History Lesson

[Oracle]

<< Persephone, the Six and Hecate returned to the Underworld. Finally returning BACK to the dark and sprawling splendor of the massive castle surrounded by a flowing, bubbling lake of molten lava. In many ways, the seclusion of this place could be comforting. GONE were the feelings of arrogance and pretension that reeked through the halls of Mt. Olympus.>>

<< it was not quite as wild and uninhibited as LIMBO perhaps, but it still had its own unique quality to it. They would find themselves not as awkward as before but with Hecate around, things were sure to be more interesting. >>

<< the group emerged via MorningStar's wormhole and as they arrived, they were unaware of a confrontation that was already in the process of brewing within Persephone's home...between SPELLBINDER and HADES>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< it was a deep and refreshing sleep. many "dream scapes" flowed and flashed across the psyche of Morgan as she slumbered hidden safely within Hecate's chambers. She was blissfully unaware that the team had even LEFT and all they had experienced. It was probably just as well, Zeus and Hera wouldve drawn the ultimate ire of Morgan and it was a HARD THING to control HER once she lost her temper.>>

<< Morgan looked serene and at peace as she slept. but after several hours. she finally began to stir. opening her icy violet eyes...there was a glint of RENEWAL in them as she stretched and slowly sat up.>>

hmmm....

<< it took her a moment to remember that she wasnt in Illustra...not even in her OWN TIME as she looked around the beautifull chamber and remembered..>>

Persephone...the underworld.

<< she spoke softly as she rose, wrapping herself in one of Hecate's beautifull silk robes. she found the parlour room where she refreshed herself. 30 minutes later, wrapped in another exquisite gown, she checked herself over in the mirror. no bruises, no blemishes. no fatigue or even mental unrest! the rest had done her so good and yet...it seemed like something MORE had happened...like she had been touched by a comforting, soothing presence similar to that of Ororo or Karen.>>

<< she wondered if they could sense her...if she could call out to them and they would hear her?>>

<< she was a big girl, she could look after herself and as she looked in the large full length mirror. she was a LONG WAY from where the others were just arriving back. many floors, halls and levels seperated them. BUT she was NOT a long way from someone ELSE whom she wasnt aware of that was already roaming "HIS" lair...HADES.>>

<< Now feeling refreshed and comforted, Morgan decided to explore the scenery as she walked along the halls and examined the exquisite decor....not suspecting to be discovered herself by anyone else.>>

[Hades]

And what have we here, a new slave? I do not remember this one, but she would be a welcome change of pace from Persephone. Tall and blonde and curvy...She will make an excellent concubine.

And with that, the King of Hell had come upon Morgan, quiet as death. The only thing Morgan would notice is what Persephone did, a pair of hands upon her, one upon her breasts, the other on her lifting her robe as he was ALREADY touching her privates. His deep voice commanded her in the same way he had commanded many other poor servant girls for centuries. There had never been any other way, and for Morgan he would be no different.

"Prepare yourself, fair one. Your Lord wishes to give you a gift..."

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan felt herself being grabbed FORCEFULLY and held ...GROPED!>>

<< her icy violet eyes widened as she felt the rush of surprise and RAGE :mad: after what she'd been through with Circe...and she'd not been awake for more than an HOUR in this place before something ELSE had happened!? she wouldnt take this...from ANYONE!>>

LET GO OF ME!!

<< she screams as a chime sounds off. Hades was unaware of who Morgan actually was or what she could do and with a flash of fury in her icy violet eyes...she BUST LOOSE from Hades grip with her super strength and whirled around.>>

HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!?

<< she shrieked as she shoves him FULL FORCE to send him air borne across the room. she takes aim, her face now enshrouded in shadow as a halo of dark magick forms around her out stretched hands.>>

THAT will be the LAST THING you do to ME! Prepare YOURSELF for my WRATH!

<<ZARK!!!>>

<< nothing makes that sound quite like an unchecked eldritch bolt! the blast is unleashed with FULL POWER and deadly aim as she BLASTS Hades in his chest and the bolt spreads irradiating his entire body in a blast globe of dark magick.>>

<< Morgan stood tall , seething with rage as she viciously attacked the man who made a most DARING pass at her.>>

[Hades]

Hades was preparing to do what he had done countless times, and this would be no...eh?!! This woman was strong?!! Maybe even as strong as himself!! She pushed him across the room before he could react and as he prepared to stand to face this upstart, he heard a sound that he'd only heard one person make before, Hecate!!! But how could she....

There was no time to think as he was enveloped by the eldritch bolt. Grinding his teeth to stifle a groan, he saw his raiments obliterated, his skin flayed and struggling to reform. But reform it did and rather than give this mortal the satisfaction of knowing he was harmed, the King of Hell stood up, laughing in a growling bass.

"My My!!! Persephone brings home the strangest...pets. No matter. I will show you who is the king here and who is the slave!!"

With a nod of his head two large minotaurs appeared and grabbed for Morgan, attempting to hold her still while he made his advance, not seeming to mind his own nakedness or her might.

"Foolish girl!! I will take your very soul and bind you to me for all time..."

[Jill Monroe]

<< huffing with annoyance, Morgan's shadow cloaked face betrayed NO reaction to the fact that this "man" SURVIVED a blast that had destroyed many others seemingly like him. She didnt realize (at first) that this was in fact Hades..but that would explain his miraculous ability to survive her blast.>>

you dont scare ME! you blustering OAF!

<< she spat with defiance even as the large minotaurs appeared and grappled with her. she struggled against them but they seemed to be irresistable....her blonde hair flowed as her body exerted more effort to resisit being held.>>

your little pets don't scare me EITHER. i command demons of my OWN and THEY would SURELY devoure these little creatures you think so clever!

<< a crash of thunder heralds the opening of a STEPPING DISC. another power that Hades would not have anticipated as Morgan escapes their grip and moves places in the twinkling of her eye.>>

I am NO ONE'S SLAVE! NO MAN contols me! TO HELL with this you AND this timeline!

<< she appeared behind Hades, uppercutting him dead center in his spine before taking his head and SMASH IT into the wall. she was clearly being more PHYSICAL than usual and her mind RACED with a rush of adrenaline and outrage as she fought to protect herself. as she left him there, realizing that he would probably survive her blows, Morgan ran for Hecate's chambers...somehow feeling that she needed to get there and regroup for her safety>>

WHERE ARE THE OTHERS!? how could Persephone just set me up like this!?

<< she rushed into the chamber and slammed the double doors shut moving back into the center of the room, and preparing to go for broke in this next round.>>

Ill unleash the FULL FORCE of my magicks against him and if need be...the SOUL SWORD! i don't care who he is. ill see him DEAD before i let him subjugate me. and PERSEPHONE!

<< Morgan felt betrayed.>>

she left me here...KNOWING that this ..this GORILLA was lumbering around ready to force himself on anything in a SKIRT!! She'll PAY for this!

<< Morgan took aim ...ready...waiting.>>

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Finally appearing back in the underworld, even though they were away from the other Gods and the 'above' world, the group still had to keep their act up with Hecate present. Tossing her Mystic Daggers onto the tab, she didn't realize how much they poked into her skin during this time period. ::

"I never do grow old of lighting a flame up under Athena's gown."

:: Hearing a huge explosion afar, Persephone brows lowered as she turned her head toward the direction of the blast. Realizing Morgan was still here, Persephone's eyes went wide for a moment before she composed herself. Did Circe somehow find a way back to this time line as well? Maybe Morgan woke and ran into Hades. The possibilities were not good either way. Quickly picking up her pace into a fast walk, the goddess made her way through the vast foyer and up the stairwell hearing more blasts and fighting. ::

:: Hearing one of the large doors slam, Persephone turned the corner seeing that Hades was in fact, a bit beaten up and out of breath from fighting. Growling under her breath, the fact that he STILL had affairs with chamber maids, made her skin crawl. Not only that but pushing himself on Morgan...not the best idea. She was certain she'd be getting an ear full from Spell later. ::

"HADES!"

:: Persephone's voice boomed throughout the large vacent hallways as she approached her husband with fire in her eyes. Grabbing him by the shoulder from behind, she pulled him back, slamming him against the stone wall. ::

"You disgusting little pig! What the HELL do you think you're doing?!"

[Harbinger]

:: smiling slightly as Persephone gloated over the way Athena was left flustered, Alison enjoyd THAT herself.::


:: almost as SOON as they returned to the underworld via Delilah's worm hole, Guardian exclaimed as she saw even BEFORE Persephone heard the first blast and the fighting.::

:: this put the team in a very bad situation...for if they came to Morgan's aid, it would surely FLUSH THEM OUT to Hecate. But it was already in Alison's immediate range that Hecate would be CONFRONTING THEM anyway. but now, she would not get the chance to warn Persephone of this as they all went rushing , following persephone to w here the battle was moving.::

Morgan has moved into Hecate's chambers! the one place that Persephone said Hades wouldnt DARE to go. But HERE HE IS! this...BEAST of a man chasing Morgan trying to force himself upon her!

:: Guardian didnt speak aloud, but she was MORE than prepared to unleash HER own powers against the man if he tried to go after Morgan again INSPITE of Persephone's grabbing him. he was fierce looking, a glint of predatory glee in his eyes and it was obvious that Morgan's blast had destroyed his attire and that he was UNAFFECTED by the fact that he was practically NAKED! clearly he had a strong physical constitution to have survived a full powered eldritch bolt but Guardian would not let him come near Morgan and if need be, she'd blow her cover wide open.::

:: she stood CLOSE to the double doors, making SURE to block the way as Persephone confronted Hades::

[Hecate]

[ As Hecate returned to the underworld with the group, she pretended to not realize just WHO was responsible for this "wormhole" transport effect.]

My , my Persephone. You certainly have found a new and impressive way to cross worlds and dimensions from Olympus to the Underworld.

[ the desolation of this dimension was artfull to Hecate. the jagged caverns, the flowing molten lava, the massive castle....it was Hecate's unofficial home/hide away from the pretentious atmosphere on Olympus and she felt more comfortable HERE than up above.]

[ arriving in the sprawling castle, Hecate kept on pretending not to notice the anxioius feeling that was shared among the six as they had hoped to drop their "roles" but now had to keep them UP in front of her.]

poor dears, do they really think they could fool ME one of the most cunning and manipulative women of Olympus?

[as Persephone gloated, Hecate laughed softly.]

hmmm yes. You seem to be enjoying these TIDAL WAVES of dischord that you've been causing lately. But even YOU could go too.....

[suddenly she heard a sound..but not just any sound....it was a power signature of HER'S....]

that SOUND...


[ even Persephone's eyes widened a bit..but not for quite the same reason. Hecate felt a power..her OWN power but how could that be? and the person wielding that power, in TREMENDOUS distress. A sister witch? not likely..not at this stage; a disciple? the only one who showed any promise was CIRCE and SHE was as much an "envelope pusher" as Hecate. WHO WAS IT that was somehow channeling HER power ? she had to know! she joined Persephone...noticing "Endora's" quickness as well as they all rushed to the scene of the fighting!]

[ the doors to HER chamber were slamming shut and HADES was charging toward them...CHASING someone! "Endora" stepped to block the door while Persephone confronted Hades who had been BLASTED by an ...]

an eldritch bolt?

[ Hecate's look of surprised turned into one of wicked curiosity as she looked between Persephone and Hades then back to the doors where Endora stood guard. SOMETHING was amiss here and as Persephone questioned Hades, Hecate SECONDED that]

AND...just WHERE did you think you were GOING?

[ nodding to the doors as she glared at him.]

I've told you BEFORE, barbarian, my chambers are NOT for a boorish OAF like you to set foot in and I'll THANK YOU to keep OUT!

[ There was a jaded history between Hades and Hecate for not so long ago..THEY were to be betrothed, until Zeus COMMANDED Hades to marry Persephone in horrible act of betrayal and abuse of power. Zeus was so bent on humiliating Persephone by forcing her to marry the man that Demeter had secured her FREEDOM from as PUNISHMENT for Persephone murdering Demeter....he did not CARE that he was destroying a relationship that had already been blossoming NOR did he seem to consider Hecate's feelings in this and since Hades did not bother to stand up to Zeus at all...not for her..not for their love...Hecate came to regard Hades as a spineless oaf who PLAYED at being a man. She never forgot....NEVER FORGAVE!]

[ not waiting for Persephone to ask]

WHO were you chasing?

[Alice Cullen]

Haleigh knew as soon as Hecate commented on their transportation that the gig was up.... she could just tell that Hecate was onto them, and Hecate seemed the type of person to not be fooled by such a charade. so too, had Athena, and Haleigh was willing to bet that they'd taken their leave at the best time, as surely Athena would have questioned them further. Still Haleigh didn't say anything.... she was too distracted... she could HEAR something going on in a different part of the castle... some kind of scuffle... and then she heard Morgan's voice.... some one was troubling her.

Luckily for Haleigh, as soon as she was about to bring it up, Persephone finally heard one of the louder crashes and took off in the direction of Morgan and Hades. Haleigh followed post haste and as Persephone confronted Hades and Alison took stand in front of the door, Haleigh took her place beside Alison, acting purely out of instinct. To hell with her 'role'... Morgan was in danger and though Haleigh was quite sure she COULD, Morgan shouldn't HAVE TO face it alone. Haleigh let the commotion with Hades cover her discreet [and silent] slip out of the corridor and into Hecate's chambers. She turned around instantly and threw her hands up in a 'take it easy' gesture.

"Morgan! It's me! Are you okay?! That was Hades.... I heard EVERYTHING.... the poor stupid brute thought he could.... don't worry.... Guardian and Persephone are taking care of him. It's alright...."

[Hades]

Hades roared in FURY as the blonde one tricked him AGAIN and ran into Hecate's chamber. Dusting himself off, one of the minotaurs ran to retrieve a robe while he stormed towards the chamber. Many believe that he was afraid to enter, but the truth was that there were too many memories here. This was the chamber of his true love Hecate, a place in which many days and nights were spent. Until he was forced to take Persephone to keep the peace, and Hecate's hatred and scorn would not be sated...

As he walked towards the door , a hand pulled him back to the wall as he was questioned rudely. Not realizing who it was, he struck quickly, smacking Persephone across the face and spinning her halfway down the hall. Just like that, his anger, the facade, the pretense of Hades was broken. He rushed to her side impossibly fast, tearing a piece of fabric from his Minotaur servant as he went. He grabbed her BEFORE she stopped sliding and picked her up, wiping the corner of her mouth. He was at this point oblivious to the others and waving off Hecate's challenge. Calling her by the pet name he used when they made love (a name that the Romans would later adopt for her, not knowing its true source) Hades stood Persephone up and looked genuinely sorry, sorry at this point that ANY of this had occurred. He pulled on a robe as he spoke.

"Proserpina!! Look...I... why did you sneak up on me so! I was simply walking the halls of my palace when I came upon this...rogue. I did not realize that she was your guest, I wish you would tell me when people are here. In any case, I forgive her for her rudeness in this misunderstanding and wish to speak no further of it."

At this point, Hades composure was returning, and although his voice was back to its normal timbre for the rest, Persephone could see that he was genuinely apologetic as he looked at her, a look one does not often get from Hades.

[Rampage]

As they teleported back to the underworld, Nicolas was studying Hecate as hard as she was checking him out. He was considering what a would one night stand with a Titan goddess would be like when he heard the commotion. In Hades mind, he could SEE what had occurred. His blood boiled that Morgan would be treated so by Hades and also new emotion reared its head: jealousy. Inasmuch as he realized that Morgan was not his, that they weren't together (not REALLY), he seethed that another man would touch her in THAT way. And that he would do it against her will!!!?????

Nicolas growled as Persephone confronted Hades. He stepped back towards the door to see if Morgan was OK when a Minotaur blocked his way. Forgetting his role ENTIRELY, Nicolas reached up quickly and pulled the bottom jaw of the beast off! As the Minotaur screamed in horror, Nicolas sliced him in two at the waist with a fury and precision that even the Six would not recognize.

Leaving the corpse to rot, Nicolas turned his fury and his his axe back towards Hades. He began to walk towards the end of the hall where the two stood, murder in his eyes...

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Letting out a gasp like shriek after the impact of Hades hit, Persephone toppled to the floor afar, her jaw sore and already cut lip reopened. What the hell was with all the hitting?! She was like the damn Gale Weathers of Ancient Greece. Growling out feeling Hades pick her up, although Persephone was considered strong for a 'woman's' standard because of her God-like status, Hades was far beyond anything she could physically fight. He was a brute and his strength to sustain a fight against Morgan showed it. So when Persephone was hit, she was HIT. Pushing his hands away from her body, her husband could see her aqua eyes turn a stealy blue. ::

"How DARE you strike me!"

:: Whipping her face away from his touch as he tried to wipe the blood from her lip, this entire trip was beginning to take a toll on the once reserved goddess. The six dispised her, she had to go through being treated like garbage yet again by the gods, and now THIS. Her husband (whom she did hate, but did have some feelings toward) molesting Morgan by the chambers of his true love. ::

"I need not tell you WHEN I have guest or WHO they are, Hades. This is my fortress as well! You're acting like your incipide older brother (Zeus); chasing woman around and forcing yourself on them! Do you despise me SO much?!"

:: Lowering her voice, Persephone breathed out. ::

"Do you resent me so much.."

:: Speaking of his love for Hecate, and the face that he was married to her, Hades was no fool. He knew Persephone was privvy to his feelings for Hecate. Hecate knew as well. Playing the hurt wife card, Persephone's eyes caught Nicolas coming toward Hades from the side. ::

"Nicolas, please. I know you're angry, but do not start a fight right now. Morgan needs you...i'll deal with Hades."

"All of you. Inside Hecate's chambers. Now."

:: Giving Hecate an expressive look knowing that she would verbally question why on earth Persephone was sending everyone into her chambers. But again, they were very close. Like sisters. One look from Persephone and Hecate would know it was for a good reason. ::

"Hecate, if you could check on my young friend.....while I finish up here with [him."

[Jill Monroe]

<< as the doors opened, Morgan cried out with savage defiance as a chime sounded off...HIGHER in its tone than what the team had heard from Hecate's power manifestation... as she prepared to attack with ALL her power...but as she gestured and magicks began to ignite..it was HALEIGH!?>>

HALEIGH!?

<< Morgan quickly lowered her hands so as not to accidently blast Haleigh. Alison and the others had RETURNED and she could hear Persephone confronting Hades, as well as the sound of ANOTHER woman's voice that was unfamiliar...who was it? >>

<< Haleigh quickly assured Morgan that Hades would NOT be coming after her again...and Morgan's look of dismay and betrayal softened only a BIT as she relaxed her body and powered down her magickal front.>>

.....i can't BELIEVE she left me here..KNOWING he was in this place!

