I believe that Karen and Delilah have a connection that goes PAST the time that Morgan and Delilah met each other...i also believe that the creatures who attacked Karen knew what they were doing...their "master" is probably the reason why my long range precognition isnt worwking NOW which means he or she has an incredible amount of power and probably just as much KNOWLEDGE of Karen's allies, her family etc.

:: she continued on::

Haleigh and Delilah have gathered clues and evidence and should forward them to the proper law enforcement agencies, just to keep things legit, but i think we all know this is going to be BEYOND anything they can fix.

I believe Karen is still alive, Morgan hasnt had any indication to the negative and that is our ONLY way of knowing right now but time is clearly NOT on our side. We need to return to Illustra, and use the scrying glass, combined with a specific spell, we MAY be able to pinpoint Karen's location and then, we will see what lies beneath all of this. We've gotten all we can from here...we're goint to have to do our best to figure out where we go from here...and we've got to move fast!

:: at THAT moment, ETHAN entered, Alison turned, her blue/black hair whipping in her turn as she looked with irritated surprise.::

WHAT are you doing here!? :: she bellowed.::

this is a PRIVATE matter!

[Rampage]

Nicolas watched as th encountered played out on the tape. He remained stoic as he saw the viciousness of the attck, using his hand to hold Morgan's as it played out. He noted Ethan's appearance and glared to silence himas the tape played. After it was done, Alison explained all that she knew to the group and confirmed some of what he had deduced. As the group prepared to move forward with Alison's plan, Nicolas turned to Delilah and spoke warmly.

"Delilah, if you have memoreis that you cannot see clearly or sort out, I may be able to help you with that. I must admit that the process can be...taxing, but it may give us clues as to who we are facing. The decision is yours."

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan looked over in the direction that Alison had turned and saw Ethan as well...>>

oh great...JUST GREAT!

<< she echoed Alison's irritation as she spoke.>>

Ethan, WHY are you here? what could you POSSIBLY tell us that we don't ALREADY KNOW!?

<< she wanted rush over and snap him in two..he DARE he come here..>>

and i thought i made it CLEAR that you were to STAY AWAY from us. You should have HEEDED Persephone's warning outside....

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh listened as Alison revealed a flash premonition and a possible lead... this had something to do with Delilah? Why not... they ALL had demons come out of their past before. Haleigh resisted the urge to look over at Delilah... that would most certainly tip her off that they were talking about her, if she hadn't heard them. Her voice was hushed to match Alisons, as she could tell Alison wasn't ready to share the vision witht he rest of the group yet.

"Well... I can't imagine you get an irrelevant premonition, Alison... there must be something important about it... until we have proof otherwise... I think we should treat it as OUR Delilah is the little girl in your 'flashback'. Let's see what we can confirm from the surveillance footage."

The group gathered round her, and the events began to unfold. Nicolas asked, almost desperately, if the guards were 'ours'.

"No, Nic..... I'm afraid not. This is a civilian building... with other businesses and its owned by a seperate entity.... who employs their own security firm. I only supply details to cover us if there is exceptional danger... and Karen felt safe enough to turn down an around the clock protection.... I should have insisted... but I guess I was feeling a little complacent after finally being rid of Malice and the constant looming threat of Mystech."

Persephone returned, just as the footage began to play, announcing that she'd talked with Ethan and released him.... but not before tagging him with a tracker. Haleigh couldn't help but be proud of her, and had to hamper a smile and try to focus on the computer screen to avoid giving herself away. That's my little sister... i guess some of my tutoring wasn't lost on her after all.... Haleigh didnt say as much... but she kind of liked the idea of Perse taking Ava's identity [and with it, her memories and personality traits]... it was kind of neat... and, after all this time... she finally had her sister at her side again.

The attacker showed up on the footage, and Haleigh's expression turned to one of frustrated interest. The group fell silent and each reacted in their own way. They were all watching an attack on a woman they respected, and it was violent and hard to watch, most especially for Morgan, Delilah, and Alison, who had known the doctor a long time and were very close with her. Nicolas was quiet and on the surface, he was unmoved. Haleigh watched it as though it were a movie that she was deeply interested in, as she sat in the chair at the desk, searching the video for ANY tangible clues. It finished, and Morgan expressed regret, but Haleigh shook her head.

"Morgan.... there was nothing ANY of us could have done. This was NOT your fault... we all got here as soon as we could. Were here NOW, and were going to FIND her... and were going to bring her HOME. Lets focus on that. It's too late for 'Should Haves' and 'If Onlys'."

Alison explained her premonition to the group, and Haleigh replayed the footage again to see if she missed anything. She looked up as Ethan entered but then back down at the screen.... Morgan and Alison reacted defensively to him and Haleigh paused playback, taking a deep breath and reigning them in.

"Morgan... Alison... give him a BREAK.... he just offered to HELP... and I think in our current predicament we can USE all the help we can FIND, don't you agree? [looking up at Ethan, gesturing for him to come towards her] Get over here, Agent 47.... see if you recognize either of these assailants."

She said, giving Ethan a nickname derived from a popular videogame about a hitman, which may or may not have been a jab at his former occupation.

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Standing with her arms crossed next to Haleigh, she glanced over to her smirking slightly. She could tell that her sister was somewhat ammused by her placing a tracking devise on Ethan. As the tape began to play, Persephone looked to the footage seeing the struggle between Karen and her captors. Glancing occationally from the tape to Morgan, she knew this had to be hard watching her mother get brutally beaten, and be able to do nothing about it. But what was interesting was Delilah's reaction. Lowering her brows and looking to Delilah, she almost seemed to recognize them.... ::

:: Once the tape ended, Alison addressed the group, explain a premenition of sorts that she had after picking of a picture of herself, Delilah, and Morgan. Obviously there was more to this story than they had all thought. Delilah was connected in a big way. ::

:: Hearing a familiar voice, Persephone turned to see Ethan enter the room. Alison and Morgan became defensive, and Haleigh tried to play the mediator. Ava simply rolled her eyes upon Haleigh's invitation for him to stay and help. ::

"We need to discuss your choice of friends, later."

