Walk through fire

[Oracle]

<< they were all gathered in the street, looking around at these large homes and yet no one seemed to be "at home." Morgan and Karen would obviously know which house was theres and where Delilah's home was. From a TACTICAL stand point..having an entire neighborhood to yourself with many homes to use as hiding places and points of attack was a tremendous advantage...but the team would do well to remember Alison's warning before they arrived here...that things would not always be as they seemed.>>

<< with Nicolas carrying a sedated Delilah, t he rest of the group moved forward cautiously with Haleigh constantly scanning.>>

<< Morgan quickly pointed out her childhood home which was on the right side of the street and nearly in the "center" of the block.>>

<< the wind chimes that hung near the front door of the nice home played their melody with an almost 'timid' effect in the breezy air. Morgan opened the door and motioned for everyone to come in. she seemed almost TOO confident that nothing could happen to them in her and her mother's home.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< walking into her old home....she noticed how DARK and gloomy it seemed. furniture was covered with cloth and the cloths and sheets themselves were covered in dust or cobwebs. the house was cold and quiet...as were all the other homes.>>

well....its a bit...dusty..but at least we're out of the freaky weather outside and t he mob will be hard pressed to come through the neighborhood with such a tight formation. Rampage, Persephone and Black Widow's attacks really hammered them and Guardian slowed t heir progression down to a snail's pace. Delilah's house is down the street...on the left toward the end. we may need to go their later...

<< walking forward, Morgan couldnt help but cough a bit as she turned on a light switch. the chandilier to the main foyer flickered on weakly...>>

but for now, we better find a place to lay Delilah down.

<< looking over to the sitting room, through an arch way, she directed Nicolas to bring Delilah there while Haleigh and Karen were in the "sun room" setting up for a "briefing" on the files and info they'd taken from Westin Hills about Delilah and her "father".>>

<< for Persephone, the place must have seemed rather "quaint" compared to the grandeur of greek antiquity that she came from...but their times were totally different and for Morgan's time...this was not a bad place to have grown up in.>>

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian was the last inside. She'd seen pictures of this place from Morgan and Karen's photo albums. She'd also seen this place with her mind's eye as a "precog", especially during the Inferno Crisis. but here and now, as with the rest of the town..this home seemed so cold and unwelcoming that even the marble hearted Seer could feel the abscence of life or even " movement" in the air around them.::

Spellbinder, i suggest a "warding spell" at the beginning and end of this block. your wind chimes on the front door will now serve as a warning device...a talisman if you will, thanks to a little spell on my part.

:: Nicolas laid Delilah down and Alison waved him on in to the sun room with the rest of the team.::

It is a regret that Delilah is not here with us at the moment, but she needs her rest. I knew that this would come. its all prooving to be too much for her and we're going to have to stand in the gap for her...ALL OF US. There's no getting out of here until we resolve whatever brought us here.

[Rampage]

Nicolas walked into the house with the rest of the team. By now he wasn't puzzled at all at the calm, the lack of people.

We have to end this before there will be anyone to listen to, and if we fail...

Nicolas shook his head as he laid Delilah to rest on the sofa, after taking off the cover and dusting it with his TK. He entered the room where the rest of the team was while speaking to Ethan telepathically.

You make sure that you do not lose sight of Delilah. Keep your shield on her AT ALL TIMES. I am depending on you.

He entered and looked at the rest of team, his face marked with a dark determination. He spoke in a deep voice.

"At least we have an idea of what we face. I see two fronts at the moment. The cannon fodder and their leader. We cannot allow the fodder to take away our focus. If you agree" --nods to Alison and Morgan-- "I will deal with them. That will leave the rest of you to figure out and deal with the leader and if you need me, I am easily accessible to any of you and can return to your sides at will."

As he spoke, Nicolas pulled out his axe and re-formed it. It was even larger now and demonic-looking, with wide etch-marked blades and a chain that hung from it and wrapped around his left arm...

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Once entering Morgan's old house, Persephone's eyes immedately began to scan the interior. It was cute. Not her cup of tea, but nevertheless a traditional home that an American family would grow up in. As Nicolas took Delilah into the next room to lay her down, Ava went to a near by window and looked outside. The weather was still choppy, but not as violent as it was by the hill. Hearing the conversations of the other team members, Ava turned around to face the group. ::

"Whatever out plan may be, we need to figure it out quickly. They won't be held back for much longer."

[Jacob Black]

Ethan listened to Nicholas in his mind as the group was now in a safe for now location at Windmille Point. He quickly created a small and completely invisible "cocoon" around Delilah that would protect her from herself and her possible outbursts from the rest of the group.

"You can count on me King. I won't let you down. No matter what happens..."

He turned his attention back to the rest of the group as Ava spoke of what they could possibly do next and he began to think outloud on his own, trying to rationalize the same situation.

"Well we won't be able to leave until we iradicate what brought us here, but that means it is up to Delilah. We can't destroy whatever is coming without her being awake and forcing her to deal with what she is afraid of. I hate to say it but we have to MAKE her deal with this, she needs to be up and alert. I know everyone wants to protect her, but Delilah is the main reason we are here and I know it is impossible for her to deal right now, but this isn't my fight or the Six's fight, it's Delilah's... I just, I just think we were brought for a purpose and a reason that is beyond our control..."

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen sat in large antique chair, even in her flying suit she maintained dignified and elegant posture as she crossed her legs at the knee.>>

the outcome of this will depend on DELILAH and unless I can help her to get ahold of herself...she may NEVER be free of this hold her "father" has on her. a hold that crosses the boundary between the living and the dead.

this isnt about a threat to a city, a state or anything like that. this is about a man who was so driven by hatred and obsession with religion that his SPIRIT has managed to defy the course that most take when they pass on. He wants to see to it that Delilah carries out his prescribed "destiny" for her.

<< preparing to play back a dictation, Karen pressed a button on the audio playback device Haleigh provided.>>

<< the dictation was taken after her first evaluation.>>

This is Doctor Victoria, I've been requested to assess the case of Delilah Trelevan, an 8 year old caucasion female who was the victim of a bloody kidnapping and a botched rescue attempt. Delilah comes to me as an orphan but despite the traumas she has faced, she maintains a brave front. it is clearly a mask. No child her age posseses the coping skills necessary to understand and comprehend the magnitude of what she's been through.

<< they listen to the dictations which at FIRST seem to indicate Delilah is a resilient child who will recover and move on. but then things begin to change. Karen begins to recount how the FATHER is becoming the problem and he's attempting to counter act the help and therapy that Karen is giving Delilah.>>

Pastor Trelevan is a very resourcefull man. He has contacted me outside of the scheduled times for meeting to discuss what he feels is a a "disturbing development". He claims to have found proof that I am a WITCH and that I am using my unique position to influence Delilah to believe that her unique status as a mutant is NOT a disease or "the touch of satan". He further explains that doctors are often against the will of God and that we attempt to take God's place. He has now prevented Delilah from seeing me on TWO occasions and each time this has happened, Delilah has shown up at the emergency room with a series of "injuries". I will be informing the ER staff that as her primary physician all records of her er records are to be made available to local law enforcement.


<< things get worse.>>

Pastor Trelevan is furious that I involved the police and succeeded in taking Delilah AWAY from him. But it was only a temporary fix. One of the brilliant minds at DCS forgot to sign the proper papers in the right place and Delilah was returned to him just like that.

Delilah Trelevan has been removed from my care. The hospital administrator granted Pastor Trelevan's petition to remove Delilah from my care and he has handed her over for "research" at Westin Hill's "genetics" research laboratory!

<< the last dictation>>

I have resigned from Westin Hills. I can no longer continue to be apart of a hospital that is becoming little more than a brutal experimenting laboratory. the children that are being brought here...are coming in DROVES by parents responding to the "generous compensation" offer or parents who are horrified by the "freaks" th at their children are turning out to be. This town seems to be GRIPPED by the anti mutant hysteria. Worse, "pastor trelevan" has taken a far more grim presentation with me AND Delilah. he exhibits all the traits of someone suffering from extreme borderline personality disorder. Because I challenged his "authority" over Delilah for her well being, he has now shifted his focus from not only trying to keep me from her, but trying to HARM me. I believe with all my heart that this man will come for me if he can...as well as his daughter.

<< there's something else in this dictation.>>

My husband, Christopher has shown his true colors as well. He is not the man i believed him to be in ANYWAY. He has been consorting with this new "corporation" called Mystech in a bid to take his career to the next level. it is through HIM that Westin Hills has undergone all of these dramatic changes and now these children are suffering because of him. I have contacted a friend with tremendous political/legal pull to facilitate the relocation of Delilah......and now, My daughter and I cannot remain apart of this house...this family any longer.

<< while the dictations played, Karen passed the complete file on "Pastor Trelevan" around the group. the file had startling details about this man and the cult that he lead...a radical religious sect that believed that Mutants were a sign of the Tribulation to come..that they were the demons spoken of from Revelation. he ruled this cult with a violent, condemning hand and was called the "Supreme Pontiff". There were pictures of him in his religious garb. He carried a large ornamental staff as well. his followers were MANY and they were all dressed in simple black suits...looking very pale and plain. DELILAH was to be used as a sacrifice...similar to what Abraham was prepared to do with his son in the old testament. He believed that Delilah's powers of light were a sign that SHE was a gift from God..an opportunity beat satan by offering the blood of a young mutant with the "purity of light". the doctor and police reports detailed incidents of abuse against Delilah as well as Karen advocating for her. Delilah went through HELL as a child!>>

He's come back...i don't know how but he's here...and he's created this place to finish what he feels must be done. We can protect her...at least for now, but it is SHE who will have to find the courage, the power in herself to destroy this demon of her past.

<< Karen's voice was clear with a forboding tone.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< Spellbinder reached into a disc and pulled out a soft, warm cover and as Nicolas laid Deliah down, Morgan covered her.>>

don't you worry...we'll keep you safe. i PROMISE you.

<< she stood up and looked at Nicolas...her icy violet eyes betrayed uncertainty. despite her "power"...this was a place where nothing was truly certain and they didnt quite know the whole scope of the situation.>>

<< quietly sh e spoke to Nicolas, who was only an inch or two taller than her while she was wearing her high heeled boots>>

so...what do you think of our "first date"?

<< she tried to sound light hearted...but she was truly worried for Delilah, and the TEAM. if SHE couldnt get them out of here...what were they going to do? they couldnt run forever...what if they were overwhelmed by the mob..what kind of POWERS did this man have?>>

<< she slowly walked past Nicolas and joined the others in the sun room as Karen began to brief them all. Morgan listened to the dictations. it was interesting to her to listen to her mother sounding so formal and analytical but even in that presentation, her mother's voice was soothing to her.>>

<< The dictations became more grim as it seemed Delilah was suffering more and more and Karen's attempts to help her were being blocked by the "pastor".>>

zealot scumbag

<< she had so many wicked thoughts of what SHE would do to this man if she had the chance to get her hands on him....the HELL that he put Delilah through and what was worse...she NEVER knew about this. But then again why should she? she was just a child at the time and her mother was doing all she could to protect Delilah as well as keep MORGAN's status as a witch hidden during the beginning of the "anti mutant hysteria" of the 80's>>

<< the last dictation troubled her the most..>>

he's come back from the dead for Delilah? what kind of POWER does he have in order to recreate THIS whole town in his image? to be able to hamper mine and alison's powers as well?