<< her icy voice was tinged with betrayal as well. Haleigh closed the door and and kept watch along side Alison. Morgan had never been so glad to see her team as she was NOW. She was strong, powerfull and certainly capable of taking care of herself but this was TWICE that some being had attempted to subjugate her in a most BRUTAL WAY...it seemed that everytime she found peace, someone was there to TAKE IT AWAY from her!>>

<< she heard NICOLAS' voice too and suddenly, SURPRISINGLY she felt so GLAD that he was there too!>>

Nicolas.... << she said softly as she waited inside of Hecate's chambers. her mind fixed on him as well as the voice of the OTHER woman in the hall...something about her...it resonated to Morgan. Morgan did not see what was happening next, how Hades SMACKED Persephone , ignored Hecate and attempt to blame MORGAN for this "misunderstanding.">>

[Rampage]

Only the sound of Persephone speaking through their link broke his fury, for the moment. Nicolas returned his axe to its position and turned quickly on his heel, walking into Hecate's chambers to see about Morgan. He gently touched her face as he walked up to her, not caring if she struck out at him or not. He spoke in nearly a whisper.

"Morgan, I know what happened and I'm sorry I left you here. Are you OK?"

[Hecate]

[ Hecate rolled her eyes. She despised Hades almost as much as she despised HERA. Hecate ignored her and as he STRUCK Persephone, Hecate raised her hand, prepared to use HER magick against him. He may have been able to resist MORGAN but he KNEW that he could not resist HER so easily by any means.]

HADES! you WRETCH!!

[ As Persephone defied him ever so strongly, Hecate added once again.]

You are LESS than a man!


[ stepping forward as she folded her arms and spoke with icy disdain]

you attack one of Persephone's guests, showing us all just how much you are alike to your arrogant, blustering brother;

and you STRIKE your wife? a woman whom you were all too GLAD to take as your own MORE than once [ referring to his "stalking" of her and Demeter's intervention] you betray your insecurities. you are PATHETIC.

you STILL have not explained yourself to ME and why you were preparing to enter MY chambers. You may hit HER..but I promise you if you raise a hand to ME you will LOSE IT and so much MORE! You will find yourself right next to your father CRONUS!

[ Persephone asked Hecate to move the six into her chambers. the look from Persephone let Hecate know that she would be allright. Hecate's own bitterness toward Hades subsided long enough to allow her to be there for her friend..her "sister". ]

Stay AWAY from my domain Hades. You lost the right to be here the day you showed yourself to have NO BACK BONE to that idiot, ZEUS.

[ with that, she turned, ushering the group into her chambers, and standing back against the wall, folding her arms again and watching the group curiously as they went to Morgan to check on her. ]

this should be FUN

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan watched with pins and needles as the door opened again. but this time, it was her team and HECATE who arrived. Hecate! Morgan's eyes widened with disbelief! it was HER! the goddess whom she invoked so many times! she had beheld images of this woman in her dreams as early as childhood! her mother, Ororo, Alison..they ALL knew her, FELT her in their hearts and spirits!>>

<< Alison, Delilah..her friends..her SISTERS were there and never before had she felt so glad to see them as well as the rest of her team! Nicolas came to her and as he gently touched her cheek, she didnt lash out at him, she DID however GRAB his hand at first...gripping it but then relaxing her hold as he meant no harm. he was so close to her, whispering to her and seeing if she was okay. she...she APPRECIATED that as her heart rate slowed.>>

<< she was still staring at Hecate and it took her a moment to acknowledge Nicolas verbally. his touch was gentle. she'd almost FORGOTTEN that this was one of the reasons why she couldnt help but feel "tenderness" towards him. he was a rarity indeed and she realized now that in this time of male chauvanist pigs...Nicolas was a gem. a credit to his gender...and secretly, within her closed off mind, he was still as beautifull to behold as any work of art and here he was...showing his care and concern for her.>>

.....oh!

<< in an icy voice>>

Nicolas....the man is a BEAST! He just came out of no where and...ATTACKED ME...telling me that he had...

<< her voice now stronger, with a tone of disgust>>

a "GIFT" for me. he tried to force himself upon me but i fought back!
He took a full powered eldritch bolt..and SURVIVED. his clothes were destroyed, his skin was badly burned but it REGENERATED before my eyes!


<< she looked over at Alison, Delilah and Haleigh.>>

I felt his warm, almost sweaty hands gropping me. he treated me like i was nothing more than an OBJECT for his sexual gratification! Persephone brought us to a timeline filled with SAVAGES!

<< Morgan realized that she was speaking freely in front of Hecate! she may have destroyed their cover...she continued to stare at the goddess of witch craft. she felt a tremendous wave of power and wisdom from the goddess but it was not a violating riptide like with Circe, it was encompassing but at the same time ENCOURAGING...COMFORTING.>>

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah attempted to discreetly open the wormhole that would bring them back to the underworld. She let out a sigh of relief as they returned, the journey to Mount Olympus finally over with. Unfortuneately Hecate was still with them, so they had to remain "in character". But servant or no servant, she needed to check on Morgan.

She was about to excuse herself when they heard a loud noise. She followed Persephone and Alison to Hecate's bedchamber. She rounded the corner just in time to see Hades STRIKE Persephone! Then he turned around and showed what appeared to be genuine tenderness towards her. So this was the infamous Hades...

Persephone instructed them to go into the room where Morgan had hidden herself. As she passed Hades on the way to Hecate's chamber, she noticed Hades in all his naked glory. He certainly was manly...Delilah absentmindedly wondered if he worked out of if he was just made that way.

"Hello salty goodness..."

She said under her breath as she slinked past. Hey, if Persephone didn't want him she could think of a few good uses for him...

She entered the room and found Morgan looking very distraught and the others surrounding her. She walked over to her friend and gave her a hug.

"It's allright, Morgan, we're here now. We won't let anything happen to you."

[Hades]

Hades met her gaze. It was clear that her last words stung him. Hecate, while still commanding some of his heart, was at this point a gadfly, someone who he chose to ignore. Persephone however, she KNEW him, knew where to hit him to get to him, and he softened further, talking so that only she could hear. He touched her face, lifting her chin so that she would face him.

"Resent? My queen, I have treated you far better than any other God would have dared. You come and go as you wish, no matter how much I wish you were here. I do not demand the fealty that my brothers do. In fact, I love your SPIRIT, young one. But you leave me, our bed...far too COLD far too often.Why should I deny my desires if you will not fulfill them? In any case, I take my leave of this...situation. Perhaps one day you will choose your lord over your servants."

Hades turns to leave, then doubles back. His eyes flash darkly as he shows a more sinister side.

"I see your ebony skinned champion has quite a bond with you. He has already killed one of my Minotaurs. If I find that he has taken <<<looks Persephone over>>> OTHER liberties I will tear him limb from limb.

Hades turns and walks away...

[Alice Cullen]

Haleigh let Nicolas take over with Morgan, as the others filed in. She breifly considered falling back into role... but who did they think they were kidding? there was no way to explain their actions away, they had ALL acted of their own accord, and it was best to just stand up and face it now. Morgan expressed anger towards Persephone for bringing them here... but Haleigh furrowed her brow, folded her arms across her chest, and shook her head, noticably opinionated.

"Morgan, NO. Persephone is NO happier than WE are that we're here.... and maybe you ought to consider that she didn't CREATE this place... she's a PRODUCT of it. Now we ALL regret leaving you here... but NOBODY would have done so if we thought you were in danger. She didn't think Hades would bother you.... [sighs] So she was wrong... she made a MISTAKE.... let's not relive it."

Haleigh looks around Hecate's chambers, exploring with her eyes, wondering to herself about the circumstances. She looks to Hecate.... rather boldly, for someone dressed as a chambermaid.... and without bothering with introductions, she shrugs and smiles, tossing her hair back.

"It's kind of.... surreal. [with a glint in her eyes] The difference between us isn't that big. What's curious... is NOT that you let the men make all the decisions, when they are CLEARLY unfit to do so... no.... that can be fixed quite EASILY.....what really floors me... is that you people have the ONE thing we would-- that we DO-- do anything for. And yet.... every god up there takes it for granted.... You have THE PEOPLE. they put you all up on a PEDASTEL. They PRAISE you... they make sacrifices in your NAME and they believe all the blessings in their lives are gifts from one or another of you.... You.... You could do ANYTHING.... and you.... you what? you SIT up there on Mount Olympus and revel in your own existance? you BASK in the brilliance of the respect, the GRATITUDE that your people heap on you.... whether it is deserved or NOT? and you FIGHT with each other.... [gives a perplexed laugh] how FLATTERING a FALSIFIED picture WE have painted of the lot of you."

She sits down, her hands on her knees, a confounded look in her eyes... a disbelieving smile on her lips. she looks up at Hecate, for answers, presumably, as she gestures to herself and her comrades.

"WE have to HIDE who we are. We FIGHT, we BLEED, we CRY... we endure HELL.... and we lose some of our MOST beloved.... we do this for OUR 'people'.... and yet.... if they KNEW who we are-- WHAT we are... they would CRUCIFY us. WE are as powerful as you... we are as STRONG.... we are MORE civilized....[sitting back] I just don't understand.... WHY do YOU have what we will never? Why do YOU get SO EASILY what WE deserve? Why does a man like ZEUS... a sniveling.... DISGRACEFUL... pitiful excuse for a WASTE of matter like HIM get the FREEDOM to just BE himself without fear of PERSECUTION? ANY of them, for that matter... sure... You seem to have some wits about you... Athena as well... and Persephone, of course... but how does the TRAMP Hades... the submissive Hera.... the pleading Aphrodite... How do THEY get the respect, the LOVE, even? How do they DESERVE it? Is it out of FEAR of their power? Because... where WE come from.... fear breeds HATE.... and people fear what they don't understand."

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Again, moving her face away from his touch, Persephone looked to her husband as he spoke. It was ridiculous what he was saying, but in his mind, his actions were justified. Shaking her head, at Hades' question, Persephone lifted her left hand up showing him her exquist now ruby colored (color changes at her command) wedding ring. ::

"Because i'm your wife. Although the perks of being Queen of the Underworld have been entertaining, I was still forced into this marriage by your Neanderthal of a brother. That will never change. So I suggest you take that in to consideration before you decide to play Lord and chamber maid again."

:: Moving to the side as he passed, Persephone watched him make his way down the hallway before he disappeared around a corner. Sighing out, Persephone walked over to Hecate's chamber doors and quietly opened them, hearing the majority of Haleigh's questions about why they (gods) were worshiped and loved while the six had to hide their identity. Closing the door behind her, Persephone's voice was softer now. It seemed like her tone was that of defeat about this entire situation. ::

"Because we created this world, Haleigh. Without Apollo there would be no sunrises in the mornings to give light to the day. As fickle as you may see her, without Aphrodite, you and Zach wouldn't feel the love that you feel for each other. It wouldn't exsist. Hecate has paved the way for modern day witches. My mother gave seasons and weather to a world that was bare and empty. You may see us as a group similar to the six that don't deserve the worship of the people, but we gave them what they could never create. That is why they love us AND fear us."

:: The six may not understand this time period, or like it for that matter, but this was the start of everything. The gods created the world the six live in today. They paved the way for what they could become. Yes there were distinct differences, but the reasons the gods were played up in history books the way they were was because there was no one like them before their time. ::

:: Turning to Hecate, Persephone gave her a small smirk before rolling her eyes playfully. ::

"I know, I have a lot to explain. But first..."

:: Embracing Hecate in a hug, this is the first time she had seen her friend in quite some time. ::

"It's wonderful to see you again."

[Alice Cullen]

Ava entered, giving some semblance of an explaination... one that quite obviously didnt satisfy Haleigh in the least. She crossed her legs at the knee, a challenging, sly smile on her face.

"Did you now? Or did you simply.... create Religion, opium of the masses? Come ON Perse.... I am a woman of SCIENCE. Evoluton.... Natural Selection, that sort of thing. You know what I think? I think you all PICKED things that resembled your powers... things that people couldn't explain... and you took credit for them. Maybe you put on a little magic show... and what choice did they have but to believe? to have faith? [chuckles] Oh, you'll find nothing but a skeptic here.... I lost my faith a long time ago."

She said, as she seemed to slip back into thought while Persephone gave Hecate a hug.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Pulling away from Hecate, Haleigh began to question everything as usual. ::

"Believe what you may, Haleigh. You always do regardless of what others say."

:: Persephone said as she sighed out, annoyed with how Haleigh always had to challenge everything. Even now in a world that she has been in for less than a few hours. It was in her nature, true, but some things couldn't be explained and should simply be accepted. But hell--and her beautiful home--would freeze over before that happened with her sister. ::

:: Turning her attention to Hecate, Persephone gestured toward the six. ::

"As you can tell by Haleigh's loud mouth, they aren't from this time line. Technically neither am I."

:: A little sisterly jab at Haleigh, Persephone meant no harm by her comment. ::

"We've traveled back in time from the year 2007. Hecate, meet the six. Nicolas, Delilah, Alison, Haleigh, and Morgan."

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah's head turned to Haleigh as she spoke, then she took a step back. Was this it? Was this why Haleigh seemed to be struggling so with her emotions about the team? The thanklessness, the running, the hiding who she was. It was getting to her. How could they have not seen it before?

Persephone entered the room. And of course had to exacerbate the situation.

She sat down next to Haleigh and tentatively put an arm around her shoulders. It was all she could think to do. She whispered softly. ]

"They would thank us if they knew. If they really knew."

[ She smiled, then looked up at Persephone as she introduced them to Hecate. ]

"Thank god - I don't have to call you 'my lady' anymore..."

[Rampage]

Nicolas stood next to Morgan, arms folded as he tried to calm down. He knew that even though Hecate knew that Hades did not and it may be important for him to compartmentalize his animosity. As Haleigh vented about the Greek gods vs. the Six, he realized that it was yet another level on which Haleigh felt outcast. He nodded and smiled after she made her "science" comment in spite of himself.

"This coming from someone who can do what you can do, and has seen what you have seen? Amazing..."

Nicolas nodded again as he was re-introduced to Hecate. The fact that Morgan regarded him in a better light for the moment did nothing to diminish Hecate's beauty...

[Jill Monroe]

thank the goddess you're all here, Delilah. This has been a LESS than happy time for me.

<< Morgan embraced Delilah and Alison, her surrogate sisters. Never had she been more glad to see them until now. She DESPISED this period and saw nothing "mysterious" or "romantic" about the age of antiquity. How Persephone managed to exist here she will never know...but there was one thing..one PERSON that kept her from totally dismissing this timeline as a period of rampant savages...the woman who stood across the room watching them all with a knowing glare...Hecate.>>

<< she turned and surprisingly hugged NICOLAS as well in a warm embrace, whispering in his ear>>

its not often that I can feel and appreciate the gentility of a man. thank you Nicolas.

<< Morgan was afraid she might have damaged whatever "cover" they were trying to maintain but Persephone soon entered the room, slowly closing the doors behind her. Hades must have been sent on his way and Morgan was MORE than a little agitated with Persephone at the moment. She waited though, seeing as Persephone was now introducing the team to Hecate, the goddess of witch craft.>>

<< as she turned to face Persephone and Hecate, Morgan wasnt sure how to address this woman from whom she descended. She nodded slowly. but she DID look at Persephone.>>

Thanks << she said flatly>> for leaving me alone in the castle with a perverted MAD MAN. Your hospitality has been so GREAT. I don't know when i've EVER had such a WONDERFULL TIME!

<< her voice dripped with agitation. She had no idea what drama Persephone and the team had been through with HALEIGH before, as she had taken to bed shortly after that and while she knew they were here for a purpose, in MORGAN'S mind..things did appear to suggest that she'd been "left to the wolves" in more than one way by Persephone. Morgan wouldnt have done this to HER in their timeline, or in LIMBO.>>

[Hecate]

[ Hecate folded her arms as she stood back from the group, resting her weight on one heel.]

how amusing they are. and CLEARLY their little charade has been smashed to dust. the bond of this team runs almost as deep as its dysfunction.

[ Her golden eyes fixed upon Alison and Morgan the mystical auras around them shined so brightly, beacons in a field of grey. while the others among them had an interesting energy signature due to their mutations, the WITCHES called out to Hecate like light to a moth. these were HER children.]

[Persephone entered. Hades was gone and Hecate was glad not to have to look upon him again. and now Persephone and Hecate embraced.]

It is good to see you again as well. Everytime you arrive, something interesting happens. You make SURE that I'm never bored for long.

[as they pulled from their mutual embrace, Hecate looked upon Persephone.]

You've been up to something. I can see it clearly. there've been changes in you...enhancements. how ELSE would you have been so bold as to front of ATHENA?

[ As Persephone acknowledged that she had much to explain, she began by introducing...]

"The Six...."

[Her eyes met with each person as their names were called. Nicolas radiated of strength and vitality. Alison and Morgan were beauty and power personified, Delilah had an angelic countenance, her natural luminescence only added to her beauty and finally there was Haleigh, although very beautifull, her sharp tongue and abrasive personality drew more attention at the moment.]

I was wondering when you'd explain these individuals. Anyone can clearly see that they are not of this time... [looking at Haleigh] or even of this world perhaps.

[Hecate sensed the hybrid nature of Haleigh. and as the young woman descredited magick for SCIENCE, Hecate interrupted her.]

Foolish child, MAGICK is what inspired men to REACH for your vaunted SCIENCE...in their struggle to understand that which was BEYOND their feeble, MORTAL MINDS. You are in a place where nature and magick SUPERCEED "science"...a method that is still in its INFANCY.

[ she stepped forward.]

Just WHY are you all here?

[Walking among them and finally reaching Morgan and Alison.]

and why do YOU two hide yourselves in sevants clothes and robes that clearly do not suit you? you are of MY BLOOD, your magick calls out to me! do not shrink BACK before ANYONE in this timeline...INCLUDING that boar Hades!

[turning to Persephone, Hecate spoke with a bit of a disappointed tone, but not condemning.]

really, persphone. you could have treated these two better.

[ looking at Nicolas]

and THIS one...he belongs in my personal chambers... at ALL times :fdevil:


[ She reached for Morgan's hand.]

You, my child, are in a world of pain and distress. try as you may hide it. what or WHOM has vexed you so?

[ Hecate had no idea..YET ...what had happened to Morgan and the others just prior to theier arrival here. that was part of the explanation that Persephone owed her.]

[Harbinger]

::Inside of Hecate's chambers, Alison went to her friend and embraced her along with Delilah. the sisterly bond between these three was something that not everyone in the six (past or present) seemed to appreciate..but it was there just the same.::

Delilah's right. if anyone tries ANYTHING ..they have to deal with ALL of us this time.

