It's late evening in a cheerfully suburban park in Mililani Town, the older, more established side of Mililani. A small press conference is set up in front of a particularly well-manicured floral arrangement, and a dynamite brunette in a black power suit is speaking into a microphone with a smile that would melt butter.
"And that's why we at Symbiote Financial are so thrilled to be setting up our new world headquarters, right here in Mililani Town. Because you don't have to go to New York, or even Honolulu, to work for a company that makes a global impact. Be at the heart of the markets, right here in the heart of Oahu. Despite everything that has happened the past year, our numbers have never looked stronger, and so it's with deep humility and boundless optimism that step into the role of CEO, and bring multinational global finance revenue to our community." She smiles a million-watt smile, her perfectly silken ponytail gently catching the breeze for effect. All that's missing is the American flag. The fading light softens all of her features, and the food trucks around the perimeter make the park smell like a carnival.
Peter is wandering around the food trucks, happily lost in the carnival-like smells. He's currently chomping down on a hotdog laden with all the condiments. The woman speaking does catch his attention part way through her speech. "What does Symbiote Financial even do? Are they a bank, or a banker's bank? Or a banker's banker's bank?" The young man shrugs, finishing off the hotdog and chasing it with a Mountain Dew Code Red. Peter makes a face at the taste. "Eugh. Drink of the year my ass."
James is passing through the park with Noemi at the moment. He is dressed nicely, though maybe a little bit formally for a park. Though with the presence of the woman in the very sharp suit means that he's not the only one. And we don't know what Noemi is wearing yet, either. So...there you go.
They are chatting, though he pauses in whatever he's saying as they come closer to the press conference. His eyebrows raise as he stops, watching for the moment. "Huh," he says quietly, to his companion. "Well. Good for her."
Noemi is not in business attire, not being a business woman, but instead, an airy white sundress that's maybe a little casual to match with the designer suit of her companion, but probably more suited to food trucks in a park. So she's perfectly attired, thank you.
"Symbiote sounds... sort of strange for a financial firm, no?" she says, glancing in the direction of the speaker. "A little... parasitic. Might be perfectly appropriate, on second thought." Dimples flash at that little joke.
Conni makes her way through the crowd and towards the food truck, the tall dane having little trouble seeing over the assembled people. She's dressed in dark clothes, a black jacket with a vivid purple lining that flashes into view when she moves. She's wearing a sleeved crop top with the jacket, the top exposing most of her well muscled midriff. Dark yoga pants that are almost criminally form fitting are worn with dark jogging sneakers, Conni looking like she has been to the gym recently. She has a duffle bag over one shoulder and her visible skin is damp, her hair arranged into a ponytail.
Slipping a hand into her bag, she pulls out a wallet and waits in the queue for a hamburger, idly watching the crowd as she waits. She seems to be in a good mood though, humming a tune and she stops to wave at Peter as she notices him. Looking over to the speaker on the stage and possibly hearing Peter, Conni raises a hand to get her attention before asking a question. "Excuse me but what is it that Symbiote Financial actually do?" Conni speaks loudly and clearly, her Danish accent apparent as she projects her voice over the crowd.
The new CEO of Symbiote Financial comes out from behind the podium for a few pictures, then returns to take questions. A precocious journalist in an ill-fitting sport coat leaps up and asks, "Chad Miller, Trib-Herald. Ms. Lavigne, you're stepping into the CEO position as literally every other member of your C-suite hasrecently died tragically. Does the timing of your grand Mililani opening not seem a bit tone deaf to you?"
The CEO turns her mega-watt smile back on the man and deliberately lets it fade as she sniffs and looks to the side, closing her eyes. "Mr. Miller, lest you forget, my husband and three of our closest friends are dead to these tragic accidents. I'll answer your unspoken accusation with a report from your /own/ paper, that I was here in Mililani at the time of every accident, and a friend has been kind enough to let me stay with her while I grieve the loss of my loved ones." She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye, and looks back out at the crowd with earnest eyes and a defiant set to her jaw. "At this point, my heart is broken, so I could give a rat's ass how tone deaf it may seem. We built this enterprise from the ground up, together, and I will make their dream come true, if it kills me." There's steel in her voice that made the microphone unnecessary. "Are there any OTHER questions?" She makes it very apparent that she's done with this reporter's inquiry, and sweeps her gaze out over the crowd, looking for anyone else with a question.
That's when she catches Conni's question. She nods along with the Dane's question, giving a wide smile as she responds, "That's a fantastic question, and I'm glad you asked. We specialize in real estate investments. We have been acquiring tourism assets here on Oahu, to lend a helping hand to struggling local owners. Symbiote handles all the red tape and paperwork, and your local friends and neighbors are free to do what they love - entertain visitors." She spreads her hands wide, benevolently.
Peter seems quite lost in enjoying the tasty food truck delights, but his face lights up with a smile when Conni waves. He makes his way over to her side just as she's asking her question. "Hey, you look like you just finished a run. Did you want a water?" He offers a cold bottle of the stuff before taking a bite out of his own hamburger... and starts to choke on it upon hearing the CEO's answer to Conni's question. He spits out the ruined mouthful and STARES wide-eyed at Conni. He blinks a few times quietly.
"Er. Forgive me but where have we heard this before?", he whispers to the tall Dane. "Weren't they pushing Aurelie? Isn't this where we came in, before?"
James chuckles at the joke, too, and he looks over at Noemi as he replies, "Maybe it's supposed to sound natural and earthy or something. But they definitely missed the mark a little bit, didn't they?" He starts to turn to walk away again, but then that question comes. And, well. Come on. It's definitely worth listening to that answer. Another laugh escapes him, though this one is drier than the other. "Wow," he says, shaking his head. "Corporate intrigue." But he doesn't sound like he really thinks anything of it; if anything, there's some sympathy in his voice. Not //that// much -- he doesn't know the woman. But a little bit.