<< as Ethan spoke about forcing Delilah to face her father..Morgan glared at him>>

would you be so quick to say this if it were YOU in her place? She's OVERWHELMED Right now...and as her team..her FAMILY, we have to stand help her when she can't help herself.

<< she said as she stood over him.>>

We're NOT abandonning her to this monster! We're going to protect her for as long as it takes until my mother can HELP Delilah!

<< she looked at the others..>>

we're PLENTY powerfull. I have DEMONS that can take on this mob, Persephone controls the weather, Rampage has mental powers as well as being an extreme physical fighter, Guardian is a super powered witch and Black Widow can create ANY weapon she needs!

<< Morgan and Delilah were best friends..and had been for so long. this whole caper bothered her to no end because it wasnt "traditional"...this seemed PERSONAL all the way around and it BOTHERED Morgan that there was no easy or definate solution! hell, she couldnt even get them OUT of here right now.>>

<< the fact that she felt uncomfortable in her own childhood home didnt sit well for her. she was DEFINATELY putting up a "front" of confidence but in reality she was NERVOUS as hell.>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened to Dr. Victoria's presentation concerning Delilah and the Pastor. He had come to the same conclusion as the others, that Delilah would have to face him, purge him from here, but she was in shape to do so now. He watched Moragn as she outlined their defensive abilities, and took a moment to look her over. He only wished they could have finished their date that she spoke of...he'd had BIG plans for their night. But right now, he wanted them all to survive this more than anything. he saw the brave face that Morgan put up, and admired her for it, although her worry was written all over her face. After her speech, as the team began to work towards a solution, he grabbed her hand and led her to a corner of the room, his back to the group. He leaned a bit so they were eye to eye. He leaned firther and spoke so that only Morgan would hear him, his lips almost touching her ear.

"We WILL make it out of this...and I thank you for one of the best first dates I've ever had, definitely the most exiting. I have two favor to ask of you as we move forward. one, that the daughter of Hecate will see fit to bless my weapon as we move forward in battle. I could use all of the help I can get. And two..."

Nicolas leans forward and kisses Morgan deeply, holding her close and gently caressing and squeezing her body in turn as he kissed her. He looks at her afterwards and smiles warmly.

"I needed a recharge."

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian stood by another window, she too kept an eye out for anything unusual. her precognition was still not working the way she needed it to and so she looked rather pensive as she looked outward and alternately studied her refracted image in the glass window.::

:: the trees of the neighborhood played an "ocean" like sound as the winds blew through the leaves. up and down the street, Alison could perceive ghost images of times past...children playing, the street teaming with youth, life and creativity...but even in those ghost images, there lurked the s hadow of something evil....the coming "hysteria" that would cause many parents of this town to turn on their children who were mutants. it troubled Alison in one way...but then in another it did...remembering how her OWN mother sought the death of her and her siblings after she joined MysTech.::

:: it was Alison's turn to look through the files as Karen's dictations played.::

:: she read through the information on Pastor Trelevan. the pictures of him in that ridiculous "pope" inspired costume, his legion of followers, some of whom used to be Karen's neighbors and colleagues even.::

it's as if his brainwashing spread over the people here like a plague in the air.

::she looked through police reports and doctor reports...::

bastard....

:: Karen's dictations grew more and more grim. Some of what she said, alison had seen the way it actually happened in her last vision.::

what happened to the man between the time you took Delilah out of Westin Hills against his will and the time you and Morgan left this town?

::it was a question that needed to be asked......one that would bring an answer no one expected. but before Karen COULD answer, Ethan spoke up again drew Morgan's ire as she berated him for suggesting they FORCE Delilah to "face this".::

:: she shook her head with disapproval toward Ethan. Nicolas encouraged Morgan and the group and then lead Morgan away for a private moment...::

how cute...

:: she thought flatly. not that she was jealous...she really didnt FEEL anything right now. this place was affecting her more than she let on.::

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan, already on edge, jumped slightly at Nicolas' touch but didnt recoil as he lead her way to a private area of the large sun room. the others continued on and Alison's question to Karen was the one everyone was most interested in at the moment, but Nicolas had some personal matters to discuss with Morgan.>>

I want to help Delilah...but i dont know how!

<< she NORMALLY didnt behave timidly in the presence of a man, but with so much of her smooth, flawless skin exposed by her unholy, erotic costume, she couldnt help but be taken aback by Nicolas' close proximity to her. It was the whole situation that made her seem off balance..NOT Nicolas and he knew that. He reassured her that they'd ALL be getting out of there together. >>

<< he asked her, as the daughter of hecate, to bless and enchant his axe. the way he asked..he clearly recognized and respected her ultimate bloodline and KNEW that she was the right person to come to for such a thing. THIS she could handle....using her magick often made her feel more confident and in control whenever she faced a situation that was clearly BEYOND her control...>>

<< but before she could speak, Nicolas leaned in and kissed her full on. Her icy violet eyes widened for a moment..before slowly closing as she wrapped her arms around him for a moment...to enjoy this tenderness.to enjoy the strength of his body>>

<< her mind RACED even though the kiss seemed to go on forever. she pulled away after a few moments. she couldnt help but to blush. this was genuine..this wasnt a "battle of the sexes" like some of her other encounters with men had been, and for once, she felt like an amazon on the isle of themyscria...rising up from the sparkling waters, refreshed and renewed.>>

<< in a softy, icy voice...>>

well, Nicolas....you certainly know how to comfort a woman.

<< she looked at him for a moment..before looking back over to see if the others were watching. it didnt appear that anyone had been looking..except Alison but Morgan was used to HER looking by now. :D >>


Yes, i can charm and enchant your weapon. i have a spell that Ororo taught me years ago...

<< Morgan lead him out into the hall on the first floor...toward another room that appeared to be a "study". the library was filled with books and the large desk and chair were covered with sheets. the decor was old victorian and had held up very well.>>

Set the axe down here...

<< she instructed as she went around to the other side of the desk>>

stand back....

<< she lifted her hands as the shredded cape of her outfit began to flow a bit. a haunting chime sounds off in the air as thunder rumbles...>>

With the power of darkness and evil of night,
Take what's before me and mold it with hell's might,
Of Death, and Ash; Of Fire, and Smoke
Bring forth this AXE in which to invoke ENERGY!

<< extending her hands over the axe..a chime sounds off as a jagged green bolt of energy crashes down from the ceiling, slamming into the axe and irradiating it until it becomes blinding white. a flash of light and a crash of thunder heralds the completion of the spell...and the axe now floats infront of Rampage in a swirling haze of dark mystical shards. the Axe now has inscrptions on its blade...as well as on the long handle and it seems to be made of the most exquisite and precious metal.>>

this axe is an extension of you. the power of your body, the nobility of your soul, the strength of your mind...they flow through this weapon. it is your talisman now. when you or those you love are bewitched/possessed by an evil power...the axe will emit a pulse of light that will BREAK the evil hold on them and restore them to their right mind.

it will channel the ambient energy of the realm in which you are in, allowing you to deflect many forms of energy based attack, to cut through almost anything and to transform its shape into a mighty shield or a lance. creatures of evil will not be able to withstand its touch but beware, a strong enough magick user may be able to wrest control of it from you if you release it into the air before it can return to you.

<< speaking with a tone similar to Ororo's>>

take it and go forth.....use it well.

<< and with that, the enchantment is complete....and Morgan has done as he asked. she slowly steps out from behind the desk. >>

we'd better get back....we dont want to miss anything.

<< walking back, she peeks in on Delilah to make sure she's allright.>>

Ethan's force field holds...and there's no signs of trouble outside her window.

<< they return to where the others are.>>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Before Karen could continue, Ethan interrupted AGAIN....and while he had the BASIC idea correct[that this was something Delilah would have to ultimately deal with] his tone, the impertenance of his statement totally irritated the doctor. her daughter spoke first, and then she followed suit.>>

Ethan, I am a well qualified and credentialed therapist. I think that if there were a way for me to simply BY PASS the NATURAL reactions of Delilah's near fragmenting psyche, i would have FOUND IT BY NOW!

<< the tone of her voice was sharp at the end of that statement.>>

Delilah is not being FORCED into ANYTHING while I am here.

<< as the group went over the files and heard the last of the dictations...Karen continued>>

in order for her to be able to fight back she FIRST has to know that she's got SUPPORT...PROTECTION. As a child, her biggest fear was to dissapoint. she felt that if she wasnt the perfect child and able to shift with every whim of her "Father" then she was a failure. he SAW this and exploited it. She's carried that with her to this day and while it has allowed her to excell in law enforcement as well as other areas of her life..it has severly handicapped her in others.

she can't think or believe for a MOMENT that she's going to be "ALONE" in this.

Right now...the fear, the PHOBIC response in her mind has caused her to shut down. she needs time to rest...time to "reset" herself. We've got to do what we can to BUY her that time.

<< turning to Alison as the woman asked what happened to Pastor Trelevan between the last time she saw him ..until now, Karen realized that Alison, even WITHOUT her full powers as a seer was still one of the most perceptive.>>

<< Karen's LOOK toward Alison as well as the sudden awkward pause in her talking indicated there was more to this than what she said. the storm clouds were rolling in closer to the neighborhood now, and the winds were picking up. the old house seemed to "settle" a bit as the group sat and discussed. Morgan and Nicolas returned to the group. Karen had noticed their departure during the brief "intermission" but she just chose to continue on.>>

......this is the part that I regret in someways..

<< she said quietly.>>

but I think perhaps it's better to SHOW YOU than to tell you. I want you all to understand something. I did what i had to do to protect my daughter as WELL as Delilah...I wasn't Delilah's blood relative...but i was all that stood between her and certain death.

<< standing up, Karen walked over, looking at Alison.>>

join your hands to mine. because this space is interferring with your powers as a seer, we'll use a spell that will allow you to broadcast what i'm about to tell to the whole group.

<< the tone in Karen's voice was grim. they were about to see something major.>>

<< the two witches join hands...and close their eyes as they begin to chant the spell>>

Karen and Alison:

Mystic Guardians, We demand your charity
Lend us your divine focus and clarity
Show us that which is not easily seen
So that we may know and understand!

[Oracle]

<< the spell is cast. golden shards swirl with dark blue orbs as they spread out around Karen and Alison in a tight columnar pattern before reaching up to the celiling and spreading around the room. the room itself seemed to swirl and shift and with a violent "crash" and a flash of light...the team was now able to experience a glimpse of what Alison sometimes "saw" in her visions.>>

Windmill pointe, a warm summer night.