:: Morgan had a moment of tenderness with Nicolas. Alison knew that it was just a matter of time before they came closer together. the love that was bound to blossom between them couldnt be stopped by time OR circumstance. Nicolas, despite his almost INSIPID gentility, had thus prooven to be the best man for Morgan in ANY timeline and Alison was GLAD that the events of late had not damaged Morgan's fondness of him beyond repair.::

:: Alison turned to see Hecate watching them like a hawk but not speaking. the goddess knew very well they were not who they pretended to be and Alison was waiting for the moment to come as Persephone finally came in, looking rather weary from her exchange with Hades.::

:: she introduced them to Hecate and Alison nodded respectfully. this was the woman whose name she had often invoked...standing before her! it was unbelievable.::

:: Hecate and Persephone had a bond that seemed simillar to the bond that Morgan shared with delilah or Alison. it was nice to see Persephone ENJOYING her interactions with one of her fellow goddesses for a change and clearly she was more at ease.::

:: Hecate corrected Haleigh almost immediately when the woman spoke so casually of science superceeding Magick. would Haleigh be foolish enough to anger a woman who was LEGENDARY for her ruthless, "grudge bearing" persona?::

:: Hecate moved among the team, calling them out, demanding to know why they were there , expressing the visual appeal of nicolas and immediately reached out to Morgan and Alison as her "daughters".::

to behold the goddess whose name i have invoked for years...to feel your presence. it is an honor.

:: Alison spoke with soft tone and serenity. she felt comforted by Hecate where as she had felt HOPELESS and at a loss in the presence of Circe.::

[Alice Cullen]

Haleigh stares, somewhat dejectedly, as Morningstar offers her an awkward but well-meant embrace.

"Oh, really? Are you willing to TEST that theory out with me? Because somehow... I just don't think they could understand."

Morgan and Alison introduced themselves to Hecate, as Nicolas expressed some surprise at Haleigh's comments. Shortly thereafter, Hecate made a response of her own, and Haleigh realized that she hadn't come across the way she'd intended, which prompted an amused laugh and a soft shake of her head.

"No, I think you misunderstood me. It's not MAGICK I'm talking about here.... trust me, I BELIEVE in magick... hell, I've been KILLED by it, I KNOW it's real.... it's FAITH I have my conflict with. Whether you'd like to admit it or NOT... yours is a world built on faith. It would be quite different around here if the hoi polloi didnt believe you ARE who you say you are.... and for the rugrat [Persephone] here to tell me that YOU gods created the WORLD.... i'm gonna have to take that one with a grain of salt."

[Hecate]

[ Looking among the group once more, her eyes came to restat Delilah and Nicolas again for a bit, the goddess of witchcraft was intrigued by them both. strong, vital, intelligent and powerfull....not like the typical mortals of this time. what was it LIKE where they came from?]


[Hecate looks upon Haleigh once again. the woman was bold and outspoken and not afraid to stand her ground BUT sometimes she apparently didnt know when to reign herself in. It reminded her of at least one other person from Olympus. Haleigh explained her position, and Hecate SURPRISINGLY understood.]

I care very little about "faith" or followers. That is something the more pretentious gods on Olympus seemed concerned with. I am no fool, i know that with the passage of time will come new sensbilities, new ideas and even new faiths to follow.

[ holding up a hand, a sparkling corona forms around it.]

I am not "in it" for the piety of mortals. I have a special rapport with the women of earth who have an affinity for the arts arcane, to show them how to ENHANCE their feminine powers and in turn make their world better for them.

[ looking to Morgan and Alison, still holding Morgan's hand]

and THESE are two prime examples of what i HOPED would come of my relationship with the women of Earth.

But from this one

[ touching Morgan's cheek gently]

i sense a great strain, a tremendous wound inflicted upon your soul. your power fluxuates. its as though you have just emerged from a malestrom of fury beyond your control.

[ Hecate had no idea just how RIGHT ON she was and she was still waiting on Persephone to explain all this.]

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah just looked sadly at Haleigh. She hadn't gotten her point, and she'd lashed out, but Delilah couldn't fault her. She sighed. She wanted to help her team mate, but she feared she never really would be able to. If they'd had the relationship that Delilah and Morgan had - or Alison and Morgan had - maybe. Maybe if Persephone and Haleigh could work out their problems...

She turned her eyes back to Hecate. She was like Morgan...but there was something, something different about her. She was harder somehow, and as much as Morgan would like to think she was stone cold, she had a good heart. Delilah wasn't sure that she and Hecate would have been friends were she and Morgan switched. She certainly wasn't Ororo. But if Hecate could do something to help Morgan, if being near to her gave Morgan some relief, Delilah was not about to stand in her way. But it was up to Morgan whether she wanted to share what had happened to her - it was not Delilah's pain to reveal.

Her eyes flicked to Persephone. ]

"So...what do we do now?"

[Harbinger]

:: it was clear to Alison that Haleigh was still having a hard adjustment reaction. Alison had been in that position not too long ago but handled it much better. she tried to be as "business oriented" as she could be, but every so often, her "human" side showed just like Morgan's. But here was Hecate, a woman who seemed TRULY stone cold. even her interactions with Persephone didnt do much to take away from her steely persona.::

:: but inspite of that, Both Alison and Morgan felt comforted by her presence and at least the six could be THEMSELVES in front of this goddess. there was the sense that she could see the bigger picture. could she be a precog as well and just choosing to let the six fill in the blanks as a way of testing their honesty? there was no way to know the entire scope of hecate's powers at this point or what she truly knew. but Alison DID foresee Hecate lending a helping hand...even as the hour of her betrayal grew closer and closer.::

:: so many "moments" flashed in front of Alison's "seeing eye" she had to struggle to maintain her focus. she wanted to just blurt out everything but it was better for Persephone to share with Hecate the news of Circe.::

We've come from a time centuries after this one, Hecate. One in which magick has found an uneasy truce at best with science and technology. There ARE witches who still invoke your name in our time and we had long known that Morgan was a direct descendant of yours...that is but ONE part of why we are here now.

[Rampage]

Nicolas simply listened as the ladies before him started to reveal what they knew. He had a hand on Morgan's back in an attempt to reassure her as he waited. He knew that there was going to be more tribulations before this was all done, so he decided it would be just as good to enjoy the model-quality scenery for now, take in the relative goodwill, and wait for what was to come. As Persephone introduced them to Hecate, he winked at her as she caught his gaze. The opportunity to flirt with a goddess was too much to resist, especially since Seph seemed in no mood EVER for his playfulness.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Growing utterly tired of EVERYTHING and everyone at this point, Persephone folded her arms across her chest as she rested her back a gainst Hecate's door. Shaking her head as Morgan blamed Persephone for Hades attacking her, the goddess pursed her lips together to keep from saying something she would regret. Maybe if Morgan had stayed PUT, she wouldn't have been attacked. But perhaps that was asking way too much for the overly confident little witch. Morgan was getting under her skin, and of course, now Hecate had to chime in saying she could have treated them better? This was becoming ridiculous already. ::

"What exactly would you have me do, Hecate? Introduce them as my friends from the twenty first centery? And oh, by the way, they're mutant, witches, and hybrids as well. I did what I thought was best to protect them."

:: Snapping coldly, Persephone pushed her weight off the door. Her headache was growing worse by the minute, and her friends weren't helping. Walking over to a large armoire, Persephone opened it revealing shelves of vials of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. She couldn't exactly grab an asprine in this timeline, so she'd settle for one of Hecate's potions that would relax her, and hopefully help with her headache. ::

:: Scanning the vials, even though Persephone wasn't a witch, being associated with Hecate she knew a thing or two about potions. What was dangerous and what wasn't. But as Persephone was scanning the various vials, Haleigh of course had to put her two sense in as well. Maybe Persephone could find a potion that would glue Haleigh's mouth shut. Rolling her eyes as she reached for a small blue vial, Persephone took the cork off while responding to her 'sister'. ::

"I didn't say we CREATE the world, Haleigh. Listen for once in your life; I said we helped shape the world. Huge difference, sweetheart."

:: Downing the contents of the vial, the liquid burned her throat much like hard liqour would. Wincing the discomfort away, Persephone placed the cork back on the vial before placing it back in the amoire and closing it. Turning around, Hecate began to ask the right questions about why and how they got here. ::

"Circe. Your crone has been abusing your powers over the red moon. She kidnaped Pandora and is holding her on her island. She wants to steal her box, open it, destory everything, and have her little pets roam over whats left while she basks in her newly aquired power."

:: Quick little summary of what was going on in their time line. It was apparent to the six that Persephone was far more abrassive than she usually was. Hecate wouldn't see much of a difference, in fact she'd probably see Persephone as being much less hostile than she usually was (for their timeline). Either way, this entire caper was beginning to ware on the goddess. She was slowly getting to the end of her rope with not only the situation, but the six as well. ::

[Hecate]

[ Hecate was taken aback. Someone abusing HER...her POWER? Kidnapping Pandora? using it to facilitate the destruction of the Earth?]

[ she looked in Persephone in disbelief, and for once, she was at a loss for words. how could Persephone just relay this information with such a nonchalant tone?? there were MANY details obviously missing and it was clear that Persephone HERSELF was weary right now.]

[ after looking rather stunned, she turned to the group of the six. ]

leave us.

[ she gestured for them to leave and quickly. looking at Morgan and Alison.]

I will want to speak with you two later. but for now, Persephone and I have MUCH to discuss. Do not worry about Hades. He will not come near Morgan again.

[ She knew that Morgan was plenty powerfull and would defend herself, not to mention that her team, her FAMILY would defend her tooth and nail as well but still..there was something about Morgan that called out to Hecate, like a wounded child crying for its mother. it was something that HAD to be addressed but first, Hecate needed more information.]

[ as Rampage passed Hecate, she stooped him as well.]

just a minute!

[ she walked over to him, and slowly walked around him, surveying the strong young man and his beautifull body. she kept a serious look about her as she inspected him and then stopped in front of him, looking him in his eyes. He was taller than her, but not towering over her. after a moment of what seemed to be forever glaring at him, Hecate RIPPED off his chest plate to expose his bare chest.]

from now on, you must remain like THIS. your body is too beautifull to hide and you have no reason to pretend around ME anymore, young one.

[ she smirked]

and dont worry, I know who you are soon to be betrothed to. Think of me as a PREVIEW of what you will enjoy in YOUR timeline.

[running her hand down his chest before turning him and ushering him along with the others.]

no go. all of you while Persephone and I talk.

[ she saw them out of the double doors and closed them behind her. turning to look at Persephone before she walked away from the doors.]


PERSEPHONE? [ Hecate bellowed] there's MORE to this than what you're telling me. Your very demeanor tells me that much.

[ she came over to her friend and took her hand.]

You are as weary and shaken as Morgan. WHAT is happening? or what is it that WILL happen? I need to know!

[ Hecate sensed that she was to be used and betrayed yet AGAIN...only this time it was by her supposedly most prized and promising disciple CIRCE!?]

[Oracle]

<< the members of the six were dismissed abruptly by Hecate, who seemed MORE than shocked by Persephone's announcement of Circe abusing HER power and destroying the world with Pandora's box. But she also saw the weariness in her friend's eyes..her SPIRIT, it was similar to that of Morgan's.>>

<< with the doors shut, Rampage, Guardian, Spellbinder, MorningStar and Black Widow were now out in the hall. if nothing else, at least they could all BREATHE again and be THEMSELVES in the safety of Persephone's castle. Morgan was awake and active and the team was now together again. it was time for them to help EACH OTHER now.>>


<< secrets and revelations would be shared between the goddesses while the mutants and witches were now granted this opportunity to REMEMBER that they were a team..a FAMILY and they needed to start ACTING like one now more than ever.>>

<< the team seemed to move with silent direction...making their way through the halls and back to the Great Room, this time they could afford to be more comfortable and in the silence around them...there was nothing for them to do BUT acknowledge each other...and talk.>>

[Rampage]

Hecate took control of the meeting, eyes widening at the thought of her pupil causing so much harm. Sh e ordered the Six out and, considering her advocacy of them all, Rampage was quietly obliging until she stopped him. Dead in his tracks. She began to circle him, her gaze calm and even. But even as his TK washed over her form, he noticed that her heartbeat much was quicker than normal parameters. He stood even and proud as she finished her inspection, then tore away Hades' chestplate from him!

As she addressed him concerning his body, he stretched and flexed, glad to be rid of the thing. As she offered him a "preview", he smirked back at her, imaginig what pleasures a goddess could offer.

She then gently pointed him out and he exited with his team, knowing that much needed to be done and they were still nowhere fast. But at least they had a "home base" of sorts, to talk frankly and plan their next moves.

But first things first. He walked up to Morgan.

"Can we talk a moment?"

[Jill Monroe]

<< as Morgan huffed out loud, she wrapped her arms around her trim waist and looked out of one of the many windows to the flowing, boiling lake of lava and fire.>>

what an interesting addition to Limbo THIS would make

<< she thought. The Underworld was similar to Limbo in many ways. she wondered why Persephone didnt use it as her own personal dimension the way SHE did with Limbo.>>

<< everyone was now in the Great Room, there was silence among them and no one seemed too quick to offer any converation. Morgan had missed the happenings on Mt. Olympus and she still couldnt really believe she was now in the same space with Hecate LIVE. she was a little irritated, but that feeling was subsiding just as Nicolas approached her.>>

<< he asked if they could talk. indeed they had had little time since their first attempt at a date the night her mother was attacked and with all that had happened, Morgan had gone through moments where she was utterly repulsed by Nicolas simply for his being a MAN. It wasnt his fault...it was her demons from the past..namely her father. HE had not been there for the first caper that brought the six together and he didnt know what kind of horror her father had subject her and Blaze to.>>

<< Barbara Minerva was still on Spellbinder's mind, as was Circe. vengeance churned in her heart and Nicolas actually broke her vengefull daydream as she stared out to the lake of molten lava.>>

<< in an icy voice..>>

....sure, we can talk.

<< she looked over to Alison.>>

i...we'll be just down that hall if you need us, Alison.

<< with a nod from the seer, Morgan walked ahead, leading the way to a more private area in a grand hallway.>>

What's on your mind, Nicolas?

<< she took a seat, wrapping her robe tightly around herself as she crossed her legs at the knee.>>

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian offered no objections as Hecate demanded that they leave. In this case, it was a necessary thing. She joined the others in the hall way and almost immediately began to remove some of her "costume"....already tired of it DESPITE how beautifull it was.::

:: they made their way down to the great room and Morgan excused herself and Nicolas to privacy in another hall. Alison watched them leave before turning to Haleigh and Delilah.::

The worst is yet to come, ladies.

:: she said coldly::

Athena churns with suspicion. she's almost certain that we are not of this time or this world as they perceive it. Her hatred of Persephone has allowed her to come up with SEVERAL strategies to bring Persephone to death in painfull ways. I see an outside force...possibly Circe...FACILITATING a confrontation between US and the gods/goddesses. Persephone is in physical danger. We need to prepare...

:: turning to Haleigh::

and we need to GET OURSELVES TOGETHER!

:: she took a seat as well in a large, plush throne like chair.::

[Rampage]

Nicolas followed Morgan to the seat she had found. he did not sit, however, as he thought of a way to proceed verbally. he looked at her, then squatted down so that they were eye to eye, speaking slowly in his deep baritone.

"I am sorry that I was not more help before...or in many of these situations. To see you regard me as an enemy was heartbre... <<deep breath>> anyway I am glad you feel a bit better. I have ways to help you, but the fundamental issue is that in order for that to happen, trust is required."

Nicolas looked away a bit as he continued.

"I am not certain how you feel about...regard me as a teammate and a friend. I cannot force you to trust me. But I know that I can soothe your mind mentally, if you ever would need that. But in order for it to happen, you would have to "let" me in mentally. In any case, I am concerned that you do require some assistance. If you decide that you could...trust me enough to let me inside...er, in your MIND, I will do all I can to help you. The choice, Morgan, is yours."

Normally authoritative and sure with his words, why was Nicolas so sheepish, so childish around THIS woman? He was practically DARING Hecate to open her legs and constantly verbally toyed with Haleigh but this one...her approval meant too much. Nicolas stood and waited for her response...

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan's icy violet eyes were firmly fixed on Nicolas and she felt her body pushing even FURTHER back into the seat as Nicolas squated down to meet her at eye level. She didnt WANT to react this way, but he was...a MAN! He was physically STRONGER than even HER. She wanted to give in to the irrational fears of him attacking her, hurting her and HER somehow not being able to stop him! but she FOUGHT to keep herself in check and NOT give into that irrational thinking process.>>

<< the man was VERY genuine and he meant well. but sometimes it was almost TOO MUCH. The other women of the Six had said that before but in Morgan's case...there was a relief that someone that looked like HIM..and had the resources HE did would be thoughtfull enough to know the value of gentility.>>


<< she looked down for a moment, closing her eyes in a slow blink. his honestly was refreshing and despite his close proximity to her, she no longer felt fear or repulsion.>>

<< he wanted her to OPEN UP to him!? her Psi Screen was one of her most basic and yet more VITAL defenses. it kept telepaths and other psychics OUT and made it next to IMPOSSIBLE for her to be possessed or faced into servitude against her will. To let HIM in?? Morgan's eyes widened at his mentioning of this. >>

Nicolas...my psi screen...its my ultimate protection. It has kept me safe from people like Malice and all those who would have seen my mind destroyed in their service.

<< she looked away for a moment and dwelled on it. Ororo had trusted HER when she took her under her wing in Limbo and what about she and Haleigh? THEY had formed a bond of trust between themselves and t hat was one of the most unlikely things to come out of the Six to date.>>

<< she looked back at nicolas and slowly exhaled.>>

My mother and Ororo have always taught me the value of trust....If i could dare to trust Haleigh, then I suppose i can do the same with you. After everything that's happened....

<< she shook her head. her mind was weary and she didnt want to go over it again.>>

I'll allow you past my psi screen but do NOT betray this act of trust Nicolas...

<< she breathed out again, as she straightened up in her seat and gave her hands to Nicolas. in a few moments, he would be able to reach into her guarded psyche.>>

[Oracle]

<< Rampage would find the world around her spinning and sparkling as one reality gave way to another. the barriers of Morgan's psi screen opened at her command and he was now able to enter her mind. it was a dreamy , "crystaline" expanse....cold and serenly silent with echoes of memories that floated all around like sparkling eldritch orbs containing the general image of the memories.>>

<< chimes could be heard in the air as Morgan's own voice was all around Nicolas.>>

Spellbinder: i no longer have to use words.