:: Reaching to his lapel, Ava plucked the small tracking devise from the fabric. Holding it between her thumb and index finger, she dropped it on the floor before crushing it with the heal of her boot. Giving Ethan a cold smile, she slapped his cheek with her hand, giving him a rough pat. ::

"Can never be to careful, princess."

:: Moving back to her previous spot, she folded her arms, awaiting to head back to Illustra. ::

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah was detached, staring at Alison as she spoke but not really seeing her. It felt as if her brain wouldn't function properly, though she willed it to. Remember...remember, damnit! But why couldn't she? There was something there, just out of her grasp, a shadow of a memory. She focused so hard trying to get to it. But if she had met Karen as a child, wouldn't she have remembered? Wouldn't Karen have mentioned it when they met so many years later? This all had to be a mistake, a misunderstanding. Just one coincidence of many in a lifetime.

Nicolas approached, but she waived him away absentmindedly. ]

"It wasn't me - I don't need you to help me, thank you, Nicolas."

[ She began to prepare to return to Illustra, making a mental note of what she needed to do once they got there, who she needed to contact. The break-in and abduction would need to be reported. Despite Haleigh's belief that there would be none, fingerprints still needed to be taken, just in case. They would need to subpoena the employment records of the private security company, see if they could come up with anything on their perps. And she could call in a favor at the FBI to get the faces of the assailants run through their database to see if they could get names to match the faces.

She barely registered Ethan's presence, and she didn't feel like joining in on the argument between Morgan and Haleigh about it. Suddenly she felt very tired of it all. ]

"Everyone ready to go? Morgan, will you do us the honors? Come on people, time is of the essence..."

[Jacob Black]

Ethan tried to deal with the comments that Alison and Morgan were spewing out of their mouths like so much garbage. He did really want to help and knew that both of them were really just worried about Karen and rightfully so as he took notice to the scene of the crime where she disappeared. As he watched the video coming over to the calling of a rather funny nickname by Haleigh he began to take in the scene. As he watched the video he began to take in everything he could. Perhaps Karen had never really paid attention to the security of her building but he would have thought she would know at least some of them with her working late and that of the such. He turned to Haleigh.

"I wonder if the people who attacked her were people she already knew. In the beginning she doesn't think of the Security Guard at all, as if she had seen him before. She looks really shocked when he goes for her. I feel like she would have had to seen him before. I don't recognize the people and this really isn't the SOP for MysTech, but in that perspective, it might be helpful to take the videos and try to access the personnel files for the building. We can intercept the video surveillance from the ATM machine across the street, see all who went in and out, see if we can recognize anyone. It would be helpful to get her appointment list from the day because from what I researched and witness while investigating the Six and your allies, this isn't like Karen to not actively defend herself. Either she was worried her magick would be exposed or someone did something to her. We should look for new patients that she hasn't seen much in the past. It's a start, get to know the events of the day leading up to her kidnapping."

He was hoping he was helping at all because this all just seemed so weird. Ethan had missed all of the conversation about Delilah being connected to Karen so he was just focusing on the task at hand. It was what he would have done when he was employed by MysTech. He felt like if they went to the assailants instead of blindly searching for the main man responsible they would have a better shot at actually rescuing Karen before anything happened to her.

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh turned around slowly in the desk chair, eyeing Persephone curiously. Suddenly the no-strings-attached goddess has a personal stake in who Haleigh's friends are? Haleigh gave a knowing smirk. It was actually a side of Persephone she hoped she see now that she was beginning to accept the idea of having her 'sister' back in her life.

"Well, Ava.... I'm a big girl... I've been choosing my friends for a long time now.... But there is something I need to discuss with YOU later."

Delilah expressed an almost desperate desire to leave and get on with getting Karen back, as Ethan came over to the desk and gave his take on the video footage. Haleigh nodded to Delilah before addressing Ethan's suggestions.

"Delilah's right... we shouldn't hang around the scene any longer. I'm just going to doctor the tapes to remove evidence of supernatural activity... and then we can be on our way. Actually, Ethan.... you make a lot of sound observations... [looking to Alison, then Morgan] but I think it would be prudent to pay close attention to any who has had a long-- or old-- relationship with Karen. I have a feeling its personal... if it were to get to US... we would have recieved a ransom call by now."

[Oracle]

<< Morgan and Alison were flustered; Delilah was at a loss for understanding of her seemingly hidden "past" with Karen; Nicolas was of course keeping his eye on the prize...getting Karen BACK and it was Haleigh who now had to be the "go between" for Ethan with Morgan and Alison. Ava, obviously unimpressed by Ethan's gesture, continued to keep an incredulous eye on him.>>

<< they had done all they could here in Soho. they knew a little more and it was enough to at least point them in the next direction. NOW it was time to return to Illustra....and it appeared Ethan was coming along for the ride. Haleigh would have her hands full trying to keep Morgan and Alison from ripping him apart but it wouldnt be the FIRST time she had to play this role.>>

<< with a stepping disc, Morgan teleports them all back to Illustra...to HER luxury penthouse on the 107th floor where they begin the next phase of the "search and rescue" operation. even though they all begin to see that there's more to this than just Karen's abduction...without the benefit of Alison's precognition...they've yet to grasp just how MUCH MORE there is..and how DEEP it will get.>>

<< and so we watch...>>