<< A slightly younger Karen Victoria steps out of her house on and looks to the left. she's in her FLYING SUIT but she doesnt care if anyone see's her in this garb. she walks down the walkway to the sidwalk and moves with a quick pace, a look of worry on her face.>>

<< down the street and across, to the last house on the left...DELILAH's home. there are no lights on at the front of the house...and Karen goes to the side, to the backyard. the cellar doors are open and the sound of a little girl sobbing can be heard...along with the determined grunting of a man.>>

<< the look on Karen's face says it all. she's there to RESCUE Delilah.>>

<< lifting up the hem of her skirt, she quickly makes her way down...the cellar basement is like a maze! there's so many rooms...and its so dark save for various candles that are light. it feels more like a dungeon.>>

<< the crying grows louder and there is the audible sound of a little girl pleaing for her father to STOP.>>

<< Karen looks around trying to find.....she FINDS THEM and GASPS>>

<< Pastor Trelevan...STRANGLING a woman by the furnace...in FRONT of Delilah. Banging the woman's head against the metal furnace.>>

<< Karen shouts>>

Karen: TRELEVAN! you murderer!! IS THIS how you treat anyone who CHALLENGES YOU? is this what you wanted to do to ME?

<< Delilah runs to Karen, despite her father's commands to stop.>>

Karen: she doesnt have to listen to YOU! you're not her FATHER! you KIDNAPPED HER from her real parents...you MURDERED THEM TOO!

<< Karen's voice cracks with anger as Delilah reaches her and she puts her arm around her protectively. she was crying so much..and Karen couldnt HELP but feel her maternal instincs rising up within her.>>

Karen: it's allright baby! I'm here....he can't get you now.

<< she put Delilah behind her.>>

go for the door honey..RUN as fast as you can!

<< Pastor Trelevan comes forward. having let the woman's lifeless body drop to the floor. his hands are bloody.>>

Pastor Trelevan: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. You're the devil's concubine, woman. You purvey the words of SATAN with your every breath and you keep MY daughter from fullfilling her destiny! I'll deal with you as you DESERVE...and send you to HELL where you BELONG!

<< the man's voice roars with righteous indignation as he charges for Karen, raising a machete and quoting scripture...about the sword of righteousness.>>

Karen: NO! it is YOU who will go there FIRST!

<< Karen steps back and sweeps her cape behind her and throws her hand forward. a rushing harp sound is heard as she BLASTS him with a golden mystical bolt square in the chest. he is BLASTED back and slams into the furnace...flames come out and the basement is set ablaze...>>

<< still pumping from adrenaline, Karen rushes oout and finds Delilah outside...still crying. she snatches the little girl up and RUNS...as the house QUICKLY goes up in flames....>>

<< Karen Victoria KILLED Delilah's adoptive father....it was self defense..of her and Delilah..but it was something NO ONE could have expected...>>

[Jacob Black]

He sighed deeply as Morgan berated him in front of the group. He forgot how personal things could get when friends were involved and from what he knew about Morgan and Delilah was that they were extremely close, nearly as close as Alison and Morgan. He tried to reiterate his point.

"I know it's hard.. I wasn't saying to throw Delilah to the wolves. I want to help her as much as the rest of you, regardless of what you think my intentions or morals are, but however sick this cult may be, they are gunning for DELILAH. We aren't in their endgame, they didn't plan on us being here which is an advantage to us and Delilah, so we have that. I am not doubting the power of the Six, I was just saying that I don't feel like Delilah should be asleep for this.. I don't feel that she should miss out on whatever kind of vindication that is offered to her..But.. I guess I understand..."

Ethan knew this path. After he had been deceived by MysTech after years of exemplary service to them, all the while thinking he was a member of British Intelligence, they killed the only person he gave a damn about in the world. Ethan GOT his revenge, he killed them. He killed every person in "Sentinel" that ever lied to him, was ever a part of the evil spreading throughout the world and he stopped them just before a European "Citadle" was up and running. The vengeance may have been empty, but it had to have happened that way. Delilah needed the strength to face the man who made her life hell and she needed her friends to support her, not coddle her..

"I just feel...helpless..."'

The comment was surprising coming from Ethan, but He didn't want to see ANOTHER life ruined with the help of MysTech. And as Karen and Alison cast a spell that revealed a piece of the past that nobody would have expected. Karen was breathtaking. She helped Delilah when nobody else could.

"Bloody hell.. Miss Victoria...."

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Looking to the images that played out in the center of the room, it was a memory of how the Pastor was murdered. It was a horrid sight; Delilah looked petrified. That, along with the recordings that Karen had shared moments ago, fully explained why Delilah was scared to death of her father. Why she had a nervous breakdown on the hill outside of the hospital. It was a miracle that Delilah was even sane, let alone a stable, well rounded, woman. Shaking her head out of disbelief, Ava folded her arms across her chest and let out a low sigh. ::

"It's clear that you killed him. But what brought him back? What's fogging Alison's precog? Morgan's stepping discs? The Pastor and his followers are our immedate problem, yes. But what i'm more concerned about is what force is behind all of this."

:: She wanted Delilah to rid herself of this burdon, but it was a valid question. They had the capability and the power to stop the pastor and his followers, but they also needed to know what else they were dealing with. ::

[Rampage]

Nicolas smiled as it was clear that morgan enjoyed their moment very much. he followed as she took them to another room. As he laid the axe on the table, she chanted an incantation and unleashed a tremendous amount of power that embedded itself INTO the axe, remaking it into a glorious weapon. As she explained its properties, he absorbed the information and recognized its link to himslef, magically built by Morgan herself. He picked up the axe and nodded low out of respect for Morgan's might and her strength of purpose as she called back to her lineage to enchant his new talisman.

he followed her back into the main room in time to see Karen and Alison's presentation of what finally happened to Pastor Trelevan. He was surprised at Karen's might and her striking beauty, but no longer at anything he saw and heard. he listened to ava's analysis and nodded his head.

"I think that is the piece that none of us yet have, that is what we will have to discover here, as we defend Delilah. Haleigh, can you produce me a pair of Howitzers with custom handles once we get outside? I would like long distance weapons for this. Our time is short, I am detecting figures outside moving on our position at less than an eighth of a mile away."

As Nicolas cpoke, he produced another chain which he connected to the new axe and wrapped back around his left arm. He placed the axe on his back, his TK holding it in place.

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh smiled as they entered the house, slowing down to stand next to Ava with a glint in her eye.... she looked over the homey decor nonchalantly, talking to Ava absently. "Nice work back there.... [throwing a glance at Perse] Sis." She looked around the house, sweeping it for people, passing through the rooms downstairs before coming back to the sitting room, where Nicolas and Morgan tended to a sedated Delilah. "That reminds me.... Ava... do you think... when this is over... you could maybe give Ma a call? You know... so she doesn't worry. After Stav's death she must be wondering if you're alright." It seemed like an elementary exhange between siblings... but to everyone who was paying enough attention... it was the first sign that Haleigh'd actually accepted Persephone into her life... which was a feat unto itself.

"The lower floor is clear." She said, looking up to the ceiling, listening intently for any sounds of life upstairs. Haleigh's enhanced hearing was so acute that she could HEAR if someone was breathing deeply upstairs... but anyone trying to deliberately be still and quiet would probably escape her ears.... it was times like these when she wished she could see through things. and why not, i wonder... i have nightvision to amplify lowlight situations... i can see heat signatures in complete darkness.... i mean... after all... xrays are lenses utilizing electromagnetic radiation... my brain generates THOUSANDS of electromagnetic pulses simultaneously.... if I can just focus them... my techno-organic body just might be capable... Haleigh thinks, narrowing her eyes and focusing pretty intently on the ceiling. To the others she may be looking like she's incredibly interested in the chandelier... but something is clearly going on when she grimaces and touches her temples after a few seconds. She gives a soft, short groan but then her face changes to surprised pleasure, as she looks around the room's ceiling and then down at the group. She gasps softly.... looking around at them all, slightly bewildered. Her vision is bluish black and instead of seeing her comrades, she sees their skeletons.

"Oh my god..." She says, shutting her eyes tightly and rubbing them for a second before opening them again. "Ah... back to normal. Guys... I can SEE through shit. Like... really. There's no one upstairs... I LOOKED." She feels a tear drop, and reaches up to wipe it away, finding that it is in fact, a drop of blood that has seeped through her tear ducts and out of her eye. "Mm... that magnetic radiation. Explains the headache... I guess I have to build up some tolerance to focusing it."

She said, settling onto a loveseat as Ethan made a suggestion and Morgan immediately shut him down... she sighed... but didn't intervene here... he needed to find his own legs with her and she couldn't leap to his rescue all the time. He defended himself and explained... and Haleigh determined that they weren't going to kill each other and that refereeing was unnecessary. Karen gave them all a thorough breifing and though Haleigh had mentally stored all this information already she still listened... but passed the file on Trelevan without so much as glancing at it. She found new information in the 'vision' that played out for them, and like the video footage of Karen being attacked at her office, Haleigh watched with more emotional detachment and curious interest than her teammates. She didnt comment on seeing Karen kill him... they'd all done it... and Haleigh had no place talking about murder, what with the things she'd done in her past. At least Karen had only killed him out of self defense... although... Haleigh wondered if Karen had gone there to rescue Delilah KNOWING she might be required to murder the man to get him to let go.... it was an interesting thought. Nicolas asked for some heavy artillery firepower, and Haleigh nodded to him.

"By the time you are ready to use them... they'll be fully manifested... a new age lawn decoration... who needs gnomes?"

She asked with a wink. And while it seemed completely off the wall, considering the focus of the vision, Haleigh asked a brief question. "Who was that woman? The one he killed... do you know... or was she just another faceless victim?"

[Jill Monroe]

<< Spellbinder watched...shocked at what she saw...>>

oh..mom...

<< she said softly. her mother looked so fierce and the way she came to Delilah's rescue...there was no doubt the danger of facing a "mother" defending a child. She'd always known her mother had power and was not afraid to use it, but she'd never seen her mother KILL anyone outright like this before. NO WONDER Karen kept Morgan in the dark about this. No wonder she played it off so deftly when Morgan and Delilah finally met.>>

this seems so...weird. when i MET Delilah...she was still living in that house!

<< she looked at her mother.>>

whatever became of the body...the night that the house burned down?

<< a question related to Persephone's question about how the pastor was now seemingly back from the dead and how he had so much POWER now.>>

<< as Ethan spoke about feeling helpless, Morgan happened to turn and look out of a window and saw an eerie looking GREEN mist streaming down the road towards the neighborhood. it was covering alot of ground FAST....and Morgan had a HORRIBLE feeling.>>

you're not the only one Ethan....

<< she didnt spoke on the mist YET...she wanted to let her mother spoke...but her eyes continued to dart between her mother and the window.>>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen looks down and closes her eyes for a moment...watching the last images of her running away from the burning , crashing down house with a horrified Delilah in her arms....she knew at that moment her life was changed. She had just MURDERED a man and even though it was JUSTIFIED, it was something that she still had never really got over. she just simply never TALKED ABOUT IT and now her daughter, as well as Haleigh and the others had seen it first hand.>>

yes...i killed him. I had no choice.