<< her voice flowed in the sparkling winds around him as he would move forward, until finally, to HIS surprise he would be caught up in a malestrom of wind...orbs circling his astral form and carrying him off into HER memories, her feelings, and the sensations that came with those memories.>>


<< he would see: Christopher Victory, her FATHER and the hatred that she felt for him. a montage of him terrorizing her and and Karen before they joined forces to banish him from their lives.

men cannot be trusted


<< Morgan and Blaze when they were younger, both members of the london based team Valiant. Morgan was beautifull and BRUTAL. she was far more vicious than s he is now. The men on her team often called her a bitch but she knew more than a few of them WANTED her. Nicolas would see flashes of the fatal battle with the other dimensional creature BLACK...he would feel her anguish, her screams as she lay badly hurt while he seemingly KILLED Blaze!>>

men cannot be trusted



<<Morgan's first meeting with Alexis Quatermaine, Haleigh Davidoff, Cameron King and the night she found out Blaze was alive. He would experience her memories of the NIGHTMARES as she joined Alison and the others in a desperate attempt to rescue blaze from the abuse of Christopher Victory and Mystech and save the city from certain destruction. the formation of The Six>>

CHRISTOPHER VICTORY!! MEN CANNOT BE TRUSTED!


<< the bitter hatred for cameron and haleigh...it was so powerfull it would make Nicolas sick! her LOSS OF CONTROL as she succumbed to the darkness in her soul as she MURDERED Haleigh and catalyzed the INFERNO! it was like an INSANE roller coaster ride of fury and chaos...Nicolas would have to STRUGGLE to maintain himself as he saw through her eyes the HORRORS that she rained down on NYC. Her battle with the members of the Six, Karen and Ororo as they attempted to STOP her from murdering Cameron! the moment when SHE struck down BLAZE with the soul sword, seemingly killing her AGAIN!>>

CAMERON KING!! MEN CANNOT BE TRUSTED

<< Delilah Trelevan returning to Illustra and joining the team, the HAPPINESS that Morgan felt. images of Helena Quartermain, Alexis' evil aunt, the Red Queen of Mystech. Sharon Kelly, Alycia Barnett, Erika King.>>

<< the caper at NERVOUS, when the Six FINALLY functioned as a team. The SUPER SOLDIER...Morgan and Alison FIGHTING HIM with all their power and Alison being IMPALED as Morgan was hit so hard, her jaw was shattered and she lay half dead on the floor.>>

<< the constant feeling of violation at the hands of men>>

<< A new found friendship with HALEIGH, the sense of relief and accompishment. MASTER MOLD! Alycia and Sharon! Morgan rushes to save them and is struck down by Master Mold..HELPLESS as Sharon Kelly DIES. the feeling of determination rises up as she SACRIFICES HERSELF to save her team, alycia and the city by pushing Master Mold through the seige perilous and perishing WITH Master Mold...DESPITE Haleigh's valiant efforts to save her!>>

<< there is nothing but BLACKNESS all around, EMPTYNESS as she floats in a place OUTSIDE of time, OUTSIDE of LIMBO even. she is barely aware of herself until a twist of time and space (with help from Darkchilde and Persephone) allows her to COME BACK to her friends her FAMILY with some new faces...including Nicolas. it was during this time that she was child like and disoriented.>>

<< many of the images and memories and thoughts he would see after this point were familiar to Nicolas as he was apart of most of them. but he would ALSO see the well hidden "tenderness" that Morgan had for him. her WANT to trust him, and to maybe even LOVE HIM. but even as he caught a glimpse of that...a gust of wind would sweep him away from that.>>

<< there were images, memories and feelings for Karen and Ororo. Nicolas could feel warmth, comfort and joy when he experienced moments from Morgan's childhood with her mother and with Ororo.>>

<< images and ideas from her thoughts and dreams, both those of a lighter OR darker nature could be seen. Morgan had a vengefull mind and heart and she could NOT tolerate abuse or betrayal from a man. one t hing was clear to Nicolas now....thanks to men like Christopher Victory, Adam Chandler (Alexis' father), Cameron King, BLACK, the super soldier and more...her hatred and distrust of men was almost PRIMAL but there was HOPE....a glimmer of feeling that she had for HIM whenever he saw images of HIMSELF in her mind.>>


<< but there was ALSO a sense of weariness and pain images of CIRCE came swirling into view and EVERYTHING changed. it became a dark, churning, stormy place with screams of protest and PAIN. the images of Circe seemed so warped and demonic and jagged bolts of lightning struck out at them...a sign of morgan's desier to see her dead. Nicolas could feel Morgan reflexively wanting to push him OUT now...Circe had HURT her...the next best thing to RAPING her and what was ironic was that SHE WAS A WOMAN.>>

<< Nicolas could see that this pain was poised to over take Morgan and cause her to CHANGE again...as Haleigh had said earlier....they might very well have another "Inferno" on their hands.>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas saw that she was a bit intimidated by his proximity, but he vowed that he needed to make this stand. He was gratified as she relented, agreeing to allow him to enter her mind! Morgan's warning duly noted,Nicolas closed his eyes as he held her outstretched hands, willing himself inside the psi-screen she had so carefully tended yet laid open for him at this point. It was mentally like opening a vault and walking inside an unknown expanse.

He could see that her mind was compartmentalized to a degree, much more ordered than he expected. In small orbs memories were contained, many of them pleasant enough. There had to be more to this yet Morgan's mind seemed serene enough at first glance. Morgan spoke to him one last time, her voice omnidirectional in this realm. He moved with her voice as winds began to pick up, suddenly carrying him along, much more chaotic than he had anticipated given the quiet beginning.

No wonder Morgan is so unpredictable at times. It is almost like she has an angry mind wandering inside this serene one. If I am not careful, this could be a real problem.

Nicolas relaxed as the maelstorm carried him along, paying close attention to the lessons learned from the images. He recoiled at the terrible relationship she had with her father. The anger, pain, and hatred were enough to infect a weaker psyche, but he stayed centered, determined to bear witness to what had happened so that he could assist. He felt bile in his throat as he watched the later scenes. The depravity of the men around her, and the growing hatred that ate at her, the distrust of men that echoed as the bassline to this chaotic opera.

"Men Cannot Be Trusted....Men Cannot Be Trusted... Men Cannot Be Trusted"

At the center of the storm was the Darkchilde, not simply a power set or a persona to be utilized by Morgan, but a defense. A way to become stronger than ANY man, to stop the pain of violation that she felt at the hands of men. To stop the ogling eyes, the nasty words, the pain of deceit and betrayal and assault. The danger was Darkchilde as a part of her threatened to BE her, to consume the rest of Morgan and upset the balance in her mind, in her soul. In that situation, she threatened to be both nearly unstoppable...and utterly unredeemable.

Next was the imagery he had seen from the Master Mold Caper, from the death of Senator Kelly. She had sacrificed herself for everyone, determined that no one else would die at his hand.

After that, he saw as she came back to the team, a team that included him. Strangely, for no real reason, she felt ...differently about him than other men she had known.

In fact, he could not find a valued male. Not ONE. Not a boyfriend, lover, acquaintance, save for one. HIMSELF. Morgan's life was an example of a woman experiencing the WORST that the opposite sex had to offer.

In fact, even at the latest affront from Circe, she experienced it in a way that her past experience helped exacerbate. The pain of it was not unlike a rape, not unlike what she was sure many men around her wanted to do to her on a daily basis. Her lack of balance at the center of her psyche was causing this latest attack to cascade, snowballing into what could be an all-out surrender to the Darkchilde, despite her calm demeanor at the moment Nicolas had to act, and fast!!!

Morgan, at this point, was trying to eject him, resisting his presence in her realm. As the winds pushed him towards the door, the telepath reached out with both hands. A chain flew from each hand out into the maelstorm of distrust. With each chain, he had a memory attached that he had plucked from his own psyche. On his right hand, he sent an orb to match the others. This orb contained the meeting with Ororo and the battle with Malice for Karen Victoria. She would know the pain and suffering he endured for someone who he did not know, the desperation he felt as he battled to save her. With this orb he sent out a chant of his own, to go with the one already playing.

"Some men CAN be trusted. By their deeds you will know them...Some men CAN be trusted. By their deeds you will know them."


With his left hand, he sent out a different orb. This one contained fleeting memories that her subconscious had ignored. It had a picture of Big Mike, who was as tough as they come except with her, and who did his job well, but clearly was as good as gold. It also had various security officers in the building, men who treated her with respect at all times, and courtesy and courage that was beyond their job description in many cases. Had she forgotten that many male security personnel died trying to defend them when Illustra was attacked by Dire Wraiths? Or that men fought alongside them valiantly against the horrors of Circe, even when comrades around them perished? She had not. They simply had no basis to grow in her mind the idea that men COULD be good. Nicolas was not here to subjugate what she had been taught; his purpose at this time was to anchor her psyche and plant a seed in her mind that would help to keep the distrust she felt from becoming full psychic decay, to bring her more balance. To this end, he connected all the positive memories she had of men together, in order to anchor her center from the maelstorm, and he gave her one last orb that bobbed lazily through the winds that buffeted him and sat at the the middle of this expanse next to the hope she had been nurturing in her heart.

In this orb was a paradise scene. Morgan was walking on a beach on a private island, unclothed and uncaring. Next to her was Nicolas, tall and strong, maybe even a bit bigger than he was now. He was equally unclad and walked beside her holding her hand as they watched the sun set on the horizon. There was no Christopher Victory, no Cameron King, no Master Mold, no Super Soldier, No Valiant. Just them, laughing and enjoying one another. It was so pure, so beautiful, so perfect.

Next to the glimmer of hope Nicolas found in Morgan's psyche, Nicolas had laid hopes of his own. He blew a kiss that fluttered like a butterfly in this landscape, turned and exited.

Nicolas breathed in heavily as he left Morgan's mind. He stood still, waiting to see how much help he had been, looking into her eyes for acknowledgement of what had occurred.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Hecate's voice rang strong and authoritatively as she asked the six to leave her chambers. Not a moment too soon in Persephone's eyes, her serotonin levels were sky rocketing at the moment, and she was at her wits end with everything and everyone. Rubbing her fingers along the bridge of her nose, Hecate commanding Nicolas to stop caught the goddess attention. Looking up, Hecate began to survey and rub her hands all over Nicolas. Rolling her eyes casually, leave it to Hecate to cop a feel in the middle of a crisis. Normally Persephone would find it humorous, but right now, she really had no feelings about anything. ::

:: Moving past Hecate's four post king sized bed, Nicolas finally exited the room just as she made her way to the large windows overlooking a beautiful waterfall of lava. Persephone used to come here all the time back in her time line. It was her home for centuries. A place she still, to this day, 'reigns' over. But since becoming apart of the six, she had yet to visit. Perhaps if they survived this mission, she'd make a more conscious effort to do so. ::

:: Hearing Hecate bellow her name and approach her, Persephone turned to her old friend. Immediately her hands were taken in a comforting act. Hecate knew something was wrong. Looking at her with weary eyes, Persephone sighed out softly and sat down on the hand crafted chase that was placed near the window. Hecate's questioned what was wrong and what was going on. With her hands still holding onto her friends, she looked to Hecate ready to give her the FULL version of what was happening. ::

"Circe is to blame for all of this. You would be proud of her; she became everything you expected her to become and more. Her powers are great, but she became greedy. She kidnaped Pandora from a very dear friend of mine who was looking after her. Pandora is being held on Circe's island in my time line as we speak. Circe wants to take Pandora's box and open it, allowing the world to basically implode so she can reign over what’s left."

:: Pausing for a moment, Persephone inhaled a deep breath preparing to start from the very beginning. She needed to give Hecate every ounce of information. ::

"I was called to Greece for business. While there, I was attacked by a bestamorph. My dear friend that I was telling you about, Barbara Minvera, helped me out and took me back to her estate to explain what was happening. That's when she told me about Pandora and Circe, and how she was holding the box for safe keeping. At that time, the six had traveled from our home base in New York City, to Athens because they knew something was going on. But, what I didn't realize was all of Athens was being effected by the Red Moon, via Circe. Once leaving Barbara's estate, the six were already drunk off the moon's effects by the time I met up with them. And Circe's bestamorphs were already in the process of attacking Barbara to get to the box. By the time we arrived to help Barbara, her men were already being slaughtered, and she was severely hurt. The six retreated back into Barbara's estate while I continued to fight Circe, giving them time to get to the lower level panic room. Finally, I retreated to the estate as well...."

:: Pausing, Persephone looked away from Hecate and retracted her hands from her friend. ::

"Circe began to destroy Barbara's estate....through Morgan. She was using her body as a conductor for Circe's powers. That's why she's so shaken right now......During my meeting with Barbara, she had given me a medallion that would 'help me when the time was right'. Well, the medallion transported the six from the estate before it was incinerated, and we arrived here, in this time line."

:: Stopping completely, Persephone's eyes were blankly staring at the floor. It was clear that she was upset about something, even though her face didn't express it. ::

"Barbara wasn't with us. I can only assume she died in the explosion.....She was a good woman. A good friend. You would of liked her. She was strong and independent. Always prepared and never one to underestimate. She was my last link to my old life...."

:: Her last statement would confuse Hecate considering she didn't know about Persephone crossing time lines, but it was mainly said out of disbelief on the goddesses part. To her self, but out loud. Finally 'snapping' out of it, Persephone looked to Hecate. ::

"That's when I needed to give the six roles, to stop from tarnishing this time line and our future. Nicolas a warrior, Alison a seer, and Morgan, Delilah, and Haleigh, servants. Needless to say, Morgan blew up at me, blaming me for being here and what had happened. That's when I sent her to your chambers to rest. But not before Haleigh took a turn playing the blame game with me as well. And to top it off, we had to go to Mount Olympus to continue with the time lines events."

:: Shaking her head, Persephone hated, HATED, that the six had to witness what happened on Mount Olympus. It was embarrassing and private. Like they were given front row seats to her past that she never wanted to relive. ::

"I'm a private person, you know that. I despise opening up to people, I can't stand feeling vulnerable or less than adequate in front of anyone. And for them to see Athena and Zeus treat me the way that they did......."

:: Keeping her eyes focused away from Hecate, they glazed over with tears of frustration and humiliation. ::

"I MADE a name for myself, Hecate. I did everything that I said I would do. I GAINED the respect that I deserved. I was FEARED and ADMIRED. I help build an EMPIRE (MOE) that taught people like us to harness and use their powers against people like THEM (Zeus and Athena)!"

:: Finally looking to Hecate with rage in her cobalt eyes, Persephone shook her head, letting out a laugh of disbelief. ::

"And now they (the six), of all people, saw me in my worst time. So it's a little overwhelming for me right now. I just need a moment to breathe freely."

[Alice Cullen]

Haleigh sank back into a plush chair in the great Hall. It was all so much.... the different time.... the Gods.... her own sudden crisis of self. Alison tried her luck at rallying them. Haleigh massaged her temples and then her eyes, as she let out a deep sigh. Alison almost demanded that they pull themselves together.

"I know... I know." She said softly.... "I'm sorry... I know I've been difficult... I feel.... I don't know... what-- I mean, what if it comes down to it.... and our lives are on the line... and it turns out that without my technology.... I'm.... useless?? I've never felt so obsolete."

She admitted, burying her face in her hands. She wasn't one for sharing her -- shudder-- feelings.... but it just went to show how very distressed she was.

[Hecate]

[ Hecate sat with Persephone and listened. Still holding her hands, she used her own magicks to channel the power of precognition, using it differently than Alison, she traveled on Persephone's words and let them paint the picture. in her mind's eye, she saw EVERYTHING that the six had endured prior to arriving and like Morgan and Alison, she FELT the violent riptide effect caused by the way Circe brutally used her magick!]

[ Hecate gasped as she saw what Circe had become....she had always known the woman craved power and prestige. she would have sold her soul for it...and evidently she DID because Circe was channeling HECATE'S ESSENCE from what she "saw". AGAIN she had been some how DUPED and BETRAYED. Circe took what was meant to be a mutually beneficial bond and perverted it to the point of destruction even for her own descendants. Hecate's face betrayed a look of ANGER as she leet go of Persephone's hands.]

She...used me...my power she BETRAYED ME and went on to endanger not only MY children, but the whole of the earth! my most prized desciple has prooven NO BETTER than those fools on Mt. Olympus!

[ Hecate's bitter tone was so SIMILAR to Morgan's]

And she has HURT Morgan! She has MUCH to answer for but We cannot act in haste, for those events have not occurred in this time ...indeed no one but US in this castle has knowledge of them.

[ she looked around for a moment as Persephone continued, Hecate listened as she told of Barbara Minerva and the RED MOON! Barbara was clearly an honorable woman, she would have done Athena and Artemis both proud from the sound of it and Hecate wondered if Barbara had in fact descended from the Amazons of Themyscria. But Barbara had not made it back with them through time and it was believed she was dead. Hecate immediately reached out again with her "seeing eye" to search for Barbara.]

I cannot determine that Barbara is DEAD..in fact, i can't see ANYTHING of her one way or the other.....

[ She looked at Persephone who was clearly upset.]

when this is over, we will see what can be done for your friend. If she were dead, surely her shade would have been noticed by Hades in this or ANY timeline.

[ it wasnt a guarantee that Barbara was ALIVE, but it was definately a beacon of HOPE.]

Persephone, you have endured MORE than even I could have imagined since you left here. You've lived many lives and no doubt have seen what Athena has long feared, that gods/goddesses will not MATTER in the future as the world continues to change. Though you are reviled and despised far and wide by your peers on Olympus, i see you for what you truly are. a woman with strength and courage and RESILIENCY...the capacity to grow and CHANGE.

[ Persephone agonized over returning here and that the Six got to see her at her worst moments in the presence of Athena and others.]

We all have our moments of prestige and moments of despair. you are no different.

You HASTENED this unpleasantness though. No amount of time travel cannot undo the damage you caused when you murdered Demeter. Not only did you spill the blood of a goddess, your MOTHER in the halls of Olympus, you destroyed the trinity of the moon, Persephone...which impacted Artemis and ME. That has left a serious and potentially damaging vaccumm.

[Hecate was Persephone's friend, a SISTER but THIS was serious and it was something they had to address.]

It is time we addressed this. Change is coming to Olympus...and I sense that both you and I are in for a world of unpleasantness.

[ Persephone could not escape the subject any longer. the subject of Demeter's murder and all that had come because of it. this wasnt just merely about spiting Athena or Zeus or prooving that she was as deadly as anyone else, she had caused problem for Hecate as well!]

[Harbinger]

Haleigh sank back into a plush chair in the great Hall. It was all so much.... the different time.... the Gods.... her own sudden crisis of self. Alison tried her luck at rallying them. Haleigh massaged her temples and then her eyes, as she let out a deep sigh. Alison almost demanded that they pull themselves together.

"I know... I know." She said softly.... "I'm sorry... I know I've been difficult... I feel.... I don't know... what-- I mean, what if it comes down to it.... and our lives are on the line... and it turns out that without my technology.... I'm.... useless?? I've never felt so obsolete."

She admitted, burying her face in her hands. She wasn't one for sharing her -- shudder-- feelings.... but it just went to show how very distressed she was.



Haleigh, :: Alison replied in an exasperated tone::

you're smarter and FAR more logical and creative than THIS.

you had powers LONG before you became a hybrid due to Chandler's experiments on you and exposure to the T.O. virus. You still have your super strength, your tactical savvy, your weapons that you have ON your person as well as a high level of endurance and speed. you are FAR from helpless.

You've been behaving TERRIBLY since you've arrived here and its been hard for ANYONE to empathize with you because you've made it an ART FORM to alienate everyone at a time when we need to pull together!

[ Alison weaved a small scrying pool showing fleeting, flashing images of chaos and strife with the six and the gods of olympus, there are looks of extreme anger and HORROR from both sides.]

Persephone's LIFE depends on this and as it stands...I do NOT see many of US surviving. Hecate will join OUR side but even SHE will be overwhelmed at a point. I for one do NOT want to die at the hands of such self absorbed beings and i dont think YOU would accept such an idea from ANY foe no matter what the odds.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Although trying to be comforting, Hecates efforts fell short. But her friend was trying to help, which was what counted. Nodding her head, Persephone took her hand once again, squeezing it gently. ::

"Thank you, Hecate."

:: As her friend countinued to speak, Persephone knew no one was perfect, or could even reach perfection. But she still hated feeling anything less than what she knew she could be. The bar she set for herself was so high and she knew this. But regardless, Hecates words were true, as much as Persephone hated to admit it. Nodding her head, Hecate soon began to speak about Demeter, which immediately agitated Persephone. Pulling her hand away from Hecates, Persephone stood while shaking her head. ::

"She got exactly what she deserved."

:: The topic of Demeter was an extremely sore subject, and Hecate knew this. Hecate was the first person to find out that Persephone had done the unthinkable, and actually killed a goddess, let alone her own MOTHER. Turning to face Hecate, Persephone rolled her eyes shut knowing that by killing her, she destoryed something very important to Hecate and Artemis. ::

"I never wanted to destory the trinity of the moon; you know that. But Demeter needed to die in order for me to become who I am today. To gain the powers and strength that I have. I will not apologize for that. Not now, not ever."

:: It was a mystery as to why Persephone hated Demeter so much. Demeter was actually a very loving person and cherished Persephone dearly. But something made Persephone snap and become dark and lethal. This in turn lead Zeus to take drastic messures, in which he condemed Persephone to marry Hades and live in the Underworld. Not even Hecate knew her motives. ::

:: Huffing out, Persephone turned away from Hecate and crossed the room needing to expel some energy. ::

"Well i'm sure Olympus is going to be in an uproar. I'm supposed to kill Hades tomorrow."

:: Turning back around, Persephone gestured her hands out to her sides. ::

"That doesn't exactly sit well with the others, as you can imagine."

:: Persephone was unaware that what Hecate was talking about wasn't the uproar Hades' murder causes Olympus. But something more...Regardless, this would be news to Hecate. Most likely good news in her eyes. ::

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan's body stiffened as Nicolas projected himself into her now opened mind. Her face contorted with uncertainty and discomfort. It wasnt that it was PAINFULL..not physically at least. But she felt like she was wading into a pool that was growing deeper and deeper before she could adjust.>>

<< she closed her eyes, and fought to keep herself from reactivating the psi screen and shutting him out. she groaned at moments...feeling shamed as he saw some of her most humiliating , terrifying moments at the hands of Christopher, Black, the RESENTMENT she felt as Cameron and Haleigh finally succeeded in pushingh er over the edge to ignite the INFERNO; the PAIN AND ANGUISH as she watched Alison being struck down before she herself was incapacitated by the Super Soldier.>>

<< her anguish as she tried and FAILED to save Sharon!! it was like being naked and overweight! she HATED him being inside her mind but the roller coaster had already taken off and she couldnt stop!>>

<< then, there was nothing...the comfort of oblivion after the seige perilous...and the feeling of seemingly being REBORN. MALICE had done her a favor when she shattered her astral form, as she jolted Morgan back to HERSELF and the rest...was RECENT history.>>

<< the pain and rage from Circe's abuse and Barbara's death raged in Morgan's core and it was cleaer that she could be LOST to the darkness again.>>

<< the cold and bitterness of her mind and soul combined as winds to try to force Nicolas away, but he did not bow before them. Instead he shared with morgan HIS memories of saving Karen's life from MALICE! he risked his life for a woman that he didnt even KNOW! He answered Ororo's call with unwavering courage and showed tremendous strength and honor! she FELT this and....she SMILED. The men who worked for her in Illustra, Barbara Minerva's soldiers...brave men, HONORABLE men!!>>

<< when it was all over, Morgan slowly opened her eyes...with a fleeting image of her WITH Nicoals. Just as Hecate had predicted. She felt a sense of comfort and TRUST toward him. He had not violated or reprogrammed her, he SHARED with her and SHOWED her that there WERE men in this world who could be trusted, that were HONORABLE. that would stand side by side with her...even if they had no powers. but above all else...there was a man in this world who cared for her and wasnt afraid to show it. >>


<< Morgan's icy violet eyes were slightly moist, as she slowly blinked and took Nicolas hand and placed it on her bosom, over her heart.>>


nicolas.....the feeling that i have, the things that i saw...they were from you. I had no idea that you had risked so much to save my mother. you answered Ororo's call...and fought to defend my mother from Malice...youve given of yourself freely even when it seemed you got NOTHING in return.

<< She smiled warmly.>>

thank you...

<< laying her head back.>>

I feel.....so much better now.

<< her voice was soft.>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas smiled as he realized that he had managed to effect a repair of sorts to Morgan's psyche. he knew that he was walking a tightrope and he managed to reach the other side. As she spoke, pressing his hand to her chest, he abandoned his more prurient thoughts and simply enjoyed the relief that emanated from her.

She would never again be the same to him. Although magically protected, her mind was now known to him, he saw what and how she thought down to her core. As she lay back in relief, he slowly removed his hand from its resting place and caressed her cheek, leaning over as he did so. He whispered into her ear.

"All is not finished in your psyche, I think that we have much we can accomplish together to help you be who you truly are. I am available as you wish in that regard. For now, rest and allow your mind to reorient itself further. I will leave you with your thoughts."

With a kiss to the forehead and a strong hand patting her knee, the telepath stood tall and strong, turning to go back to the great room. He felt that he had finally taken a needed step forward on this team and personally.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan didnt mind Nicolas' close proximity as he leaned in and whispered in her ear. she enjoyed his scent actually as she breathed easily. as he kissed her on the forehead and moved away, she stopped him with her hand under his chin and leaned forward.>>

you've done enough, dear heart. the rest is my own to deal with...but in taking this risk, trusting you, and allowing you where no one else can go...you more than prooved yourself.

<< with that, she kissed him on the mouth.>>

I'll see you later. For now I need to be alone.

<< Nicolas would soon leave to return to the great room, and Morgan left alone, closing her eyes as she centered her thoughts and began to take in the current situation the team was facing. she would join the others soon enough...but NOT before she interacted with Hecate again.>>

[Hecate]

[ Hecate stood up abruptly, as a lower toned chime sounded off followed by a roll of thunder. SHE was now agitated.]

Is it ALL about YOU, Persephone?

[ her tone was sharp.]

I have NOTHING to offer in the way of an opinion on your relationship with Demeter but in your quest to gain POWER...you UPSET the balance of power elsewhere. did it ever occur to you that the CURRENT situation you face in the timeline that you now call home could be the result of YOUR murdering demeter and destroying the trinity of the moon?

[ she followed right after Persephone, not allowing her friend to make this an open and shut discussion.]

I have BACKED you, much to the IRE of the others [ gesturing "up" to indicate the gods on olympus]. It's not like any of THEM are above reproach EITHER but what you did not only weakened the solidarity of a group o f people whose lively hood depends (so they think) on the devotion and faith of mortals on earth...but it ALSO UPSET and VEXED the circle of MAGICK. You KILLED the "mother" which is the NECESSARY bridge between the "maiden" (artemis) and the "crone" ( hecate).

I can ALWAYS fight with those fools above. They mean little to me, but YOU...I expected more from. YOU need to fix this!

[ Persephone coldly announces that she's destined to kill yet ANOTHER god tomorrow. as if THAT is all that looms on the horizon]

were you not listening to your own harbinger...the one called ALISON? She already told us that in the presence of ATHENA but she ALSO mentioned a RED MOON, the DAWN of the red moon no less which means something will happen to me on Olympus that i will find unforgivable. Obviously these events have already occurred, they will occurr AGAIN..it is the way that time streams GO.
When i speak of "unpleasantness" I'm talking about something far more devastating than your murdering that barbaric PIG Hades.
[ Hecate seemed to not care at ALL that the man she once loved and SHOULD have been married to was soon to be murdered. She continued on focusing on the bigger picture. Athena would be proud.]

What care I for how the OTHERS feel about his death? I am concerned with the future and destiny of magick and witches....not to mention the fact that I am to be BETRAYED yet again...and this time by a WOMAN...a woman who claims to be my most faithfull and devoted desciple!

[ pausing for a moment. Hecate didnt want to go AT Persephone like this, but it was clear that Persephone was wallowing in self pity and self involvement. if she were to be perceived as "strong" and "powerfull" as she wanted to be seen by others after murdering Demeter...she would have to OWN IT.]

Listen to me. We have the chance to do something TOGETHER...something that is BIGGER than anything those idiots up above would imagine, save perhaps Athena, who is no doubt plotting your death as we speak. Your friends are here with you and their lives are in danger as well and Morgan..who is clearly my living avatar is in need of my help...if she is to be as effective as she is meant to be both HERE and in HER timeline.

I am your friend..and I want to help you but YOU have to help ME as well. You've DAMAGED a primal force and you need to at LEAST offer some sort of solution to that problem.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

"In these circumstances, YES."

:: Persephone shouted back, keeping her back turned to Hecate, but still pacing out of annoyence. Sure it was a selfish statement, but Persephone was never known for being benevolent. But Hecate's following statements really caught the goddess off gaurd, forcing her to turn in utter astonishment. Was she serious? Was Hecate really suggesting that her actions in this time line could ultimately cause the distruction in hers? Well this was a whole new type of low blow. ::

"You've GOT to be kidding me? So you're saying that by me killing my mother, i'm ultimately dooming my time line because I broke up YOUR trinity? [scoffing] I find it unbelieveable how you can twist every situation into being all about you and your 'legecy'. This is about CIRCE. The psychotic crone that YOU gave powers to. But bravo, Hecate. Turning this around on me is quite impressive."

:: Firing back sharply at Hecate, Persephone shook her head in utter disbelief. She would of expected this from Morgan. But Hecate? Never. Regardless, the heated fight continued with Hecate stating she needed to 'fix' things. ::

"What do you purpose me to do? Travel further back in time and not kill Demeter? Resirrect her from the dead? I'm open to suggestions."

:: Sarcastic and obviously irritated, Persephone rolled her eyes shut while crossing her arms along her chest. The fabric rubbing against her skin from her black silk gown, even seemed to irritate her in some way. Finally, taking a breath in, this fight was getting them no where. Sighing out loudly, Persephone opened her eyes and looked to Hecate. ::

"I'm sorry that your trust is once again being taken advantage of. I am. And I never wanted to break up your trinity. I wanted my mother dead...I never thought of the repercussions that would come from it that would directly effect you. But I don't know how to fix this. I can only offer myself to take the place of my mother, but considering you weren't thrilled with that idea the first time I suggested it, I doubt you will be now. As for this event that's supposed to happen on Mount Olympus....the only thing that comes to mind is Hera angering you to the point of wanting revenge against all the Gods. But that isn't supposed to happen for another few months if I recall correctly..."

:: Persephone's irritation and anger toward Hecate was now gone. Their quarrel were much like that of sisters. Angery one minute, water under the bridge the next. Now Persephone was more concerned about why this event that will be taking place within the next few days when it SHOULD be happening a few months from now. ::

"This time line is supposed to stay untainted to preserve the future. So for this event to be happening sooner than it should be concerns me....I just--I don't know why it would be happening so soon. There has to be something more going on here."

[Oracle]

"This time line is supposed to stay untainted to preserve the future. So for this event to be happening sooner than it should be concerns me....I just--I don't know why it would be happening so soon. There has to be something more going on here."


<<There is indeed.>>

<< for even as Persephone finally comes around to Hecate and begins to realize there is something ELSE at work, she fails to realize that by bringing the six here that she had ALREADY tainted the timeline and that Hecate, Morgan and Alison were not the ONLY magick users involved in this situation. there was someone else...someone back in The Six's timeline and she was MORE than perturbed at the moment. >>

<< Alison had predicted in front of Athena that an unexpected turn of events would bring disaster to Mt Olympus. No one seemed to have understood what she meant. Persephone assumed it was her murdering Hades; It was also assumed that it could be the growing rift between Hera and Hecate. But it was NEITHER of those things directly. It was something ELSE still!>>


<< and so, let us, for a moment, return to The Six's timeline to see just what "ELSE" is going on!>>


Earth- The Six's timeline

<< reports of chaos, madness and MURDER are coming in from ALL OVER THE GLOBE now! the Red Moon has transfixed the WHOLE of the earth!>>

<< "Ground Zero" where Barbara Minerva's palatial estate once stood is now a smoldering CRATER that stretches for miles with scorch marks and damage. Emergency workers and authorities have declared Barbara DEAD after recovering her DNA from the underground fortress after managing to extinguish the raging fire. they believe she was incinerated in the initial blast. Evidence of "super human involvement" has been found as well along with the dead bodies of Barbara's soldiers and those of bestiamorphs as well. The Six have been rumoured to be SEEN in the streets of Greece helping the citizens to survive the Red Moon but no visual evidence can confirm that..a good thing for the Six as they have now disappeared.>>

<< their disappearence has NOT gone unnoticed by those over in the states...namely Alycia Barnett, special assistant to the president & chairwoman on the committee of super human affairs; her "Force Works" agents , Dr. Karen Victoria, Clandestine Inc....ALL of whom have now joined forces to DEFEND themselves and their city from what they couldnt have ever imagined..an attack of these monstrous bestiamorphs, as WELL as helping authorities with "Crowd control" as rioting, chaos, and unrest sweep across NYC.>>

<< it is an ever INCREASING task and they are not alone as others like them across the nation attempt to defend themselves and help those who cannot help themselves but despite their "valiant" effort...they began to feel overwhelmed themsleves.>>

<< and all the while, CIRCE watches! Pleased that her influence under the red moon is now spreading across the globe.Satisfied that she has destroyed Barbara Minerva and causing Persephone anguish, as well as "raping" Morgan of her MAGICKS and prooving that she WASNT the "sorceress supreme" that she thought. But there was something that didnt sit too well with her! The Six ESCAPED somehow!>>

[Circe]

{ the Isle of Aerie, long FEARED by men of the sea and shrouded in legend and mystery, it is one of the most mysterious places on the globe. uncharted by most, and of the few who have arrived even LESS have lived to tell of their experience!}

{ the massive island sits in the middle of the stormy Black Sea off the coast of Greece, the beautifull, sprawling rotunda that is Circe's palace is a modern synergy of greek antiquity and technology. the jagged rocks on the outskirts of the island hide the deadly trap of SIRENS that seek to lure foolish seaman to the island where t hey would meet t heir death at the hands of bestiamorphs or Circe herself. a CONSTANT storm rages around the island. swirling, churning black clouds and jagged bolts of lighting blast forth as the thunder of the skies competes with the thunder of the rolling WAVES in the sea and only the RED MOON manages to shine through the black clouds as they roll.}

{ Circe herself reclines in an elegant double chaise lounge as she watches her large floating orb, which broadcasts the events happening around the globe. small enchanted creatures flit about in the air high above near they domed ceilings as Circe's laugh flows with the wind}

Circe: its MARVELOUS! isnt it? not only have i DESTROYED the one obstacle that kept me from capturing Pandora in this timeline but i NOW have unrestricted access to Pandora's BOX as well!

{ images of Alycia Barnett fighting against some bestiamorphs with a plasma cannon side by with Karen Victoria who was using her magicks to dispatch even more ofo them come across the orb and Circe scoffs.}

foolish women! they struggle to protect the weak men who could NEVER hope to prevail against my power! they will suffer the same fate that their wretched companions the six and barbara minerva suffered.

{ she paused for a moment.}

But still, it troubles me that The Six may have actually ESCAPED my final holocaust! I was SURE that by adding that witch Spellbinder's own magicks to my own and then channeling it BACK through her body against her will, that i would destroy HER and ANYONE in close proximity to her! that entire area of land has been decimated! Those fool authorities think they can explain MY power and the destruction it caused? they will find NOTHING that i do not WISH them to find!

{ she runs her hand through her beautifull raven black looks as she lifts up one of her legs, admiring her own tight, feminine physique for a moment. but even as she contemplates aloud, one of her own mystical familiars flies into the room, a RAVEN no less. its red eyes glowing as if it has a message to deliever. It returned from watching the goings on at "Ground Zero"}

yes...what is it, my fine feathered friend?

{ the raven flies up and perches on the ORB, somehow merging with it as it transforms. the raven is now a large "stone like" pedastale and the orb itself has grown LARGER, glowing and pulsating a red hue as the scenes shift and swirl. Circe swings her legs around and sits up, knowing that something of importance is about to be shown.}

[Oracle]

<< the Raven was similar to Tinkerbell in its capabilities as an enchanted familiar. it had the powers of VISION and limited PRECOGNITION and its "vision" knew no bounds as far as time/space.>>

<< as the Raven merged with the Orb, it replayed the last moments of The Six and Barbara Minerva's lives before Circe's final devastating attack...as the holocaust destroyed everything in its path and Alison and Delilah screamed a MEDALLION in Persephone's hand began to glow! Circe spat a curse as she realized she had MISSED this at the time. They SLIPPED through the boundaries of time and survived the blast...they RETURNED to Ancient Greece, Persephone's timeline! Circe had been here as well but back THEN she was not a goddess level sorceress, she was merely the desciple of Hecate herself. The two women shared many ideas and feelings and interestes. Circe , at one point TRULY respected and loved her patron diety but her own greed for power and prestige corrupted her..as events would be revealed. but at the moment, now Circe knew where the Six were and no doubt Persephone would INFORM Hecate of the future betrayal at Circe's hands!>>

[Circe]

CURSE that pathetic broodling!