<< her tone dripping with a serious grim edge.>>

the woman whom he murdered, i never found out who she was. But it all happened so quickly. When i took Delilah out of Westin Hills, i was ARRESTED but my lawyers and those who i had "connections" with pulled me out of that situation. i was forbidden to see Delilah again ...the judge had no CHOICE in that matter so i kept tabs on her with my magicks. that evening, he had convened a meeting. he was preparing his congregation for a "grand sacrifice" that would take place that month....DELILAH was to be that sacrifice. He told her it was a GLORIOUS destiny and she was so AFRAID to defy him...lest he attack her again..that she just went along with it.

I HAD to save her. no one else could...or WOULD!

<< as the vision fades and Karen looks away from the group.>>

that night changed everything. Christopher and I seperated soon after that...

to spare Delilah any further pain, i cast a spell that removed her memories of ALL of that. my contacts in law enforcement and social services pulled MANY strings as a favor to me. the house was completely rebuilt and Delilah was placed permanently with a wonderfull foster family. all records of Pastor Trelevan were blacked out from public access and when MORGAN met Delilah for the first time, i simply played it off as if it was MY first time as well.
my spell negated her memory..but it couldnt...it couldnt take away the PAIN or the damage.



<< Ava asked about the apparently "alive" pastor.>>

That i don't know. but apparently he's now possesed of immense power. this whole "area" is shapped in his image and we've no way of escaping it yet. THE FORCE that drives him?? could very well be Delilah's own FEAR. a fear so deep seated that it called out to him like a BEACON and provided him with a way BACK.

He's going to try to kill her...and he may very well try to take his revenge on ME as well. I'll go to my GRAVE before i yield to him.

<< she said with grim determination as she clenched her fist.>>

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian was surprised and yet impressed at the same time. SHOCKED at the horror Delilah endured. the basement itself looked like something out of HOSTEL. but almost HAPPY to watch as Karen confronted him and them destroyed him in the ultimate act of "defiance."::

so much for his crusade against witches

:: she thought to herself. as Karen ran out of the basement and carried Delilah away from that blazing house, she saw just how strong and courageous Karen was...even BEFORE the days of The Six. she was so blessed to have HER as a surrogate mother as well.::

I dont think anyone here questions your reasons for killing him, Karen. he DESERVED to be dealt with.

:: Karen was on to something....about how or WHY he was now back.::

FEAR..its the most powerfull and basic emotion. it can motivate people to do or NOT do many things and for those who feed off of it..its the ULTIMATE source of power. He's come back through her fears.....she was always the most reserved among us. a very decent, upstanding woman but we never knew how she TRULY felt about things inside...the repression may have finally come to a head and HE ..his SPIRIT must have been able to use that to come back.

his POWERS....may be a manifestation of that same fear. she sees him as something WORSE than what he really is? i dont know...we're ALL at the mercy of this temporal anamoly right now, Morgan can't even take us out of here.

We're going to have to fight him and his minions off while Karen prepares Delilah to face him...and destroy him utterly.

:: she saw Morgan looking out of the window...::

Morgan? what's the matter?

[Jill Monroe]

<< as Guardian spoke about FEAR...Morgan thought about the "Demon of Fear" and how he could take on MANY forms. he had appeared throught the beginning of human civilization and only the smartest and strongest of witches throughout the generations were even able to temporarily BANISH HIM.>>

<< could this be another manifestation. could Delilah's father had been the demon of fear reincarnated? how else would have have known that her mother was a witch even back then?>>

<< as Guardian asked what was wrong...Morgan pointed to the window.>>

something's coming. a rolling, green MIST, its coming FAST!

[Oracle]

<< and as they gathered to the window...an eerie sound could be heard as the streaming flow of green mist came closer and closer to the neighborhood. it was now rather dark outside as well.>>

<< the observation about FEAR, as well as Morgan's own wondering about the demon of fear was more on target than they may have realized, but unfortunately, it would not save them from what was yet to come.>>


<< the team was preparing to go outside...to FIGHT.>>

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian went forward to the window and saw what Spellbinder was referring to.::

this could be a "transubtantiation" effect...a version of TELEPORTING. Trelevan and his followers turned into a mist to flow and cover more ground...

either way, I'm going out there now. Karen's staying in here to work with Delilah as best she can, the rest of us need to buy her the time she needs..and there can be NO HOLDING BACK. HE certainly wouldnt show the same consideration to US.

:: Guardian's tone was firm. she was obviously ready to stand her ground and fight them off. She left the room and exited the house, stepping down the steps and walking down the walk way, preparing to stand her ground as the rolling green mist approached.::

[Jill Monroe]

<< Spellbinder turned and followed Guardian. She was ready to crush the Pontiff's skull for everything he'd done to Delilah..and what he was doing even NOW! she knew her mother could defend herself... and so she felt comfortable about going outside to fight off this man and his cult.>>

<< in an icy voice.>>

he won't get past US. whatever POWER he has...let's see how well his supposed god protects him from the POWERS OF HELL!

<< as she passed by Haleigh, Nicolas, Ethan and Ava...her face was COMPLETELY enshrouded in shadow..her eyes were glowing white. she was changing...most likely out of the bitterness she felt towards this MAN and what he'd done to her best friend. those astute enough would see the parallel between Pastor Trelevan and Christopher Victory>>

<< she joined Guardian outside.>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas nodded and smiled at Haleigh's reply to him concerning his request. Then, Morgan noted the green mist as it rolled into the neighborhood and with it, a number of humanoids, closing in as he had previously detected. He followed Alison and the more demonic-looking Morgan outside and leaped forward to see what Haleigh had brought for him.

Outside were two M777 ultralight Howitzer 155mm guns, the latest system used by the US and Australian armies. Each gun came with its own wheels for towing, with a curb weight of nearly 5 tons apiece, and were packed with the latest explosive anti-personnel shells.

As Nicolas walked up to the 35-foot guns, he made a few modifications to the mountings, transforming the wheel mounts into handles. He reached down, grabbed one in each hand and stepped away from the house at a flank, in a position to intercept the coming group. Using his telekinesis, he located groups of the monsters as they were still a bit off, and fired with each of the guns. The blast was intense and he was driven back a couple of feet by the firing of the artillery pieces, using his powers to momentarily root himself.

"Time to go back to hell!!"

Nicolas stepped to the left a bit farther, and fired again, the shells making great explosions as they destroyed the pursuers within its blast radius. To maximize the effect, Nicolas began using his TK to guide the shells as they flew, making them more precise and effective. He had already decided that there was NO WAY they were losing anyone today to these fiends, not even ETHAN...even if he had to die himself.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< and as the group began to gather outside and prepare themselves for a hell of a battle, Karen was left inside her former marital home. she watched through the window, looking solemn as her sapphire blue eyes fixed on each one of the team members and even Ethan who had thus far seemed genuine (if not a bit misinformed) in his efforts to help.>>

goddess grant our powers ARE sufficient to stand against this monster that has tormented Delilah from even beyond the grave.

<< Karen couldnt help but feel that this was all her fault somehow. that his coming back for revenge was because SHE killed him. STILL she knew she had done the right thing...at least in that instance.>>

<< she moved quietly from the window, away from the building up of tension outside toward the sitting room where Delilah lay. the lights from outside faintly registered through the windows in this room as moved a chair over to the couch by Delilah and sat down.>>

<< she stroked some of Delilah's hair away from her face.>>

the time has come, my child. You must take up arms...both here and in the battle ground of your mind. face your fears...and blast them away with the purity of your soul's strength...strength that shines like the very light that you channel.

<< Karen's voice was soft, yet there was a clarity in the tone as she looked upon the sedated Delilah. There was something in Karen's eyes though....almost like she KNEW what was coming.....>>

[Oracle]

<< two battles...one outside in the street of Windmill Pointe, the other inside of the former home of Karen and her daughter Morgan...BOTH could change everything for this team.>>

<< as the doctor sits beside a sedated Delilah and speaks softly, she prepares to cast a spell to travel to the astral plane to find Delilah...but Delilah is already there...faced with a grim dream scape...one that is about to get MUCH WORSE than it already feels now.>>

the dreamscape

<< Delilah is laying on the beach..wearing a swim suit that looks like something she must have borrowed from MORGAN'S closet.>>

<< its sunny, warm and the waves from the ocean crash on the beach..their sounds block out any memory or reminder of the nightmare that she's faced with in reality. as she acclimates to her surroundings, she notices a little girl...with "blue/black" hair , playing in the sand. she's building something it seems. the little girl is several feet away but it appears that only she and Delilah are present on the beach...so why not go and talk to her?>>

<< what harm could it do? what could possibly go wrong in a place like this?>>

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah opened her eyes and yawned. The sun was warm on her face and she squinted at the light in her eyes. She stretched and raised a hand to shield them. "I must have dozed off," she thought to herself. Turning her head, she saw a small girl playing near to her. She stood up and brushed some grains of sand off of her. She was wearing a swimsuit that looked like Honey Ryder in Dr. No (http://www.vegards007.com/Boker/De_Norske_Utgivelsene/Dr.No/Dr.No%202.jpg). She turned around, looking every direction, but there was no one else around. No one but her and the little girl.

She walked over to where the girl sat, the sand soft under her bare feet. She knelt down to be more at eye level with the girl. ]

"Hello, my name is Delilah. What's yours? Are you here alone?"

[Oracle]

the dreamscape

<< the little girl with "blue/black" hair looks up at Deliah with a warm smile and striking COBALT BLUE eyes.>>

Little Girl: Hi! << she says with confidence>>

my name is Alison!

<< the din of the waves continued to crash and play and as Delilah looked at this little girl...she appeared to be a child version of ALISON MARBLE. the little girl was making something out of the sand, a rather well sculpted "sand castle" of sorts...but what was it of?>>

Alison: This is supposed to be the safe place. are you hiding from him too?


<< "him"....her father?>>

<< despite the warmth of the sun and the serenity of the beach, Delilah couldnt help but feel something ominous about this little girl.>>

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Looking out the window to see the green mist, that certainly wasn't normal. Feeling Morgan brush past her, Ava followed until she was outside and in the street. Immediately Nicolas began to attack, but Persephone waited. She wanted to feel these beings out and see what they were preparing to do. ::

:: As the mist continued to flow around her, winds began to funnel around the six, keeping the mist at a safe distance. ::

[Harbinger]

:: as the others gathered outside, leaving Karen and Delilah inside, Guardian noticed Rampage taking such GLEE in using the "toys" Black Widow had manifested for him. She had NEVER relied on weapons or technology...the occasional dagger, sword or whip [usually when disarming someone with her TK] ...but largely she relied on her magick, her temporal powers and her physical fighting. Rampage fired off a few MASSIVE shots. the neighborhood homes...despite their size were ROCKED and Guardian couldnt help but look at Nicolas with SURPRISE.::

:: to see these weapons...in addition to the power represented among this group, it would have been logical to assume that the six and their allies would decimate this cult of men and women who relied on the most basic of weapons.::

::But this cult was not as simple or as WEAK as they seemed. The longer Alison was outside, the more bothered she became. She KNEW they had to draw a line here...give Karen time to help Delilah to prepare for what was obviously HER task but there was something almost ARTIFICIAL about this stand off.::

:: as Persephone joined them and manifested winds to hold the mist at bay, Guardian looked around, her blue/black hair whipping with her head turns.::

the mist comes from EVERYWHERE now!

:: indeed, it was coming from behind houses, from the opposite end of the street...all around and it seemed to rise up, forming a veil around them. Persephone's winds kept a LARGE radius around the team free of the mist..but it almost seemed TOO EAGER to cooperate.::

COME OUT AND SHOW YOURSELF!

:: Guardian bellowed. she was no one's victim and she wouldnt be made to wait. if she couldn't "SEE" them coming ahead of time, she'd DEMAND them to show themselves and get it over with.::

[Oracle]

<< Guardian get's her wish, as the mist fades...and the "cult followers" are standing around, looking, GLARING menacingly at the witches and mutants. they brandish their weapons and look grim in their eyes. >>

<< but there are some perched in the trees as well. they're ALL AROUND!>>

<< and with Guardian's defiant challenge, comes the answer as the Supreme Pontiff walks forward. a tall, MENACING looking figure with dark robes and an outrageous "cap" on his head that makes him look more like an exaggerated, demonic catholic priest than anything else. he wields a staff as well.>>

<< the man steps forward, looking EXTREMELY tall now as his eyes glow solid green. he looks directly at Guardian.>>

Supreme Pontiff: WITCH! you are an abomination to all that is holy! you DARE to stand in the way of my redeeming my daughter from this path to damnation!...you bring this...this FILTH! << gesturing at the mutants present and not realizing that Persephone is neither mutant NOR witch>> You have corrupted my daughter...continued the work that satan's bride, Karen Victoria started long ago. Before SHE is purged in the lake of fire...you will ALL be broken and humbled like the sinners that you are!

<< he cries a war cry for this "crusade" and points his staff toward the group...and the six and their allies are beset upon by seemingly HUNDREDS of men and women, weilding axes, swords, daggers, scythes, torches, pitchforks and more. the battle begins..VIOLENTLY>>

[MorningStar]

[ As the little girl smiled up at Delilah, she couldn't help but return it. The child had the most beautiful eyes Delilah had ever seen. She paused for a second - something vaguely familiar about this girl - but then had her attention drawn to the sand castle the girl was building. She was about to ask the child - Alison - what it was, but then she told Delilah it was "the safe place". But what did that mean?

Delilah was taken aback as the girl asked her if she was hiding too. She stammered for a second as she tried to respond. ]

"Wha- I..."

[ Something was starting to seem wrong here. What was this little girl hiding from? Who could hurt such a beautiful child? ]

"Alison, honey - who are you hiding from? Is it your father? Has he hurt you?"

[ She knelt further into the sand. ]

"I used to hide from my father too. But you don't have to hide anymore. I'll help keep you safe from him."

[ For some reason, she had an extremely strong urge to protect this child from whatever harm would come to her. ]

[Oracle]

<< Little Alison paused and looked away. pensive for a moment as she stopped working on her castle.>>

Little Alison: no, my father's not here. actually....

<< she moved away, giving Delilah a clear view of what she had been 'building' in the sand.>>

i'm here because i wanted to make sure YOU were hiding from him!

<< pointing to the sand sculpture. it was Delilah's child hood home. the one that karen had rescued her from. she hadnt SEEN it when they arrived at Windmill Pointe after their mad visit to Westin Hills. >>

<< the SIGHT of this house....the DETAIL of it...it screamed to Delilah even though the spells Karen used to block her memory were supposedly in tact. She REMEMBERED this place and the FEAR that went with it....and thunder CRASHED all around them as the scene changed. she was now back on windmill pointe. it was dark. a summer's evening but it was RAINING. Little Alison was standing on the porch under the large pillars, not afraid, but still pensive looking. and Delilah was now in a rather "child like" outfit herself....>>

Little Alison: he's coming....

<< little Alison turned slowly, walking into the front door , which then begin to close behind her. Delilah had only moments to follow. >>

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah gasped as her childhood home was revealed in the sand. She started to back away from it, but then her surroundings changed from serenity to violence. She was back in Windmill Pointe, where she had grown up. She felt the drops of rain hit her skin. She looked down. She was now wearing a powder blue colored dress, somewhat reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. She looked up through the storm - this was her house. She saw the girl Alison in front of her - how had they gotten here? Thunder sounded as the girl spoke, and Delilah got chills all up and down her spine. The girl turned away from her. ]

"Wait-"

[ Delilah slowly began to walk onto the porch, but then began to run as the girl disappeared behind the closing door... ]

[Oracle]

the dream scape


<< she was now inside the house. Alison was there too, standing straight and looking around. the screams and cries of souls lost and violated could be heard as thunder and lightning flashed outside the house.>>

Little Alison: he claimed to be a speaker for god. he hurt girls like me...the ones he felt were "pure" and fit to be "sacrificed". but then came his SPECIAL girl. the one whom he felt would be his bridge to eternal bliss...but someone kept him from doing to her what he'd done to others.

<< there were faint echoes of shouts...shouting of a MAN preaching...screaming hatefull things about mutants and witches. only certain words could be heard though.>>

<< it was rather dark. the lights werent working and the only illumination came from the lightning outside.>>

Little Alison: he never let go. never forgave. he said he would come back and finish this.

<< again the mans voice could be heard..cursing a woman. screaming "witch".>>


<< she didnt look at Delilah but she began to walk through the house. Delilah had the obvious option to follow as Alison made her way, unfazed by the fear and screams and raging weather outside. to the basement stairs she went. Turning back to see if Delilah was behind her.>>

Little Alison: He was about fire and brimstone. He was...MAD.

<< things seemed a little more quiet down the stairs to this cavernous maze of a basement/cellar. the feeling of having been here before was stronger than ever for delilah. the spell that karen had placed on her was weakening. the pictures on the wall...most were aged...some burned around the edges. there were rooms filed with..."objects" in jars....ROOMS..so MANY!>>

Little Alison: I don't want you to be scared Delilah...but you can't hide any longer.

:: Alison was now standing in the central room of the basement/cellar. she saw the walls...which looked so worn and a workbench nearby. the furnace in the middle of the room...and behind her, another flight of steps that lead up to doors that would open up to the back yard.::

[MorningStar]

[ As she followed Alison into the house, her eyes darted at the whispers of beings around her. The storm raged outside, adding to the foreboding she was feeling. Lightning flashed, and she saw the little girl before her starting to speak. What horrors had been visited upon this child? And so it would seem, so many others?

The girl turned back to her, indicating that she should follow. She hesitantly took a step, then more confidently followed down the steps to the basement. She jumped as one of the run-down stairs creaked. Looking down, she continued on carefully avoiding the creaky spot in the next stair. But how did she know it was there? She couldn't remember ever being in the basement before.

Reaching the bottom, she realized how much quieter it had gotten. She still followed, past so many rooms, so many things...things her brain at the same time wanted and didn't want to register. She felt the fear creeping up inside of her.

Little Alison: I don't want you to be scared Delilah...but you can't hide any longer.

The girl's voice was somehow calming. She gulped and took a deep breath. She looked around. The steps, the workbench... ]

"The furnace..."

[Oracle]

<< a split second passes, and Alison is GONE. no one is there but Delilah in that awfull, cavernous basement/cellar. the silence is almost terrifying itself...especially when one doesnt know what to expect.>>

<< Delilah has always been a strong, brave woman but everyone has insecurities...worries...fears.>>

<< she'd grown up to become a fine example of a decent human being but sometimes, no matter HOW far we come, our past will DEMAND that it be reconciled. THIS is one of those times...and her past comes back in a HELL of a way as the spell that Karen placed on her slowly begins to wear away. Memories...they come back! MORE than memories....deep seated TRAUMA comes back to the surface but something keeps Delilah steady as she REMEMBERS...she feels the WAVES of shock, fear and despair but she does not BUCKLE.>>

<< Pastor Trelevan...STRANGLING a woman by the furnace...in FRONT of Delilah. Banging the woman's head against the metal furnace.>>

<< Delilah sees HERSELF....the little girl s he once was in the same dress she wears now. but even as she remembers this horrible night...she remembers MORE.>>

Karen: TRELEVAN! you murderer!! IS THIS how you treat anyone who CHALLENGES YOU? is this what you wanted to do to ME?

<< Delilah runs to Karen, despite her father's commands to stop.>>

Karen: she doesnt have to listen to YOU! you're not her FATHER! you KIDNAPPED HER from her real parents...you MURDERED THEM TOO!

<< Karen's voice cracks with anger as Delilah reaches her and she puts her arm around her protectively. she was crying so much..and Karen couldnt HELP but feel her maternal instincs rising up within her.>>

Karen: it's allright baby! I'm here....he can't get you now.

<< she put Delilah behind her.>>

go for the door honey..RUN as fast as you can!

<< Pastor Trelevan comes forward. having let the woman's lifeless body drop to the floor. his hands are bloody.>>

Pastor Trelevan: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. You're the devil's concubine, woman. You purvey the words of SATAN with your every breath and you keep MY daughter from fullfilling her destiny! I'll deal with you as you DESERVE...and send you to HELL where you BELONG!

<< the man's voice roars with righteous indignation as he charges for Karen, raising a machete and quoting scripture...about the sword of righteousness.>>

Karen: NO! it is YOU who will go there FIRST!

<< Karen steps back and sweeps her cape behind her and throws her hand forward. a rushing harp sound is heard as she BLASTS him with a golden mystical bolt square in the chest. he is BLASTED back and slams into the furnace...flames come out and the basement is set ablaze...>>

<< still pumping from adrenaline, Karen rushes oout and finds Delilah outside...still crying. she snatches the little girl up and RUNS...as the house QUICKLY goes up in flames....>>

<< the memories fade...but the FURNACE ROARS to life...flames shooting out of its face as it blasts with anger...>>

Supreme Pontiff: it was WRONG of that WITCH to take you away from me, Delilah. I knew what was best for you. SHE DIDN'T! She interferred with Daddy's mission, a mission from GOD and YOUR DESTINY but the Lord granted mercy upon his servant and allowed me to RETURN! I've come BACK FOR YOU!

<< he came forth...looking tall and menacing as ever in his dark robes..the wall behind the furnace breaks apart and BLASTS away....revealing two metal gates.>>

Supreme Pontiff: it's not too late to be forgiven, Delilah. to give yourself to the lord to be purged of satan's power...to be freed of the EVIL taught you by that....that filthy WITCH!