{ Circe shouted as she stood up and gestured violently at the fading image of Persephone}

one of BARBARA's accursed trinkets enable her and her companions ESCAPE! how TERRIBLE for them { dripping with sarcasm} that it did not save Barbara herself!

{ she laughed softly to herself as she took a moment to admire her "claw" like, perfectly manicured nails which were painted a shade of red. as she stretched, the exquiste gold bracelets that adorned both her wrists slide back a bit and she exhaled as she composed herself}

They have returned to ancient greece, where no doubt Persephone will attempt to contact Hecate!

{ this posed a SMALL problem for Circe as she displayed one of the RARE moments of guilt/remorse and realized that what she was doing NOW was NOTHING in line with what Hecate had wanted}

Hecate will come for me...if she finds out. She will appear in THIS timeline and TAKE BACK the power that she gave me!!

{ She shook her head }

But the power is MINE...we made an AGREEMENT!!! I would carry out her REVENGE and ensure that the red moon would forever remain in exchange for POWER and IMMORTALITY!! the POWER IS MINE!

{ thunder crashed as her voice echoed she pondered what to do. Images of ATHENA and HERA discussing Persephone and her "companions" came across the orb! Circe licked her lips as the idea came to her!}

Athena: Persephone brings with her the seed of great trouble...she travels with a bonafied HARBINGER who has predicted the downfall of US...here in mt. olympus! the blood of yet ANOTHER god will flow and there will be a dawning of a "red moon!" this is all because of PERSEPHONE!

{ Circe could see that Athena was ALREADY on to Persephone and her friends...and all she needed was solid confirmation!}

Persephone thinks she can ESCAPE ME? her witches, Spellbinder and Guardian cant protect her from me and I know ALL TOO WELL how much Athena and the other gods HATE HER! She has already tainted that timeline and could alter events just by what she's done so far....I will send a MESSAGE to ATHENA, wisest of all gods. I will CONFIRM to Athena what her wisdom has shown her and she will no doubt rally the others against Persephone and DESTROY her, leaving the Six stranded in that time FOREVER!

{ as she gestures, a rushing sound is heard as a barbie doll sized image of Persephone forms in a field of dark magick.}

go now, appear before Athena as a VISION and SHOW her that her suspicions are TRUE and Persephone is a threat to the security and the LIVES of the gods as they know it! EXPOSE her companions for what they truly ARE!

{ as Circe "programs" the image, she gestures and hurls it into the orb itself. and it travels. across the infinite expanse of time and space to reach ATHENA, goddess of wisdom and war!}

{Circe realizes that Hecate will be included in this....but is she too MAD with her quest for power to realize that if anything happens to Hecate that she herself will never GET to this point? Does she realize that she's betrayed Hecate's trust and that was one thing that Hecate found UNFORGIVABLE? apparently she had forgotten her own history lessons. But for now, things were set in motion.}

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian continued to stand by the window awaiting the response and input from Delilah and Haleigh. Nicolas was coming and Morgan was resting while Hecate and Persephone worked through some personal issues and also began to look at the BIGGER picture. it was all coming together but Alison feared it may be too little too late and all at once....::

::GASP!!::

:: she lurches over as she places her hand over her forehead and is pulled into a vision, a deeper, more intense vision than normal::

there's been a shift, a change...a KNOWING breach of the integrity of this timeline from OUR timeline!! more than just our mere presence here, someone has now ALTERED the course of everything and the time thread now has become BLURRED!

:: she lookes up, her eyes solid white now as she looks out and sees what she is meant to see::

Circe is the unknown factor that I couldnt identify before on Mt.Olympus! It's HER doing. So desperate is she to prevent us from getting help from Hecate or getting BACK to our timeline that she has now sent a mystical charm to Athena that will appear as a "message/vision" before the goddess of wisdom. She seeks to CONFIRM what the goddess already SUSPECTS.

She either doesnt grasp the gravity of or she doesnt CARE that she's also betraying her own patron deity, HECATE.

Athena will rally the others against Persephone...and she will be KILLED. As will most of us! There is NOTHING more certain than DEATH and beyond that...i...i can't be sure. OUR timeline , as we know it has become blured, fogged....nothing that we knew will remain as it was...

[Rampage]

Nicolas was walking back to the group when he saw Alison gasp and stagger.

"Alison?! What's wrong, lady?"

He ran over to her as he saw her stagger. He grasped her hand and supported her back so that she did not fall. She was having a vision, it was obvious, and by the powerful way it manifested with her, it was SOME premonition. She spoke of most of the team dying, and of how Circe would be responsible by alerting the Olympians to their true nature. He contacted Persephone by telepathy.

Seph, Alison is having a powerful vision and its NOT good. I think she may have information you and Hecate need. You are both needed at once.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Hearing Nicolas' voice echo in her head, Persephone's eyes shot to Hecate. Knowing Hecate, she was already aware of Alison's visions and what she had seen.::

"We need to get to the team."

:: Walking with urgancy along side of Hecate, they left her chambers and headed back to the great room where the team was assembled. ::

[Rampage]

Nicolas watched as the two women emerged from Hecate's chamber's to meet with them. He had an idea that Hecate could probably do whatever BOTH Alison and Morgan could do, so he focused on informing Persephone of what had occurred.

To that end, he projected into Persephone's mind a replay of the last 2 minutes as he saw it, from his point of view. So Persephone saw what Alison said and how she said it. He then stepped forward.

"If we are to battle them, what can they do?? Any information on strengths and weaknesses would be MOST helpful. Right now we have the advantage of foresight and if battle is inevitable, then no need wasting breath on niceties. Prophecies be damned, I don't plan on losing anyone. Not without one hell of a fight."

[Hecate]

[ Hecate turned as Persephone lead the way out of the chambers.]

It has begun, your harbinger's words are coming to pass even as we speak!

[ they quickly make their way to the Great Room. where she found Rampage helping to steady a shaken Alison. Hecate went directly to her, but not before she took a moment to smirk as she admired Nicolas' bare chest again.]

the vitality of this man is as strong as any magick that i've sensed. I would ENJOY celebrating it in the bedroom, but that task is meant for Morgan...HE should know how LUCKY he is to be in her good graces.

[ Hecate took hold of Alison's hand.]

relax child. Do not RESIST what you see nor the feeling that comes with it. Yours is a power that is RARE among witches for not everyone is strong enough nor WISE enough to be able to see the future, the past, indeed all existing and POSSIBLE time threads! you are gifted indeed my child.

[ she winked at Rampage as she took Alison into her arms.]

I know what you have seen. I know who has done this.....CIRCE!

[ Hecate's voice DRIPPED with contempt.]

It never fails, that from the VERY BEGINNING that i aligned myself with these pompous olympians, i have been disrespected and betrayed. I expected this from the MEN...but to find out that this destruction and misuse of MY power and legacy comes from a WOMAN who was once my most beloved desciple!?

[ Rampage could see the bitterness and growing hatred in Hecate's tone and demeanor...it was so similar to what he'd seen in Morgan before and as he asked for a run down of the gods/goddesses and what they could do, Hecate admired his courage and resolve.]

You are strong, young one. a most WORTHY candidate for the heart of my darkchilde.

[ she knew of that name reference to Morgan?]

had there been a man like YOU in this timeline for ME...perhaps things would be slightly different for my own life but it is good to know that my daughter enjoys the gentility and the LOVE of one such as you.

[ Hecate looked at Persephone before gesturing, a sparkling haze forms around them followed by a chime as they take a virtual tour of sorts of mt olympus as well as getting a visual profile of each god/goddess in action. the scene was beautifull to behold as well as informative]

We have no choice but to go FORWARD. We cannot further tamper with this as it has been damaged to the point of no return already.

The gods and goddesses of olympus are self absorbed but no less powerfull because of it. while they ALL have general attributes that they share, they each have individual gifts and excell at them.

Athena is among the most dangerous. a strong warrior who is the patron diety of most warriors on earth....she is the goddess of wisdom and war. every battle strategy is known to her. she fights with unrelenting, vicious zeal and ENJOYS the thrill of a good , bloody fight that ends in a KILL.

Zeus is as violent with his powers as he is with his temper. He wields the power of the skies, the lightning and thunder and like all the other gods/goddesses he can change his shape and form at will. He likes to wreck wide reaching havok with his powers. he's not NEARLY as refined or as cunning as Athena...but he makes up for that in his gleefull brutality.

Aphrodite is perhaps the most underestimated of them all. The goddess of love is perceived as weak and wanting nothing more than to lay about and be 'loved' and yet..men have been driven MAD by her mere presence. wars have been fought because of her...started BY her in dreams and visions. She is a master manipulator of emotions as well as the mind and can often break her foe by bewitching them with her feminine charms before moving in to destroy them.

Hera the goddess of marraige/hearth/home is as resilient and strong as her sister goddesses. though she remains devoted to her husband, she posseses extreme power of her own. you saw that she liberated herself from even one of MY spells. She will fight to the DEATH for her husband if nothing else and a love the wife....a JEALOUS wife has for her husband can motivate her to be as vicious and cruel as Athena when in battle.

[Rampage]

Nicolas watched as Hecate took Alison from him and soothed her while still having the nerve to flirt at him at the same time.

If I only had more time...Hecate, if I only had more TIME...

But now was not the time to gather a notch on his belt (even a prized one). Hecate gave them an enchanted tour of Olympus complete with a rundown of the strengths of each Olympian. As he watched, matchups formed in his mind. He voiced his analysis to the group, especially since Alison, the team tactician was so shaken by her vision.

"We DO have the advantage of greater numbers, and if we avoid those that may exploit a potential weakness in us, we may yet carry the day. I think Haleigh is a good matchup for Athena. Her skill and expertise would serve her well against the goddess of war. Perhaps there are a few new tricks she could even show her. I have seen Hera, and she is impressive. But I have no doubt that Morgan can take her. Her power will do her no good against the Darkchilde. <<<winks back at Hecate. at this point, nothing she knew surprised him.>>> Aphrodite is a trickster, but someone who can predict her moves <<<nods to Alison>>> could stop her before she starts. As for Zeus... I will face him. He is not the only one who can bring power to bear. That should free you two <<<looks at Hecate and Delilah>> to do whatever is necessary to keep Persephone alive and get us home to kick Circe's ass. We left her there with no one to stop her. Things cannot be going well."

As he spoke, his voice began to noticeably lower as he readied for battle. He had failed to be 100% before, and Barbara Minerva paid for his failure. He would not be found wanting again.

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: As Hecate moved forward to help Alison, Persephone stood silent as Nicolas flooded her mind with images of what just had happened. This vision that Alison experienced shook her to the core, further prooving to Persephone that this situation was becoming increasingly bad. ::

:: Inhaling a deep breath as Nicolas asked for a run down of each god, Hecate provided the team with a visual 'tour' of each god and their powers. The gods were the blue print of the modern day mutant, their powers were raw and brutal. Sighing out while listening to Nicolas speak about who should go up against who, Persephone shook her head. ::

"First of all, if you're suggesting that I stand idly by while you fight the Gods just because i'm on their hit list, that won't happen. And secondly, I doubt Aphrodite will want any part of this battle. She may dislike my conduct thus far, but she is still one of the more level headed Gods on Mount Olympus. She won't declare war against me just from word of mouth; even if the warnings are from Athena herself."

:: Tapping her fingers against her upper arm as she thought, Persephone narrowed her eyes wondering if Athena would recruit any of the other gods to fight along side of her. ::

"Well we do have bit of an upper hand in all this. None of the Gods, besides myself, Hecate, and Hades can travel to the Underworld. They can't teleport 'beneath' the surface of Earth, that's why there is a seperate hierarchy down here. So the battle won't begin until we arrive at Mount Olympus, which means we atleast have some breathing room to rest and stratagize without worrying about being attacked."

[Hecate]

[ Hecate folded her arms, while continuing to stand next to Alison, she listened to what Nicolas had to say. He was bold, and proactive indeed, but there was a cold rift between him and Persephone. WHY her friend could not see the utter beauty in this man was beyond Hecate. Maybe secretly, Hades was the ONLY man for her? [ a cruel irony] whatever the reason, Hecate MORE than discerned the disdain that lay deep in Persephone's heart toward Nicolas. She had "SEEN" the explosion between them under the red moon while they were in the Six's timeline.]


He means well, Persephone. He only wants to see you live and you KNOW that alot of those olympians would love to visit a fate worse than that of Atlas upon you.

[ she looks among the group.]

We have a buffer so long as we remain here. As Persephone said, only she, hades and myself can travel between olympus and the underworld. the one things the gods can't do that I can is TELEPORT. I assume that Morgan teleports as well. There is a clear line between us and them. One that THEY can't cross. We can appear anywhere on Olympus at any moment and I can CLOAK us from any manner of detection save Athena's enchanted owl Bupol.

With the exception of Athena, the Olympians are very short sighted. They do not believe that anyone from earth is capable of challenging them outright. THAT is the surprise that awaits them from you all and we have MAGICK...and while the trinity of the moon has been.. [ looking over at Persephone] damaged for the time being... i see a way around that with Morgan and Alison.

[ she noticed that Morgan was not present. she looked back at Alison]

Before i place my children's lives in danger, i must have time with them, to prepare them, to help them BETTER understand how blessed they are and how BETTER to use their gifts. To see my future...it is something that I want to enjoy...and yet in the face of such grim circumstances...I find myself feeling rather conflicted. Perhaps i have been granted the opportunity to see my future, because my PRESENT time is about to come to an end.

[ she said this with a rather trailing, distant tone as she looked away for a moment. she knew that her time on Olympus was all but at an end now. Alison said there would be an unforgivable act of betrayal against her occurring ON mt. Olympus. so it wasnt just Circe...it was someone ELSE! this would bring about the red moon and SHE was the only moon goddess present. her anger and resentment were trademarks of her personality but she knew things would be changing irreversibly very soon. she thought of the destiny and future of magick and the women of the earth who communed with it. Seeing Morgan and Alison gave her MUCH hope....RELIEF even. But there was something about Morgan, something that she had to investigate.]

all of you need to prepare yourselves as well.

[taking Alison's hand, Hecate abruptly excused herself]

come, harbinger. we will find the darkchilde and speak together...as a FAMILY.

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah followed the others back to the great room. She didn't think this was really the time for secrets, but she didn't have the energy to protest. Guardian informed them that - as usual - things were about to get worse. She followed Alison's lead and took a seat, exhaling loudly.

Haleigh had an emotional outburst - WHAT was going on here? Alison sought to console their teammate - but then sudenly was wracked seemingly with pain.

Delilah rose quickly and rushed to Alison's side. ]

"Alison! What is it?!"

[ Alison told them of her dire vision. ]

"How can we be sure our actions here don't make things worse? Surely we can't kill the gods ourselves...surely that will change things irrevocably. Can't we intercept Circe's charm? Prevent Athena from learning this information?"

[Nicolas, Persephone and Hecate had joined them and they began to formulate a course of action. ]

"We must remember that these gods are NOT immortal as Persephone is proven."

[ She glanced at Haleigh. ]

"We cannot let them have the psychological high ground. They've never seen anyone face them the likes of us."

[ Hecate and Alison went to find Morgan and have a little pow wow. Despite her earlier feelings of readiness, she now felt very unprepared for what lay ahead. They needed to work together as a unit, and she was afraid there could be more than one chink in their armor so to speak. She was also worried about Morgan - hopefully Hecate could help her regain confidence in herself and in her team. She turned to Nicolas. ]

"How is Morgan doing - is she any better?"

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened as the Persephone dismissed his attempt to shield her. Hecate stood up for him and he watched as the moon goddess took Alison with her to meet with Morgan. Before he could speak with Persephone, Delilah addressed him about Morgan.

"Delilah, Morgan is actually much better I think. In any case she is in better mental shape than she was. I am confident that with Hecate's further assistance, she will be OK. How about you? Are you holding up? Maybe I can help..."

Nicolas faced Delilah as he spoke. Judging by the information she gave off to his telepathic and telekinetic senses, she looked far better than she felt.

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah shook her head. ]

"No, no I'm fine. Just worried about Morgan. And us. I hate this waiting."

[ And she didn't like that they were so disjointed. And with people going off into groups to talk. They needed to move as one and right now, they were moving more like three or four... ]

[Rampage]

"I know what you mean, D. I hope that at SOME point we take the initiative as a cohesive group. I think since this whole damn thing began we have been REACTING rather than making others respond to us. I prefer to set the tone, not dance to someone else's tune."

Nicolas was calm but he hated to feel on his heels. And even though he believed in his group, he was concerned that Athena would have one HELL of a waiting party if they ever set foot into Olympus.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan lay back in the chair breathing slowly as she meditated. In her mind were thoughts of her mother, ororo, the freedom of flying through the skies of Limbo, Illustra, tinkerbell...things that made her feel GOOD. She finally felt more IN CONTROL and ready to FACE things. Circe would get what was coming to her. She didnt know how just yet, but she felt secure in knowing that it WOULD happen.>>

<< the darkness and solitude of this massive castle was comforting as well. many similarities between this and the summit in Limbo. Morgan had scarcely interacted with everyone since they returned and her last round with Persephone had been less than pleasant. They were supposed to become friends but it seemed at every turn something prevented them from sitting down and really getting to know each other. it was a far cry from the bond Persephone had with Darkchilde or Hecate. She would have to fix that when this was over! and what of these blustering gods and goddesses? morgan didnt take shit from ANYONE no matter WHO they were it was time for THEM to find out what BITCHCRAFT was all about!>>

<< chimes played softly in the breeze as Morgan smiled and exhaled slowly. two shadows cast over her as she slowly opened her icy violet eyes to behold Alison and Hecate!>>

.....hello. i was hoping you'd come join me!

<< Morgan spoke in a welcoming but icy tone.>>

[Hecate]

[ Hecate smiled upon the young witch and extended her hand.]

come, my child. it is time for healing. time for you to prepare to OWN the mantle that i created. it is by the winds of time and fate themselves that we have been allowed to meet. through this meeting, we will correct the damage done by my renegade desciple and avenge the death of your companion, Barbara Minerva.


[ she leads Morgan and Alison back to the great room and speaks to EVERY ONE.]

Morgan and Alison may be my children but YOU are their companions, their friends. It would not be right for me to help them and exclude you. The things that i will show Morgan and Alison will affect you as well... [turning to Persephone] and will explain things to YOU, Persephone. let us all learn and prepare...TOGETHER!