<< his voice was dripping with false comfort . h e was a sick, twisted man in his own perverted ideas and yet..he tried to coax Delilah like she were still a little girl.>>

<< Delilah found herself transfixed by his glowing green eyes...she couldn't move. but she could smell the brimstone...feel the HEAT from the FIRE all around her!>>

<< she was ALONE again with this monster. Karen PROMISED her she wouldnt abandon her. where was she NOW!?? >>

Little Alison's voice inside Delilah's head: call for her....call for her

[MorningStar]

[ Just like that, the child disappeared. Delilah spun around, but she was nowhere to be found. She called out. ]

"Little girl? Alison? Hello? What should I do?"

[ Her eyes settled once again on the furnace. And in a split second...she remembered. The memories came back to her in a flood. She saw them in her mind's eye as if they were happening right at that moment. The Pastor killing the woman...Karen saving her...Karen killing the Pastor...the house in flames.

The scenes ended and Delilah inhaled sharply, realizing she had forgotten to breathe. Just when she thought it was over, she had to shield her face from the heat of the flames which were now SHOOTING from the furnace. The Supreme Pontiff - her FATHER - emerged from the flames.

Those feelings from her childhood returned in a wave - the fear, the anxiety, the terror. Words came as the tears rolled down her cheeks. ]

"You're not my daddy. And she's not evil."

[ Her voice came out so softly that she couldn't even hear them herself. It was so hot in the dank, dark room. The smell of the fire permeated every pore of her body, suffocating her. She thought of Karen as she said the words...but where was she? She said she would keep Delilah safe. But now, here she was, alone once again with her father. Abandoned by yet another mother. With no one there to save her. He was going to win. She would die alone. ]

"Oh, Karen, why did you save me so many years ago just to leave me now?"

[ Giant tears rolled down her face. She was about to raise her hand to the monster before her, give in, when she heard a voice in her head. The melodious high lilting voice of the blue-black haired child, telling her to call for help.

She raised her head in despair, her eyes shut tight against the oncoming evil, and screamed one clear word. ]

"KAREN!"

[Rampage]

As the mist got closer, Nicolas continued to fire on the targets he could find. But suddenly, they weren't there!! Then, they appeared everywhere around them, with their leader taking the pint. He denounced the group as witches and mutants, waving his staff as he did so, then ordered his minions to attack.
Nicolas had little experience with the supernatural, none save for what he had from the team. But fighting? That he could do. He telekinetoically dismantled the howitzers and reached back for his axe, leaping forward. He could feel the power of it in his hands, the care that Morgan placed on its enchantment. He waded through the horde, employing a unique fighting style that balanced the acrobatics of which he was capable with a the sheer strength and power he brought to bear. a sliced arm here. a broken neck by his right hand, a dodged attack that hits another, a a dance-like move in which he is able to swing the axe on the chain in a wide eviscerating arc as he moves forward still deeper into the group, looking to engage the leader, whom he no longer saw...

[Oracle]

Outside of Karen and Morgan's old home on Windmill Pointe

<< the battle is in full force as Rampage bulls his way through groups of the cult members, using his now enchanted Axe. The others of the team follow his lead as Spellbinder takes to the air and Guardian lashes out with her molecular acceleration attacks. Persephone, Maverick and Black Widow all join in as well...there is NO restraint on the part of the team as their collective disdain for the Supreme Pontiff and his mad cult members comes through their every action.>>

<< the team stands together and lashes out for Delilah..and for the souls of the children LOST by the cover EVIL that came to this seemingly posh town.>>

<< but even as they hold it down OUTSIDE....things are not going so well in the realm of dreams...nightmares.>>

-----------------------------------------------------

Delilah's home on Windmill pointe

<< the thunder crashes...the souls scream..the fire blasts from the furnace and rises up the walls of the newly formed metal gates and as Delilah softly speaks against her father....those gates OPEN....to a LAKE OF FIRE>>

<< the Supreme Pontiff's face contorts with contempt and ANGER as she dares to defend Karen's actions.>>

Supreme Pontiff: weak and foolish child. you were ALWAYS a wayward sinner..even among other infidels...the touch of satan runs deep in your vains and influences every thought in your wicked MIND! Karen BEWITCHED you...used HER OWN corruption as a witch to satiate that never ending hunger for sin and evil in your soul. your ONLY HOPE FOR SALVATION is to GIVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD!

<< he gestures to the lake of fire>>

Supreme Pontiff: help this WICKED and corrupt child to see the error of her sins and depraved ways! the FIRE will purge her of the folly of her flesh and she will be at long last REDEEMED!


<< as he came closer to her...his glowing green eyes glared at her..THROUGH her but out of the corner of Delilah's eyes...a swirl of golden orbs appeared. her salvation HAD come...and it was in the form of a WITCH.>>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen had APPEARED. seemingly answering Delilah's call but in fact she had cast her own spell to travel to this "dreamscape" to HELP Delilah help HERSELF!>>

<< Karen appeared in what could only be described as the waiting room for HELL. wearing her regal, elegant black flying suit with the cape, the sorceress looked very intimidating and her sapphire blue eyes sparkled against the crackling flames.>>

DELILAH!

<< the doctor's voice called out and seemed to fight against the echo of the Pontiff's own terrible voice.>>

DON'T be afraid of him! he's NOT your father! you don't have to fear him any longer!

<< Karen stepped into view and locked eyes with the man. it was a reunion of two seemingly primal advesaries. the nurturing and protective MOTHER and the abusive, domineering FATHER.>>

I stopped you once BEFORE, monster! I am PREPARED to do it AGAIN!

<< stepping between them and taking Delilah's hands Karen looked directly at the younger woman.>>

Listen to ME! do not let this place...what you see or even FEEL deter you. There's NOTHING wrong with you. I've told you since long ago that you ARE special...you're mutant power is a GIFT and its part of who you are. Do not BELIEVE the lies of this warped monster. He DIED years ago and only through his never ending HATRED and mad obsession has he returned now. YOU have the power to stop him Delilah! you CAN beat him!

<< she tried to speak directly to Delilah's soul but the fire..the scene around them...it was all so chaotic and the supreme pontiff was LIVID that Karen had arrived...to interfere AGAIN.>>

[Jill Monroe]

LET GO OF ME!!

<< They surround her...beating at her, slashing at her with their weapons...trying to seperate her from the group! Some of the grab for her cape...trying to pull her BACK and DOWN so that they can overwhelm her and BEAT her to death. but she doesnt scream...instead she HISSES with CONTEMPT as a massive concussive blast of eldritch energy radiates from the CENTER of this mob around her and BLOWS THEM apart.>>

<< With glowing white eyese, an ANGRY Spellbinder takes off into the air her shredded cape flowing to form an almost "bat wing" effect behind her as the shadow cast long over a group of cult demons.>>

YOUR "god" cannot protect you from ME...and all the powers of HELL!

<< swooping down and taking aim, Spellbinder unleashes a MASSIVE blast of jagged "black lightning" bolts..the same that have been seen in the violent skies of Limbo.>>

<< the massive bolts SLAM down with crashing sounds as they RIP THROUGH a large group of the cult demons...shattering their bodies with gory results.>>

you've NO IDEA what it means...to PISS OFF A WITCH!

<< she gestures....and a stepping disc opens..>>

DEMONS! come FORWARD and show these FOOLS! SHOW THEM the POWER of LIMBO!

<< her voice dripped with a yearning for the suffering of these men and women as several techno organic demons came lunging forward and began to vicious devour the members of the cult. pulling them apart limb from limb, infecting some with the techno organic virus before draining their life glow...or just trampling and shredding them.>>

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian's precognition may not have worked in the long range, but close range...one on one it STILL afforded her the advantage of anticipating a foe's moves seconds before they could excute them.::

:: lithe and agile, the Seer moved with speed and grace inspite of her spiked high heels as she dodged and maneuvered out of several obvious oncoming attacks from the LARGER "men" of this massive mob. they were lunging for her at all sides...trying to catch her unaware and take her down. Cartwheeling away from their feeble attempts to catch her. ::

:: she leaped up in the air, grabbing onto the shoulders of one of the "men" and leap frogging over his head . she kicked her legs out in a flawless split, nailing two oncoming men in their mouths and shattering their jaws with her high heel before she landed down behind the man whose shoulders she'd been using. before he could react she lashed out, gesturing ala' Prue Halliwell. a rushing chiming sound was heard as he was violently TK'ed head first into a CAR...so hard that he dented the car. his spine broken by the impact as he fell to the ground. ::

:: with several of their weapons now on the ground, Guardian seizes them with her TK and gesturing again, a rushing chiming sound is heard as she HURLS the machetes forward..sending them SPINNING so fast they almost seem to cut through the air. she sends them FLYING around, slicing arms and limbs and decapitating MANY of the men AND WOMEN....::


:: as Spellbinder summons her demons, Guardian sends the weapons to the demons...but allows THEM to take hold of the weapons.::

might as well let SOMEONE use them..right?

:: she turned a blind eye to two demons SAVAGELY violating a "woman" with their blades as they dragged her down to the ground. they were REPEATING This process with some MEN nearby as well.::

almost POETIC..that these "saints" be soddomized by demons!


:: the seer's cobalt blue eyes sparkled with a surprising GLEE in them.::

:: more cult members rushed forward, screaming "WITCH! KILL HER!" and trying to pelt the seer with stones and hurl torches at her.::

::MEANWHILE, Persephone, Maverick and Black Widow found themselves being faced with EQUAL savage assaults from all sides.::

[Rampage]

Nicolas was relishing the onslaught that he was putting on the horde. He saw Morgan get pulled at out of the corner of his eye. In his anger he tore a man's head CLEAN OFF and started working his way to her when she lashed out, taking to the sky and unleashing hell itself on the demonic group. Nicolas quickly realized once again that she did not need his help after all, she was plenty capable of taking care of herself. It was a sight he found incredibly sexy.

Nicolas turned back on the horde and cleaved his way back towards the two women, allowing the demons to spread out and destroy the horde at will. As he settled under the flying Spellbinder, Nicolas looked at an untended direction held by the horde, his eyes glowing amber with telekinetic power. The ground itself shook then flipped over, crushing the monsters under the weight of the earthen slab.

As the team continued to fight, Nicolas looked up as he destroyed another group of attackers and smiled.

"Hey Morgan, nice view from here."

Even with all they had endured, with all of the stakes that there were, he was still a young man infatuated (at the very least) with an incredibly beautiful woman. And so he smiled and laughed.

[Jill Monroe]

<< the winds rushed over Spellbinder's body, she felt them over most of her skin thanks to her unholy costume's design but they seemed to help CENTER her again. her rage at being attacked and manhandled by these misguided freaks subsiding. she almost felt PITY for them as they were being dispatched in violent ways by all of the group.>>

<< as Rampage called out, she looked down. He was now encompassed by the shadow effect cast by her cape. her icy violet eyes looked over this man who had blood on his hands. he was obviously being as vicious as perhaps ALISON in his dealings with the cult but even in the midst of the battle, he found time to look at her, and ENJOY the view. he made no secret of his liking her body and the way she appeared.>>

even in the midst of all this...he finds time to pay a compliment in his own special way.