[the winds howl as Hecate lifts her hands and spreads them quickly...thunder CRASHES and blasts as the scene around the six changes in a flash. they are now on EARTH in this timeline, and for those who are geographically savvy, they will realize that the expanse of land they are on now...is the same land that Barbara Minerva's mansion would stand upon 1000's of years later in the six's timeline. in THIS time though, it is a place that is consecrated and dedicated to MAGICK...witches have paid homage to Hecate and celebrated the solstice as well. it is a clear, starry evening...although a bit breezy, the land is untouched by man or technology and brims with the life and energy of nature. some legends also credited Hecate as being the "goddess of nature, trees or the amazons"]

here, under the night sky, we will share this space with nature. don't worry, the olympians can't detect us. we are cloaked by my magick.

[ she directs the six to move back and observe while Morgan, Alison and Persephone stand before Hecate, facing her.]

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan breathed in the sweet, unpolluted air. the wind flowed through her hair. she instantly felt more energized and "at one" with the energy and nature in the air. her confidence and peace were being renewed just by being in Hecate's presence and there was more to come.>>

Hecate,I never imagined that I ...we [alison and i] would get the chance to INTERACT with you. We've seen visions of you in our dreams and invoked your image... in my time, my natural mother and honored mother told me that i was the fullfillment of YOUR prophecy. that i was to be your living avatar and that there were two counterparts in other realities.

I only wish that Ororo and my mother could be here to see this! Your name continues to flow from the lips of powerfull witches in our time.

<< an enchanted melody played among the wooded area around them as wood and water sprites shimmered and flitted about among the trees and flora. their soft giggles could be heard in the wind as well.>>

[MorningStar]

[ As Delilah was transported with the others to Earth, she looked about her and was filled with a feeling of peace. The warring thoughts and noise in her head were quieted - she felt that she was in a sacred place, a holy place, a place where anything could be healed.

She looked around at the others and felt their power, their energy. She felt a connection to them grow. There was something here, something that they had been missing. ]

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Hecate transported everyone from the underworld to a beautiful strip of land in Greece. Persephone immediately recognized the area as Minerva's estate, only thousands of years in the past. Interlinking her fingers in a resting position in front of her body, the wind blew through her chocolate colored hair, making the long silky strands dance along the satin fabric of her black gown. It saddened her to be here, knowing that this was the place where she couldn't save Minerva from Circe, but obviously Hecate had a point if she brought the group here. ::

"Why are we here, Hecate?"

:: Noticing the members of the six were a few feet away from herself, Alison, and Morgan, Hecate was planning something. ::

[Rampage]

Nicolas stretched himself as they arrived at the new scene. He immediately reached out to "see" what was there, knowing that they were marked by now for death. he realized that they were at the scene of Barbara Minerva's palace and he looked around quickly. All he saw was beauty and harmony. The place was full of magic, of energy and positivity, and his mind reached out to it, allowing it to further bolster his mind.
He also saw that the goddesses and the sorceresses were a bit separated from the rest of them. Nicolas wondered what Hecate had planned for the group. He faced the women, arms folded, ready to react to what Hecate was about to put into motion...

[Hecate]

[ Hecate's sunlight blonde hair blew in the breeze as she looked up, smiling as she felt the energy around her. wood and water sprites flitted about, hiding amongst the lush forest that surrouned them. As Morgan, Alison and Persephone faced her, Persephone was the first to ask the most obvious thing.]

Persephone, if you're going to prevail, you must listen and LEARN. Despite the obvious PROBLEMS your arrival with the six in this timeline has caused...there is much to be gained from it as well. This is an ENCHANTED forest, a place of great power and energy. Barbara KNEW that and as designated keeper of the world's most legendary and dangerous artifacts, not to mention Pandora's guardian, she built her home there because it was the most difficult place for Circe to reach...until the red moon.

[ Hecate raises her hands as the winds rise and the stars themselves seem to spin around them as a sparkling haze forms.]

Morgan, Alison, if you two are to prevail against Circe...you must have a better understanding and USE of your gifts.

ALL of you must work TOGETHER as a symphony if you are to take Circe at her measure and right the wrongs she has caused.


[ spreading her hands as more of the faeries ventured out to inspect the visitors in their realm, Hecate continued on]

Since you murdered Demeter, you set a series of events in motion that in THEIR (the six's) timeline is well documented history but HERE it is yet to occurr. Of course it would be preferrable to avoid the events that are about to come but if we did that, then Morgan and Alison would not exist...indeed NONE of you would have your lives as you know it and as it stands right now, your furture...what you have to return to remains uncertain at best. If Circe succeeds, creation is damned forever and not even SHE will be able to enjoy the bitter fruits of her wicked efforts.

My time on Olympus is fast coming to an end, as is Persephone's. There are things that MUST take place before then in order to insure that your future remains the way you remember it.

[ she stands behind Alison and places her hands gently on Alison's temples]

close your eyes and relax. let the Six see the stream of events in the relevant timelines so that they may learn. you CAN broadcast your visions in cinematic form.

[ a rushing sound is heard as a glowing, sparkling haze of blue/black orbs forms in front of the team so that they may learn.]

[Oracle]

<< time and space blurr and spin as Hecate and Alison begin a journey of exploration, things will be revealed and explained which will hopefully help better prepare the team, as well as allow Hecate to form a plan to save Persephone and her companions from what is to be a bloody battle...a battle that she KNOWS should not be occurring....>>

<< and so we watch...>>

[Hecate]

[From the PAST]

[ the halls of Olympus. screams of agony and betrayal ring as the six flow through another enchanted vision to see Persephone MURDERING her mother in cold blood. Demeter, the goddess of nature and the "mother" in the trinity of the moon. the skies t hemselves crash and churn with the violence and blood shed that now blights the halls of Olympus. Flash forward to Hecate's own personal chambers where an ancient symbol of the trinity indicating the positions of herself, artemis and demeter begins to glow and shake..before CRACKING with a defeaning blast of thunder. Hecate herself lurches forward with a gasp of pain as she clutches her chest. the shock of the destruction of the trinity's harmony affects HER most of all. as she struggles to regain herself, she staggers out into the halls of Olympus and finds Persephone standing over Demeter's body...Hecate looks at Demeter and then Persephone....not in disapproval, more like in IRRITATION!]

PERSEPHONE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?



[ the scenes change as Hecate now stands in a rotunda similar to that of Circe's. She folds her arms as she contemplates how to fix what Persephone has broken. She has REJECTED Persephone's offer to replace Demeter in the trinity. Persephone lacks the knowledge and understand to fullfill the position of "mother" in this trinity and restore its power and meaning. The look on Hecate's face is that of exhaustion and exasperation. there has been much bickering and arguing in the halls of Olympus since Demeter's murder. Athena leading the motion to have Persephone executed. Zeus instead decides to FORCE her into marraige with Hades and banish her to the underworld...the fate that her MOTHER had originally RESCUED her from.]

[ scenes showing the moment of Zeus completely disrespecting and nullifying Hades relationship with Hecate are shown as he decrees Persephone's being betrothed to him. The look in Hecate's eyes says it all....total hatred and unforgiveness. she turns her back on Hades and from that moment on...she's despised him. But since ZEUS direspected Hecate, SHE will direspect him...and as Persephone sleeps under the moonlight, Hecate appears before her in astral form.]




DESPITE the damage you have caused, I will not see you be subjugated. You are my friend, my sister. WHY you killed your mother i will never know, but there is no time to waste. I must send you away. You are not READY to face that which they have planned for you.


My strength fluxuates with each passing moment. There's so much chaos on mt olympus, the haughty fools act as though THEY would have never visited such harm upon someone that they felt disdain towards and yet they are ready to condemn Persephone.

[how to restore the trinity of power? to pass on the legacy and heritage of magick? as she pondered this, she came to descision as she teleported herself outside the rotunda to face the sea itself..and the full moon which hung low. even the moon itself seemed less bright in light of recent events. Hecate finally came to a descision. the trinity would have to CHANGE to suit the times in which it would be reformed. Her life force, all that she was would go on...but there would be no "mother" or "maiden" for Persephone's damage to the trinity insured that there could be no "replacement". ]



[ as the winds blow across the sea, Hecate raises her hands and a mounfull chime sounds in the air]




Hear now the words of the Crone
The secrets I hide in the night
The oldest of magicks are invoked here
The great works of the trinity are sought
In this night and in this hour
I invoke the ancient power of the moon


[ the waves of the sea rise and the winds whistle as thunder crashes and a ray of eldritch energy beams down from the moon upon Hecate and her face can now be ween in the stars themselves as she decrees the prophecy of the NEW ...]

DARK TRINITY

in these times most uncertain, the fate of magick and women hang in the balance, from my life force itself, i will see that magick lives on and continues to kiss the earth with its mystical power! though the trinity may be doomed in this present time, it will be reborn anew in the passing centuries to come! from my life force...three women with hair of sunshine gold, with lips that shame the red rose and eyes that bewitch all who look upon them will come. they will occupy a special place in this puzzel of the multiverse...each sustained by MY essence and power!

full images of Spellbinder, Magik and Darkchilde appear...the uncanny resemblance between these women is REMARKABLE. there faces form at a triangular position around Hecate's own face in the stars.

let only those who are most worthy be chosen to raise, nurture and care for them, for the future of magick rests within their care and wisdom.



[i] with the dawn of the new trinity will come many threats both to these women and those who care for them. to answer this, there will be a NEW force ..a KEEPER OF TIME! someone strong enough to watch over ALL of humanity! a harbinger with the power to gather those strong enough to protect the dark trinity and any OTHERS who may need it. She will befriend the maid of the dark trinity and join her magicks with her.

[an image of Alison Marble forms and floats away as well.]


and to Persephone, my wayward sister. Though you may have fallen from the favor of your fellow gods, I have delievered you from their wrath. you shall not wander the cosmos alone and uncared for you. you will encounter one or more of the dark trinity in your travels and they will accept you. you will lead a life that you were too often denied in this world and you will have more than enough chance to make up for what you have done to ME.

[ an image of Persephone floats past Hecate's eyes as well and circles around the Dark Trinity before fading away. Persephone would remember DARKCHILDE saying words similar to this when SHE sent Persephone to the six's timeline...a new life, the chance to live AGAIN. Hecate had decreed that Persephone would have an ongoing bond with one or more of the dark trinity in her new life and since these women WERE in essence Hecate REBORN...that is why she bonded with Darkchilde and why she felt so willing to help Morgan in the six's timeline.]


these words, these events i do decree and by my will under the power of the moon they shall be done. NOTHING that occurs from here on will prevent the dawn of the trinity reborn to face the times in which it comes. Persephone will NOT be crushed under the heel of Zeus and I will NEVER truly be defeated!


the sky explodes as the moon pulsates and lightning flashes...hecate's magick and her very essence seemes to commune with nature before finally the ray of moonlight fades and Hecate herself..now completely drained falls to the ground outside of her rotunda.


it is.....done.

[ she passes out. the six have witnessed the foundation for Morgan's birth as well as the foreplanning of Alison, Karen, Ororo AND Persephone's own path crossing with the dark trinity. but there is more for them to see , more for them to learn!]

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: Persephone's eyes were focused on Hecate and Alison. Well this wasn't what she had expected...more front row seats for the six to see her life. Not pleased, Persephone kept her fingers linked and her dark sapphire eyes watching the cinematic 'viewing' of Demeter's murder. Persephone had no expression as the images of Demeter (http://www.diane-lane.org/gallery/albums/photographers/normal_diane_photoshoots-0084.jpg) flashed in front of her. She was a beautiful woman; pure and full of love. But Persephone saw nothing more than a dispicable woman who needed to be erased from this planet. With a stone like face, Persephone watced as the images of Hecate running out of her chambers and to where Persephone had finally murdered her mother played out. Demeter's stomach was slashed and her own bowels were pulled into a noose that wrapped tightly around her neck. Demeter's beautiful ivory gown coated in sticky red/black blood as a pool formed beneth her lifeless body. Persephone stood tall above her mother, covered in blood as well. It was another look at a side of Persephone that none of the six had ever seen before. ::

:: Keeping her eyes focused on the visions, they continued to play out showing the events that followed Demeter's death. Persephone offered herself in place of her mother in the trinity, but Hecate felt she was too corrupt to take the place of ther 'maidan/mother'. At this point in her life, Persephone knew that Hecate made the right choice. But back then, it was an insult and the goddess was angered by Hecate's decision. Finally, the scenes of Hecate casting a spell to create a new trinity played out. The reasoning behind her affiliation with Darkchilde and now Spellbinder. Persephone was destined to be linked with Hecate's successors, and Morgan would now see that for herself. ::

:: Keeping her eyes focused on the visions, the wind continued to blow back Persephone's chocolate hair as she stood motionless and uneffected. She waited as more visions began to play out. ::

[Harbinger]

:: for the first time, Alison felt herself reaching out the way she had always DREAMED OF! tapping into time and space as she SHOULD be able to! no shock, no feeling of being overwhelmed! and she was able eto SHARE what she could see! many times in the past, members of the six had often dismissed or taken Alison's precognition for granted but as time when on, they began to see just how VITAL it was and how DIFFICULT it was for her carry the burden of being able to see ALL times and places.::

:: with Hecate's guiding hand, Alison continued to reach out, taking the six on an enchanted view of time threads that allowed them to see the savage murder of Demeter by Persephone and Hecate's reaction, along with the night that Hecate decreed the coming of the new DARK TRINITY!::

:: but she learned something ELSE! Alison HERSELF was preordained by Hecate! that's why she'd not encountered any cross time altnernates of herself yet in the time streams that she'd visited so far! She was MORE than a "guardian" for the six...she was indeed a Harbinger and her purpose , her destiny was becoming clear....it explained why she had felt the compulsion to leave her family behind as early as age 14 to explore the WORLD OVER searching for the secrets of magick and mystical artifacts! it explained why she had the powers she had....with the ability to protect AND destroy in the most brutal and efficient fashion. She may not have been from hecate's bloodline directly, but she was annointed by Hecate just the same!::

:: it explained why she could NEVER identify with her mother, Kelly King who's short sighted and selfish nature had corrupted her beyond the point of no return...and Erika, although well meaning, was not neaerly as strong as Alison to accept the mantle or destiny that she been preordained for. Her friendship with Morgan was more than a chance thing as well.::

:: Alison couldnt help but smile a bit as she breathed, letting her power flow through her like a freshly released river as blue/black orbs continued to swirl around her and Hecate, sparkling at some points...glowing at others. Hecate prompted her to continue on, and so she did.

[Hecate]

[the space around them continues to flow and spin, changing again as they are now in another place atop a rocky plateau, traveling through a marble citadle that appears to be a shrine to Hecate. it IS in fact a temple, that is tended to by a high priestess named CIRCE, hecate's most devoted and (at the time) beloved desciple.]

[ Circe is younger, and clearly ONLY human, a practicing witch with excellent skill but not enchanted like morgan or alison. she kneels before a beautifull jewel encrusted marble alter, chanting before a glowing, shimmering SILVER flame.]

Circe: In this hour, I call upon Hecate, beautifull goddess of moon and witchcraft, ultimate symbol of POWER in the life of a witch! i ask for your audience!

[ Circe lifts her clasped hands up , with her head still bowed. her hands extened toward the moon which hangs low and full. and a with a low toned chime, the flames begin to rise and expand, sparkling shards swirl around them as Hecate appears in astral form.]

Hecate: [ her voice reverberates throughout the temple] you have called for me, my desciple and i am here.

[Circe slowly looks up, still kneeling.]

Circe: Hecate, my beloved goddess, I know what has been done to you on Olympus, the disrespect and betrayal that the Olympians have visited upon you. With the trinity of the moon having been destroyed, they feel you are no longer powerfull enough to be in their presence and Hera, through her long standing jealousy has finally persuaded Zeus to bannish you from Olympus! it is UNFORGIVABLE what they have done after all you did for THEM!! rescuing THEM from cronus and MORE! They blame YOU for Persephone's actions....and for protecting HER from their wrath and they act as though THEY have always acted in a way above reproach?

[Circe seems genuine! she seems HUMAN now...and truly concerned for her goddess. the six are witnessing events that would have occurred AFTER the 'act of betrayal' that Alison predicted on Olympus to Athena...IF things were to go a certain way. Persephone was not here at this time and even SHE had no knowledge of this chain of events.

I KNOW how you want, NEED vengeance and I offer MYSELF to you to help in anyway that i can.

[but with this offer, Circe hoped that she too would receive consideration from Hecate for SHE had a mission of her own...a grudge to carry out against the AMAZONS of themyscria...namely Hypolita and Antiope and the rare and few MEN who earned a place among their presence and in their hearts.]

[ Hecate , who looked VERY weary and unhappy in her astral image appeared to be truly appreciative that someone STILL had respect and regard for her.]

Hecate: it is true, that Hera has wronged me PAST the point of any possible forgiveness! Zeus destroyed my relationship with Hades and now..through the persuasion of his horrid wife...he, along with his weak willed olympians have saw fit to banish me from their halls, as if I could be dismissed THAT EASILY! I have vowed vengeance upon them and those who worship them..not just for now but in the generations and CENTURIES to come!

[ the swirling, sulphuric, billowing black clouds flowed and churned around the moon out above the temple and the moon itself seemed to be growing dark]

Hecate: your devotion, your loyalty to me has not gone unnoticed, Circe. You have shown MORE than great promise as my desciple and now you offer yourself to me in service...such willingness and bravery i cannot ignore.

[ Hecate KNOWS that Circe hopes for consideration]

what is it that YOU would have, my child?

[Circe looks SURPRISED, forgetting that Hecate can sense her thoughts.]

Circe: Hecate, the Amazons, the women blessed by Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite and HERA..have become a thorn in my side...Hypolita and Antiope in particular. they BLIGHT my path at every turn! hounding me and any OTHER who professes to practice witchcraft. they carry out the hypocritical demands of their patron goddesses and ultimately stand in YOUR WAY as well.
grant me the ability..the POWER to deal with them as they deserve and allow me to be the instrument of YOUR VENGEANCE upon the Olympians and ALL THEY HOLD DEAR!!

[ circe wanted POWER. she wouldve given her SOUL to have it.]

Hecate: you would be willing to allow YOUR BODY to become a vessel for my power on earth?

[circe nods]

Hecate: our desires and goals are similar. it shall be done. upon the death of witch and birth of witch, Hecate by name and choice shall reposess her soul and live THROUGH HER! Circe, daughter of the titans, WE ARE NOW ONE!!