<< She'd never dealt with a man as dynamic or as BOLD as him. she was used to men cowering before her and she had always thought she PREFERRED it that way...but what about Rampage? what about NOW?>>

<< Spellbinder put one head to her forehead as she laughed softly at his comments and she waved to him, winking. but then she saw a new group of cult members crying out for Alison's blood as she had just caused the brutal and violent deaths of two of their female members. they're trying to set her ON FIRE! Spellbinder came down and landed perfectly, rushing over as they converged on Guardian.>>


Leave her ALONE!

<< she throws her hands forward palms out as halos of violet energy form around them and she unleashes a broad beamed eldritch bolt.>>

ZARK!!


<< the crowd screams in AGONY as several men and women are vaporized by the blast. >>

Guardian?? you okay!?


<< Spellbinder cranes her neck and can see that Guardian is releshing in the up close hand to hand combat with two men but that the rest of the group was pressing in. She began to grab others by their arms or necks, HURLING THEM away in every direction. some toward Rampage...and others toward her small group of Demons that were still helping the team.>>

[Harbinger]

::she felt like an action junkie..doing things the harder way for the thrill of physical combat when she COULD have just as easily used her other powers from a distance.::


:: Guardian immediately "expanded" to fight back against the group trying to hem her in. using physical attacks, she increased their effectiveness as she warped her own temporal field and boosted her SPEED as well as augmenting the FORCE of her blows with her TELEKINETIC power. She showed NO fear or signs of worry as she gritted her teeth and bravely fought them back and off....DODGING the torches as they tried to light her on fire.::

:: she would not give in. Holding a man in the air by his neck, she heard righteous cry.::

cult member: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live...BURN THE WITCH!

::two men took aim with bows and FLAMING ARROWS and FIRED at her. the flaming arrows charged madly for her as the crowd pressed HARDER against her one woman defense. she heard Spellbinder scream at them from behind and several of them were obliterated by an ELDRITCH BOLT. the force of the blast caused even Guardian to stumble a bit as she cartwheeled back, landing in a crouched down position before leaping up on top of a car.::

Many thanks, Spellbinder. it WAS getting a little...cramped.

:: she spoke with a cool disdain in her tone.

:: she ran her gloved hand through her blue black hair as she began to pick off a few retreating members from that group, TRUE FREEZING them where they stood in solid blocks of ice..leaving them MORE than primed to be crushed.::

[Rampage]

Nicolas laughed back as he saw Morgan's response, finally taking his eyes from their prime viewing position. He turned to follow Morgan's eyes as she screamed and came to Guardian's aid. She tossed cult members in several direction, incuding near him. He changed the axe to a lance and impaled several as they fell, tossing them over his shoulder as he made his way closer to the two women.

He got there as Guardian TRUE FROZE a few of them and threw his axe. His axe spun madly at the members, cutting the blocks of ice cleanly in two before returning to his hand. He checked Guardian's vitals by TK and asked her directly.

"Prefer taking the hard road, huh? I can sympathize...but be careful. We like having you around."

Nicolas turned the ground over in front of them, crushing the next group of attackers under its weight.

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: As a few cult members began to surround her, Persephone took notice of their weapons. Two carried pitch forks, and another an axe. The one with the xe came forward, swinging violently at Persephone's neck. Ducking, the 'bright' cult member managed to hit one of his allies in the face, litereally slicing his face in half. The woman who carried the pitch fork came forward, jabbing for Ava's stomach. Quickly side stepping from the path of the weapon, she too, managed to stab her own team member. ::

"Not the brightest bunch..."

:: With six more cult members coming toward her, Persephone simply flicked her wrist in their direction, sending a gail force blast of wind at them. All six of the pastor's followers went airborn, flying well over the heads of their other cult members, and landing about forty feet away. ::

:: More members continued to attack Persephone, but she held her own. Very well actually...they seemed more bothersome than anything else. Keeping her pace even and steady, the more the cult members tried to attack her, the more fun it became for the goddess to exterminate them. ::

"Who knew i'd get an extra work out in today."

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh joined the group outside, and took note that the mist began to surround them... and then Pastor Trelevan made an appearance... and made a Supreme Prick of himself, as Haleigh had expected. No wonder all the women of the six have man problems.... the men from their pasts were all unreasonably inept at fostering suitable relationships. Haleigh thought, as part of the mob began to move in on her, lifting their weapons and advancing steadily.

mob:"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.... a witch OR a mutant."

Haleigh rolled her eyes. "Yeah... and thou shalt not suffer a mutant to have to LISTEN to your retarded asses either." She quipped, as she opened fire on the mob with her pistol, hitting several dead between the eyes even as others got within arms reach. One with a schythe got close enough to swing, but Haleigh was more than ready, and CAUGHT the curved blade in her hand, pulling the weapon away from the 'man' and then LEVELING him by swinging the handle at him and hitting him so hard on the side of the head that it immediately CAVED IN. She tossed the schythe up and caught it by the handle, emptying the rest of her handgun. A 'woman' from behind with a machete swung the blade as if to decapitate Haleigh, and with very impressive aim, hit Haleigh just above the collar of her suit and just below her jawline... it was a blow that should have killed her.... but instead, as soon as the weapon made contact with her skin, it SPLINTERED into several pieces. Haleigh spun around, grinning.

"You're kidding, right?"

She asked rhetorically, as she implanted the point of the scythe into the top of the woman's head. Letting go of the schythe, she raised her hand, closing her eyes, as every metal weapon within a 50 foot radius of her became WHITE hot and then flew back into the faces of its holder, branding and impaling each victim with the loud collective hiss of seared flesh.

[MorningStar]

[ Just as Delilah thought that all hope was lost, she heard a familiar voice shouting her name. She opened her eyes to see the Doctor, in all her regal elegance, standing as a force to be reckoned with facing the Supreme Pontiff of hell.

She cowered as Karen stood up to the Pontiff, like a child huddling in a corner while her parents fought. She clutched on to Karen as the woman took her arms in her hands. She could barely meet the older woman's eyes. ]

Listen to ME! do not let this place...what you see or even FEEL deter you. There's NOTHING wrong with you. I've told you since long ago that you ARE special...you're mutant power is a GIFT and its part of who you are. Do not BELIEVE the lies of this warped monster. He DIED years ago and only through his never ending HATRED and mad obsession has he returned now. YOU have the power to stop him Delilah! you CAN beat him!

[ She shook her head, hot tears running down her cheeks. ]

"No,no I can't! I can't do it Karen. He's too strong...I'm not special, I'm weak. I've always been too weak."

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen's sapphire blue eyes continued to look into Delilah's even though the younger woman tried to look away as tears came down her cheeks. Delilah was SCARED and understandably so. she was confronting something she hadn't dreamed could be possible. her life as she knew it had been a LIE and this monster before her was poised to destroy her and those whom she'd come to consider "family.">>

<< as she began to grow faint in her resolve, Karen shook her head and remained firm, but her tone wasnt harsh.>>

NO, Delilah. You musn't give in!

<< her voice was clear and rang out against the din of the flames..and the opening of the rusted gates to the lake of fire.>>

You must NOT let the FEAR over take you. that's what HE wants! he's ruled over you with FEAR for YEARS and though I knew this day might come...the time for worry is no longer. All it takes is for you to REMEMBER how far you've come SINCE then. The life you've made, the friends and family you've found. THEY love you and know you to be the special young woman that you are!

<< gesturing at the pontiff as he raged..>>

THAT is not your father. he's a MONSTER..he's as EVIL as Malice, The Super Soldier or any other monster you've faced. Stand your ground child! look inside yourself and REALIZE that now is the time for ACTION! You're not alone.I am here with you. We'll fight him TOGETHER!

<< Karen had a "you can do it" edge to her voice, she nodded to Delilah, encouraging her to accept her fear and realize it was OKAY to be scared but to NOT give in to it!>>


<< she turned back as the Pontiff drew close. Karen stood her ground, facing him and spreading her cape out behind her. holding her hand out toward him in a "stop" gesture.>>

You still have ME to deal with, you bastard. I stopped you BEFORE...and I'll do it AGAIN! Your power over Delilah is BROKEN! I speak the TRUTH!

[Oracle]

Delilah's home...the basment...the doorway to HELL

<< and even as the doctor TRIED to marshall Delilah's courage, she once again had to stand in the gap for Delilah against the Supreme Pontiff.>>

<< she turned back as the Pontiff drew close. Karen stood her ground, facing him and spreading her cape out behind her. holding her hand out toward him in a "stop" gesture.>>

You still have ME to deal with, you bastard. I stopped you BEFORE...and I'll do it AGAIN! Your power over Delilah is BROKEN! I speak the TRUTH!

<< as the doctor commanded him to stay back, the pontiff laughed softly and smiled. his glowing green eyes looking at the elegant woman.>>

Supreme Pontiff: Oh how i have LONGED for this moment, witch. You once declared that YOU would "walk through fire" to make sure that i never controlled Delilah's life AGAIN...NOW you shall have that CHANCE!


<< all at once, Delilah is knocked back by a swirling green force bolt. as Karen tries to manifest a shield the Pontiff is INSTANTLY upon her and grabs her up by the neck.>>

Supreme Pontiff: The power of life and death are in the tongue and for YOU, meddling witch, i decree DEATH and SUFFERING as you more than richly deserve for interferring in the lords work! BEGONE!


NO!!!

<< with SUPRISING strange for a seemingly frail old man, the pontiff turns and HURLS Karen...she flies through the "gates of hell and dives HEAD LONG into the lake of fire. she is completely submerged and enveloped by the lake of fire...as the flames rise up and burst forth...seemingly REJOICING!>>

<< Delilah sees this...she sees this brave woman..having just been KILLED by her "Father.">>

<< the lake of fire swarms as the body of Karen causes waves...and the Pontiff leans in , smiling at his "daughter">>

Supreme Pontiff: her soul is LOST. she will be punished as she deserves for being the wicked, GODLESS woman that she IS..but YOU don't have to SUFFER like that...GIVE YOURSELF TO ME NOW!

[Shadow Weaver]

<< it all happened so FAST! where did he gain this speed...this POWER! it wasnt like this 20 years ago...he was supposed to FALL BACK!>>

<< her mind raced for one last time, as she screamed out in defiant protest...>>

NO!!!

<< her elegant voice now cracking with grief, shock and protest as it rang out and echoed all around DELILAH. she FLEW though the iron gates and into the lake of fire...diving in head long to the arms of pain and death.>>

I never dreamed..that it would end like THIS!!!

<< everything suddenly became white and orange as she was consumed by the raging flames. but as she somehow managed to resurface ONE LAST TIME...she saw the Pontiff cornering Delilah....>>

<< she had to try..one last time...>>

<< her face now horridly burned...her eyes betraying the strain to stay coherent..she cried out.>>

DELILAH!

<< thrusting her now burned arm and hand forward...a golden halo flies from it and out of the lake. through the gates and back into the basement/cellar and slams into the Pontiff's back...causing him to painfully lock up for a moment..>>

it's NOT TOO LATE!! << Karen said as the flames began to obscure her from view...>>

find the others.....you can BEAT HIM!