[ the moon BLASTS rays of moonlight down on the temple and in a violent, cascading torrent of flame, Circe screams as her body is BURNED and Hecate's astral form FADES ....her POWER and her SPIRIT now projecting to the spot where circe's body once stood and from the torrent of silver flames arrises a NEW AND GLORIOUS Circe...the one that the Six saw in their timeline...she radiates with power and wild ambition as she laughs softly]

[Alice Cullen]

Alison: Haleigh, :: Alison replied in an exasperated tone::

you're smarter and FAR more logical and creative than THIS.

Haleigh ran her hands through her hair, sighing deeply with frustration.

"You think I don't KNOW that?? It doesnt MAKE it any easier, Alison." She said, as Alison delivered a pointed pep talk, and then a forboding warning. Haleigh tried to pull herself together... she tried to put her insecurity away, and as good as she was at that, the idea that her friends would be in danger and she would not quite be herself in terms of power was harder to deny than usual. Alison's words revrberated in her mind, and she tried to take them to heart... but she knew what she REALLY needed was to get out and FIGHT... and put her insecurities to rest by proving to HERSELF that she was STILL a force to be reckoned with. Sitting around here talking about what they were up against was good, but Haleigh was ready to get OUT of this time, and to do whatever it took to do so. Alison had a vision, and shared it with the rest of them: they were all going to die. Haleigh shrugged, less concerned than she should be.

"So what ELSE is new?"

Hecate told them all what they were up against, Nicolas suggested matchups that were quite close to what Haleigh would have put forth herself..... she, unlike her sister, had no problem with what he'd said... to fight Athena.... THAT would truly be something.

Hecate brought them all together and took them above ground, to the place that Haleigh recognized as the future site of Minerva's home. Haleigh took a deep breath of the fresh open air. The forest was strangely soothing to her... it was relaxing. Hecate and Alison took to showing them past events, and Haleigh fell silent, content to just watch.

[Hecate]

From the past

[ from the shocking and almost BRUTAL inferno of silver mystic flames, Circe's unholy soul , along with her body BURN while Hecate's astral form which betrayed sadness and heartache seemed to fade and melt away. from the ashes arose a new and glorious circe, wearing a beautifull one shoulder strapped, plunging V neck, asymetrical gown with a very high hemline in the skirt. her long black hair now in a pony tail, she wore the most exquiste and flawless gold jewelry in the form of braclets and rings.]


[ chimes played hauntingly as Circe looked herself over in an oval shapped mirror. the silver flame was gone and there was no trace of Hecate's presence. Circe smiled with wicked glee as her now GOLDEN eyes sparkled with renewed zeal....and with that, she disappeared in a blast of thunder.]

the red moon

[ not since the dawn of the red moon had Greece seen so much bloodshed and terror. MEN across the land were disappearing and more and more "creatures" were appearing as they attacked travelers, businessmen and anyone who claimed to have faith in the gods of olympus. simultaneously, scenes of chaos and dischord could be seen unfolding on the isle of THEMYSCRIA, the realm of the Amazons!]

[ on Mt.Olympus, Athena fumes as s he watches her beloved Amazons wage war on EACH OTHER and the few men that had earned favor with them were now crushed in a fury of violence. The Amazons were dying...and those who still worshiped the gods of olympus were experiencing hardship and chaos across the land like never before.]

in the halls of mt. olympus, which itself looked withered and decayed all over

Athena: our very life force grows weaker with each passing night that this red moon hangs low.

[Artemis walks in, but she's standing at an unusual orientation to Athena....HORIZONTAL and across the way, where as Athena is standing vertical on the traditional "floor"]

Artemis: the amazons called out to US for AID Athena. We are their patron goddesses and yet you do NOTHING to help them against this new evil that CIRCE has visited upon them. In all your wisdom..did you NOT realize that Hecate's scorn would eventually bring us ALL DOWN!? you shouldve stood up against Hera and her petty jealousy!

[the young goddess radiated courage and strength, she was a huntress, a warrior and proud to share a rapport with the amazons. She was also apart of the now defunct trinity of the moon.]

Ever since Persephone killed Demeter, Hecate has never been the same...the power of the trinity was forever shattered and Hera was only too GLAD to capitalize on this to add INSULT to her injury! Personally, I feel Hecate is JUSTIFIED in having allowed Circe to carry out her vengeance...i only wish that our Amazons did not have to suffer for it. I care LITTLE for the rest of the mortals on earth...

[Athena listened to Artemis as she watched the chaos unfold from a floating orb. finally turning to speak]

Athena: Hecate was never one of US...but she more than prooved her worth in the battle against Cronus. I admired her moxy. She was one of the few who would stand up to Zeus regularly.

[ she paused as thought about Hera. this woman WAS annoying to no end, WHY hadn't Athena done more to prevent her from turning this whole situation with Hecate into a popularity contest? Was it because she had been so wrapped up in her own bitter campaign against Persephone that she allowed herself to be distracted and didnt realize it before it was too late? the goddess of wisdom and war showed signs of being "at a loss" as Artemis asked what they were going to do!]

Athena: casting Hecate out of Mt Olympus was NOT my idea nor would it have been my choosing. Hera, in her never ending jealousy and suspicion of ANY woman here or on earth, has once again behaved in a way MOST unbecoming...but perhaps she was not the ONLY one...

[ again, Athena couldnt help but wonder ...in fact it was more like she REALIZED it and was too ashamed to say it....HER OWN bitter situation with Persephone had distracted her from more important matters...the bigger picture had been lost upon her.]

Athena: however you are right....though MANY things have come undone and our very future, our position and livelyhood on Olympus seems to be waning...we cannot abandon the Amazons...if we cannot save the rest of the earth from being ushered into a new age of violence under this moon, you and I MUST at least save the Amazons. Hecate will never forgive us and her vengeance will never be satisfied, she declared that the day she left....all we can do, is address her mortal host, Circe.

[ and so the six watch as Athena and Artemis use their powers to effectively HALT Circe's assault on them. the b estiamorphs that are advancing on the island are destroyed, and there are no more amazon casualties...and it is at this moment that the island historically becomes INVISIBLE to the eyes of men and would REMAIN uncharted by any map or means of technology even into the present. The isle of Themyscria is restored to a tranquil oasis of beauty and the amazons are immortal, FREE of the perversion and pollution of "patriarch's world" and BEYOND the reach of Circe.]


[ The six witness the beginning of Circe's terror and violence would continue to varying degrees throughout history. it appears that Hecate, through a series of losses, seemed almost disollusioned and detatched from the affairs of this world and departed the physical plane of existence and left Circe to carry out her revenge for generations to come but somewhere along the way, she would pose a grave threat to the dark trinity as well as being poised to END all of creation. Even HECATE wouldnt have wanted THIS.]

[Jill Monroe]

<< from the very beginning, Morgan felt herself to be in a special place. she felt it when she was fighting alongside Barbara in her own timeline. Hecate explained that this was an enchanted forest and that the area here was magicked. as the team watched and learned the history behind the genesis of the DARK TRINITY (of which she was apart of) , Morgan could see that Hecate suffered losses and setbacks left and right, much like SHE has in her own timeline. She also noticed that the only love that Hecate seemed to have, (Hades) was yanked from her in a wicked and cruel power play. No wonder Hecate had a legendary reputation for being unforgiving. The olympians disrespected her left and right and even Persephone, though it was unintentional, caused Hecate one of her GREATEST setbacks. but were it not for that...then Morgan not never have been born. Morgan, Alison and even Karen as Morgan's mother had been preordained and Alison seemed more poised to realize her own unique destiny now that she had learned that she too had been preordained to be a "Harbinger"....more than merely apart of the Six. Persephone had been predisposed to befriend more than one of the dark trinity...as they were living extensions of Hecate herself. it was all made clear.>>

a maid with gold as sunshine hair, lips that shame the red rose and most bewitching eyes.

<< the images of herself alongide Darkchilde and Magik were very intriguing to Morgan...essentially they were THE SAME BEING, sustained by a single life force equally spaced across the multiverse. they looked strikingly similar but their were subtle differences...like eye color. Persephone had been close to Darkchilde...this was well known. Would SHE and Persephone be as close?>>

<< the scenes folded out with such real feeling and cinematic beauty...was this a glimpse of what it was like to have Alison's power to "see" through time and space? Limbo had a funny way of replaying temporal phantom/scenes at the most random moments...sometimes triggered by her emotions or those of others but it to be able to share in Alison's power, guided by Hecate was something truly unique. They watched as Circe seemed to PLAY on Hecate's own weary spirit and offered herself to be the instrument of Hecate's vengeance...KNOWING that Hecate was soon to depart this plane of existence as she could no longer bear to deal with the olympians or the humans. Circe, Hecate's most prized desciple took advantage of her patron goddess in a most covert way and while Hecate's scorn and vengeance rained down on the earth and was felt on Olympus, Morgan couldnt help but see that Hecate was once again USED.>>

Circe planned this well. The Olympians..especially that fool Hera...they thought they were so RIGHTEOUS in what they tried to do to Persephone and what they did to Hecate, who stood in the gap FOR Persephone...but they didnt realize that it would all come back to BITE THEM in their holier than thou asses!

<< Morgan watched as Athena seemed to be very reflective, expressing remorse and even GUILT over Hecate's treatment after the events involving Persephone and Hera's childish "popularity contest" antics. But even Athena had been blinded by her hatred of Persephone to see the bigger picture and now the halls of Olympus reflected the decay and the suffering the gods were feeling as more and more of humanity turned their back on these olympians while Circe spread her violence and brutality through greece and beyond.>>

Circe's doing it AGAIN in our time...only THIS time, she'll DAMN all of creation...she's so BENT on this..she doesnt realize she'll be destroyed as well!

[Harbinger]

:: and as the final scene from the PAST plays out many things are made clear to the six from what they've seen. NOW though Alison, following Hecate's direction, allows herself to easily SHIFT time threads and look into the future..more accurately the PRESENT time of the Six's timeline...allowing them to see what is going on NOW!::


:: a mournfull bell tolls as the stars in the night sky around them rotate clockwise now and the swirling, blue/black orbs glow and sparkle again..allowing the six to see THEIR earth as it is NOW!::

reports of chaos, madness and MURDER are coming in from ALL OVER THE GLOBE now! the Red Moon has transfixed the WHOLE of the earth!>>

<< "Ground Zero" where Barbara Minerva's palatial estate once stood is now a smoldering CRATER that stretches for miles with scorch marks and damage. Emergency workers and authorities have declared Barbara DEAD after recovering her DNA from the underground fortress after managing to extinguish the raging fire. they believe she was incinerated in the initial blast. Evidence of "super human involvement" has been found as well along with the dead bodies of Barbara's soldiers and those of bestiamorphs as well. The Six have been rumoured to be SEEN in the streets of Greece helping the citizens to survive the Red Moon but no visual evidence can confirm that..a good thing for the Six as they have now disappeared.>>

<< their disappearence has NOT gone unnoticed by those over in the states...namely Alycia Barnett, special assistant to the president & chairwoman on the committee of super human affairs; her "Force Works" agents , Dr. Karen Victoria, Clandestine Inc....ALL of whom have now joined forces to DEFEND themselves and their city from what they couldnt have ever imagined..an attack of these monstrous bestiamorphs, as WELL as helping authorities with "Crowd control" as rioting, chaos, and unrest sweep across NYC.>>

<< it is an ever INCREASING task and they are not alone as others like them across the nation attempt to defend themselves and help those who cannot help themselves but despite their "valiant" effort...they began to feel overwhelmed themsleves.>>

<< and all the while, from the isle of aerie, CIRCE watches! Pleased that her influence under the red moon is now spreading across the globe.Satisfied that she has destroyed Barbara Minerva and causing Persephone anguish, as well as "raping" Morgan of her MAGICKS and prooving that she WASNT the "sorceress supreme" that she thought. But there was something that didnt sit too well with her! The Six ESCAPED somehow!>>

:: Karen and Alycia gain access to Illustra and are now in Morgan's appartment. the two women seem to work VERY well together in a situation such as this. Clandestine agents shadowing them and covering them on the 107th floor and around the perimeter of the building's office park. it is clear that they are trying to figure out just what happened to the Six and if the massive explosion in Greece is tied into it. Of course Karen uses her maternal bond to Morgan to activate the scrying glass and she and Alycia see the horrific events that took place just before the six's disappearence. The bloody battle between Barbara Minerva and her soldiers along with The six vs Circe and her Bestiamorphs. the arrival of Circe and the subsquent DESTRUCTION of that entire landscape....::

Karen: Alycia, i know that New York needs all the help it can get...but i HAVE to go to greece. If my daughter were dead...I'd KNOW IT..i would've FELT IT but i havent! she and her friends MUST be alive....CIRCE must have them and no one...not even a sorceress from hell is going to stop me from rescuing my daughter!

Alycia: If you think i'm letting you go alone, you're mistaken. Morgan, Alison, Delilah..they're my FRIENDS...and The Six have come to my aid more times than most would think. Their are plent of "supers" in NYC that can handle THIS crisis....WE are going to greece.

[Rampage]

Nicolas watched, transfixed as the scenes played themselves out. He saw the cold-hearted nature of Persephone as she murdered her mother. He winced as he could not imagine harming his own mother had he known her but he realized that his was a different time, and her murder as not for him to judge.

As the events turned against Hecate, he saw a similarity that played out between Hecate and Morgan. They were if fact more alike than any could have imagined, as their emotional battering at the hands of people around them and their betrayal by the most important men to them had torn theri very souls, clouding their judgment. Nicolas only hoped that Morgan would avoid making a mistake as extreme as the one Hectate made, no matter the justification. His heart hurt for the goddess loss and betrayal, a pain that emanated from the very projection.

As the scene played to the present, he saw the carnage and his hands tightened, the joints cracking as he saw what Circe was doing to the world. He saw Alycia and Karen vow to find out what happened in Greece and he could hold his tongue no longer.

"We must hasten to do what we need to do here. They will be killed if they confront Circe!!"

Nicolas paced like a caged animal, anxiety building as he saw two women he cared deeply for rush to aid them possibly to their own doom...

[Harbinger]

:: Guardian felt the sadness from Hecate, the bitterness and betrayal that radiated from her core. The same way that she perceived Morgan. the two had so many parallels and now alison understood why Hecate seemed to disappear from history and was scarcely heard from. She couldnt bear to be in this plane of existence after all she had endured.::


:: Persephone and Circe but in Persephone's case...she seemed to have grown and LEARNED...probably during her time in Darkchilde's timeline but Persephone still possessed a very cold, standoffish personality, UNLIKE Alison, she didnt seem to appreciate the value of letting others "in" since her arrival in the six's timeline.::

:: as they shifted to the present timestream in the six's timeline, they saw that Alycia, Karen, Clandestine Inc and Forceworks were doing their best to combat Circe's terror and true to form, Karen and Alycia were now trying to uncover the where abouts of the Six. As Karen declared she weas going to Greece and Alycia concurred...the vision ended. Alison and Hecate disengaged.::

:: Alison looked at Hecate for a moment.::

this will be the last time that we see her. when this is all over and we return to our timeline...even if we survive and defeat circe, the damage that was done to Hecate can never be UNDONE. it isnt FAIR! even Morgan had the chance to recover....after the inferno.

:: rampage spoke and Alison looked at him.::

they're not going to fight circe, nicolas. we've only seen the BEGINNING of what they intend to do. but let us not forget that Barbara Minerva was the guardian of PANDORA herself, not just the box. Barbara may be dead..but Circe cannot open the box until PANDORA is also dead. She's still alive and there's still time! We need all the help we can get and Karen and Alycia will be the ones that buy us the time we need to get back and deal with Circe. THEY will prevent Pandora's death!


As long as Circe is prevented from achieving her goal, the possibility of her faltering and opening the door to her own destruction remains clear. We still have a chance!


:: Alison spoke with certainty as she looked ahead. the future of her time was no longer clouded...with Hecate's encouragement and her own renewed resolve, her precognition was now stronger, more focused than before.::

We have to leave now...and go back to persephone's palace. Bupol is coming and he will alert Athena to Persephone's where abouts.

:: Bupol of course being Athena's enchanted owl. what it sees, Athena sees and while Hecate's cloaking spell shielded them from the eyes of mortals and gods...enchanted creatures like Bupol were not so easily deterred.::

[Pam Ravenscroft]

:: The visions ended with a look into the 'future' showing Alycia and Karen. Nicolas showed concern for them as he thought they would fight Circe, but Alison eased his growing anxiety. Unlinking her fingers, Persephone rolled her eyes with irritation hearing Alison's warning about Athena's owl. ::

"The one animal on this planet I would take great pleasure in strangling."

:: Bupol was a familiar much like Morgan's cat, Tinkerbell. Bupol just seemed to know the 411 on everything that was happening concerning the Gods. A very smart and useful creature, but to Persephone, an ongoing thorn in her side. Taking Alison's warning seriously, she would not wait a moment longer for that rat with wings to find them. ::

"Alright, let's go."

[MorningStar]

[ MorningStar watched as the visions evolved before her. She gasped as she saw Persephone cruelly murder her own mother. Even though it wasn't new information, to actually see it was surprisingly shocking.

Seeing the deterioration of Olympus both physically and for its inhabitants echoed Delilah's own worries about the future of the Six. Would they fade away in the same fashion, internal squabbles bringing them down like the gods of ancient Greece thousands of years before? Would Haleigh be banished like her sister? Would Nicolas and Morgan be seperated off from the rest of them? Would Alison's marble heart cause her to take up her journeys alone once again?

As things changed to their own time and she saw the destruction that Circe was rending across the planet and their own city, she got angry. How could this have been allowed to happen? If Hecate was so good, how could her magick be used to this purpose? She shook her head, she just didn't understand all of this. She was beginning to feel that they were wasting their time here - that their place was back in their own time fighting Circe directly. ]

"Let's finish this and get back to our own time. I don't like the idea of Karen and Alycia out there without us."

[Oracle]

<< with visions of past, present and future having been shared, the six learned more than just the history of Persephone, Hecate and Circe as it relates to the current threat they faced, they also saw object lessons in what damage the bickering and "in fighting" they so often engaged in could cause them as individuals AND as a team.>>

<< the mystery surrounding Morgan and the dark trinity as well as Persephone and Alison's ties to that were revealed and the painfull parallels between Morgan/Hecate and Persephone/Circe were also clearly defined. to understand your enemy is the best way to go about a way to defeat them...and now, the six were a step closer to that goal but of course, things were never so simple for the team for even as they returned to Persephone's palace in the underworld with this new knowledge and understanding...they still had to worry about the threat of Athena and the gods/goddesses on olympus.>>

<< it seemed that there was not much more for them to do, but they would find out just how BUSY they would be sooner than they thought>>