<< the flames erupted and exploded as the gates slammed SHUT, a hint of her voice echoing in the chaotic air around Delilah as the Pontiff raised his now glowing hand to strike her. the golden orb flies out of him and slams into DELILAH JOLTING her awake and CONSCIOUS. she finds herself in Morgan's childhood home. SHAKEN, and still feeling warm but awake, alert and coherent. >>

<< she knows what she saw was MORE than a dream. Karen is not in the room with her. but there IS a picture of Karen with a younger Delilah and Morgan on the wall. the picture shows a happier time for them ALL but as she stares at it..her HEART tells her that the dream...was REAL. Karen is....she's....>>

<< the picture BURSTS into flames and falls to the floor. the haunting voice of Delilah's father rings in her ears.>>

Pontiff: she walked through fire for YOU...

[Oracle]

Outside of Morgan and Karen's home- "real time"

<< as Spellbinder and Guardian fight back to back, Spellbinder SCREAMS as she falls to her knees. The scream is so PRIMAL...she seems to be reacting to SEVERE PAIN. She cries out for her MOTHER! Something has gone wrong.>>

<< Guardian turns to try to see to Spellbinder and as she does the mob around them PILES ON...they begin to try to beat the witches to death. it happened SO FAST.>>

<< at the same time, the efforts of the mob INCREASE seemingly 10 fold as they renew their advances against Rampage , Black Widow, Persephone and Maverick...attempting to KEEP them from getting to the witches.>>

<< the mist flows around the battle field as the Supreme Pontiff's ghostly face can be seen in the night sky.>>

Supreme Pontiff: you fight with all your vaunted might..but your wicked flesh condemns you to defeat. You have LOST already...and your bastard witch SPELLBINDER knows all too well what THAT means...

<< at that moment, MorningStar, is now FULLY awakened and FREE of any mental inhibitions. Karen's LAST MOVE was one to break her of all inhibitions regarding her "father". She saw things CLEARLY now...and she knew it was time to FIGHT BACK but of course it came at a TERRIBLE price.>>

<< down the street...the last house on the left, flames begin to errupt from the lower windows of the house as glass explodes from them.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< as Spellbinder continues to fight back, she is overcome with a sensation of HOT, SHARP, SKIN RENDERING PAIN! she sees...her MOTHER being ENVELOPED by flames BRAVELY trying to face what must be the last moments of her LIFE!>>

MOM!!!

<< she cries out with a primal scream as she falls back...>>

she's BURNING!! SHE'S ON FIRE!! MOM!!

<< she's hit in the face as she falls to the ground and is attacked by several ANGRY men!>>

[Harbinger]

:: smiling slightly at Rampage, she appreciates his comment and checking her over. they each have a brief respite before facing MORE opposition. they fight closer together but this time..it seems more coordinated on the part of the mob. more sustained, STRONGER!::

:: she's CLOSE to Spellbinder. the two women have fought together before. they have POWER and they know how to use it..but POWER can't save them from what's coming!::

:: as she blows up a man coming down on her, she FLINCHES as Morgan SCREAMS in such a way that she hasnt heard before. Guardian turns and see's Morgan clutching her head and crying out for her mother...::

BURNING! on FIRE!!

KAREN and Delilah!! they must be in TROUBLE!! something's happened to KAREN!

:: Guardian tries to reach Morgan but not before the sorceress, who is beside herself with a painfull backlash gets HIT in the face and knocked ot the ground! they are on top of her...clubs swinging up and down.::

MORGAN!!

:: Guardian lashes out with ferocity as she BLASTS her enemies with total dark magick..blowing them up utterly and leaving NOTHING where they stood as she gets between the core and Morgan, she manifests a SHIELD between them.::

:: she holds Morgan, who is beside herself with pain and maintains the shield, hoping that the others will come for them.::

NO!! GODDESS PLEASE don't let this be what my heart tells me....

:: she tries desperately to hide what she suspects to be the ugly truth...that something has happened to Karen..something FATAL.::

:: she continues to hold back the blows and strikes of the mob with her shield, trying to hold Morgan...::

[MorningStar]

[ Karen stepped between her and the Pontiff. She tried to think of what to do, but her mind was a jumble. The heat from the fires blasted her and the noises of hell roared in her ears. She was having trouble seeing through the extremely hot air and smoke. She watched Karen stand up for her. Through her sea of emotions and fear she felt proud, blessed that such a maginificent woman cared about her, even though she wasn't her biological daughter. But in that split second, just as she slid her eyes back to the Pontiff, she was hurled backward by the force of a green bolt hitting her, catching her unawares.

Delilah watched helplessly as Karen is hurled into the fires of hell by the Pontiff. She cannot speak, she cannot move. She is dumbfounded, shocked. How could she have ever doubted that Karen cared for her? And now she had made the supreme sacrifice. For HER. She started to recoil, back up from the approaching madman, sure that she would soon share in Karen's fate. If Karen couldn't defeat him, how could she alone do it? She had never been able to defeat him. Even death didn't defeat him. Who was she but a whimpering child in the corner?

Suddenly she heard her name and looked once more at where Karen had last been. She saw her, her angelic face terribly burned, reaching a charred arm out towards her. She reached out her own arm towards her foster mother. But she was too late, too weak to save her. A halo of light burst forth from Karen's hand, hitting the Pontiff and causing him to stumble. She watched the words come out of Karen's now marred lips, then Karen disappeared as the metal gates slammed shut. The Pontiff came for her once more and then...her body was JOLTED into conciousness. ]

[ She sat up quickly, then regretted it as her head swam. She reached a hand to her temple as she looked around. She felt the couch cushions with her hand, picking one up and holding it to her chest. Why was she lying on a couch? Where was she? Wait a minute, she thought, she recognized this place. It was Morgan's old house. How did she get here? But then the events of the dream world suddenly were back in her memory. Karen! She called for the doctor, but the house was eerily silent. She noticed the picture of the three of them on the wall, and she knew. It burst to flame, and something inside of her snapped into gear.

Her eyes flared bright green as she stood from the couch. She threw the cushion down. Green sparks bounced from her shoulders. She lowered her head, lips pursed, face in a sneer, full of hate, anger, rage. She had to find others. And then... ]

"The Pontiff is mine."

[ She strode through the living room and to the door. She threw it open and continued outside, not bothering to close it behind her. She walked down the center of the street, the flaming house lighting up the sky behind her, but she didn't appear to notice.

She threw her arms out in front of her, unleashing a massive laser blast. The light swept over the battlefield, increasing in intensity until onlookers would be blinded by a flash of pure white light. The laser penetrates the mob, their surprised faces lit with glowing light briefly, until their bodies vaporized to nothingness. The cries of those that had the time to scream hung in the air, and the sickening smell of burnt flesh invaded their nostrils. She continued forward, never stopping, never letting up on her attack, closing the distance between her and the others. She would see all of this evil dead. And this time, for good.

When she finally stopped moving and the blinding light at last subsided, the only beings left standing were the members of the Six. Not a single cult member had been left alive. And MorningStar smiled.]

[Rampage]

Nicolas was starting to feel good about this. The horde was clearly outmatched by them, and he was confident that Karen would triumph on her end in helping Delilah. She had already done so much helping him, he was confident in her abilities. He was in a good place, even taking time to toss a line or two at Spellbinder. Until Morgan screamed.

Nicolas turned to see Morgan holding her head, yelling about Mom on fire when she was swamped by the horde itself. He was making his way towards her when he SENSED it. Karen and Moragn were psi-cscreened, but the torment of Karen, the mental projection was similar to others he had sensed since this night began. The visceral feeling of being overwhelmed that Karen projected was buffeting him, filling him with grief. She was so noble, but the grimness of the projection was all too real. He lashed out at the surrounding horde by rolling the ground outward, but he dropped to his knees as he listened to Moragn further and realized that Karen, his only mother figure he had ever known on this planet, was in trouble, dying or already dead.

A roar escaped from the lips of Rampage as he turned to find the Pontiff. Machetes and pitchforks struck at him but he shrugged them off. He did not come here for Karen, whom he has risked everything for time and again, to fall.

Suddenly, a bright light engulfs the battlefield as Delilah makes her entrance. Nicolas eyes are burned and he has to rely on his TK to sense objects as they heal. By the time he can make things out, the cannon fodder is gone, incinerated by Delilah's flame. Nicolas goes to Morgan and Alison's side, his vision returning.

"Morgan??! What about Ma? Morgan, Alison, can you send me to her? I promise I'll bring her back, whatever the cost. Okay?"


Nicolas knelt by the pair, choking back tears as his mind raced with what to do...

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian looked up at Rampage as he tore t hrough the horde. and just as she herself felt like falling apart, MorningStar appeared and DESTROYED the mob...with a single, broad beamed , MASSIVE LASER BLAST! it was clean, simple and BRUTALLY effective.::

:: whatever these "people" were in their lives BEFORE they became apart of this cult...their souls MIGHT find peace NOW that MorningStar had purged them but that was not Alison's concern at the moment::

MorningStar...

:: She couldnt even ASK Delilah about Karen. Alison's voice was trembling with fear....that they WERE too late.::

:: as Nicolas asked Alison to project him, she stood up, trying to help Morgan..::

Nicolas........

:: she couldnt say anything at first, but suddenly she realized that they were ALONE! no more mob, no more stupid cult members! they were alone AGAIN...::

Help me with Morgan. We have to go TOGETHER!

:: as Black Widow, Persephone and Maverick hurrided over, Guardian used her temporal power to SPEED THEM ALL UP. they RUSHED to the last house on the left in a fraction of a second.::

[Oracle]

<< MorningStar rejoins her team. she's refreshed, she sees clearly. she KNOWS what must be done..but at what price has it come? as Nicolas asks Alison to send him to Karen, Alison stands up with Morgan and hurries the whole TEAM to the last house on the left....>>

<< around the front to the back, the smoke comes from the doors leading to the basement cellar.>>

<< their worst fear is about to become REALITY!! >>

<< Alison yells for Nicolas to tear the doors open and as he does, Persephone pushes the fires BACK with a cool, WET winter wind. Maverick leads with a force field as they hurry down in one last ditch effort to try to rescue KAREN.>>

<< what they find...is a situation that is beyond their help....>>

<< through the maze of tunnels, they feel the heat of the fire...the roar of the flames. Morgan calls out frantically for her mother...pushing past Ethan and using her own winds to sweep flames back as well.>>

<< they reach the "heart" of the cellar and find the furnace ablaze, with flames shooting out of it....and nearby....a body engulfed in flames...with only a hand sticking out.....its Karen.>>

[Jill Monroe]

GODDESS!! NO!! MOM!!!

<< Spellbinder cries out...her scream is almost EAR PIERCING as she madly rushes forward. sseemingly UNAWARE that she's about to charge into flames. she wants to pull her mother out.....she has to do SOMETHING..>>


<< tears streaming down her face, she runs for the flames...not CARING what happens to her. she's BESIDE herself with grief and shock! if she burns..so what. if she DIES...it doesnt matter. she MUST save her MOTHER!>>