"Yeah, just a little. Definitely sounds like some onimous biotech firm in a horror movie or something. Probably the cause of a zombie outbreak," Noemi says wryly. She squints a little as the pointed question turn the conference into something a little more interesting, at least. She tips her head, her brows knitting together as she listens to the woman speak, frowning as she seems to grow flustered. "She seems like she's telling the truth, but she's hiding something, too," Noemi muses to James. "I haven't heard anything about any of that, but honestly, business news is not my forte. You heard anything about it?" she asks, turning back to the tall man at her side.
Something about the woman's name seems to be familiar to Conni and the tall Dane offers a quick nod of thanks to Ms Lavigne before turning and tapping a number into her phone. Waiting in the queue, she hands over some cash and has a quick muffled conversation before snapping the phone closed.
Picking up a burger, she looks for a table. Smiling, Conni takes a seat next to Peter and nods her head. Reaching over, she takes the bottle of water while offering a nod of thanks. "Oh yes. Remember the fellow who blew up in the hostel? That was her late husband. The boat that got wrecked? Owned by a competitor." Keeping up her grin, she quickly takes the top from the bottle of water and gratefully takes a swig. "Sex magic and tidal waves, oh my. I investigated this at the time and Symbiote is really not the right name for them. They seem to specialize in incredibly hostile takeovers."
"Very thoughtful questions, thank you all. We should let you all get back to this beautiful Oahu sunset, and please look forward to new job openings in the area very soon. Thank you all. Good night. Aloha!" The very New York woman waves and steps off the podium, and the press starts to mill back to their vans...until one of them starts shouting. "There's been a plane crash! The 5:40 flight from Honolulu to New York! Get your shit and get in the van, we have to cover the rescue efforts!" The reporters scurry like the fires of hell were at their heels.
Meanwhile, Lydia Lavigne stands frozen in shock, her eyes turning red and glassy. But the CEO swallows it down and clings barely to her composure as she looks for a relatively secluded place to sit down. And then she pulls out her phone, stabbing at it desperately.
One of the TVs on a food truck blares out the breaking news. "This just in. We are live on scene of a plane crash just outside of Honolulu. The plane was struck by lightning - you can see, the sky is still green from the strange atmospheric discharge. So far, people are in the water, but rescue crews are getting to them quickly. Only one confirmed casualty - a young man, identity as yet unknown. He somehow managed to get his neck wrapped up in the oxygen tubing as the plane descended, and is believed to have died on impact when it snapped his neck." The camera zooms in ominously on a pool of blood floating on top of the water near the crack in the hull.
Peter snorts and grins. "Well Parasite Financial doesn't have the same ring, but unlike her, it would be more truthful. She's definitely hiding..." He blinks and drops his hamburger onto its wrapper. "I ain't hungry any more.", he says before nodding to Conni. "Yeah, I remember that guy blowing up, I didn't know she..", he tilts his head towards the newly minted CEO on the stage, "Was the dude's wife. And I heard about the boat. But. Your investigation, and that of oh, two or three other people, seemed to peter out. Uh, no pun intended." He rubs at the back of his neck. "Did it just hit a dead end? Er, again, no pun intended. Uhm. If you're reopening your investigation... I'll help you with the leg work, yeah? And perhaps we won't have to stab each other this time around." The young man grins cheekily.
He blinks then at the sudden news being yelled out by someone in the press. "Huh. A plane crash. Lightning? That's not supposed to happen..." The look on the CEO's face doesn't escape his notice, and he leans in close to Conni. "Is it just me or has she gotten some very bad news just now? What are the chances...?" Peter stands up then, and starts moving towards the CEO's location.
James shakes his head at Noemi's question, his head tipping to the side with a thoughtful expression. "Not that I remember," he says, but whatever else he might have said is lost when the the accident is heard about through various methods. "Jesus," he murmurs, the shock turning into real concern as he glances at the TV. He winces when the blood is shown, turning back toward Noemi. "That's horrible." He doesn't look at Lydia, so does not see her expression.
"Oh, my God," says Noemi, turning to look at the television, staring at the footage, before turning back to James. "I should get to the emergency room," she says, taking a step in whatever direction they've parked in. He knows it's more than just being very dedicated to her job that pulls at her to help, in whatever way possible. She pulls a phone out of her purse, bringing it to her ear.
"Was that a yes to lightening then Peter?" Grinning, she looks over as the reporters start to get agitated, craning her head to listen in. "Oh... Peter, wait!" Conni raises from her seat and waves a hand as Peter goes to move, a look of concern on her face as she glances to the CEO. "The air was rather green during the wave you know, also they were the ones doing bad things I think?" Sighing, she picks up her hamburger in its box and starts to follow after Peter. "This was such a lovely day." Stopping, she turns, returns to the table and picks up her duffle bag, slinging it over a shoulder. "Okay, less distracted now."
Lydia Lavigne stares at her phone, fighting back tears with an aggressive snarl, like she can intimidate them back into submission. As she spots Peter and Conni approaching, she sets her phone beside her, opposite the approaching pair, and she simply says, "Horrible, isn't it?" She doesn't seem to notice much else going on at the moment, but she keeps glancing at her quasi-hidden phone.
Peter pauses when Conni speaks, and he nods. "Well, green is also an indication of a tornado, isn't it? Generally a bad sign no matter how you look at it. Uhm. Are you saying that she wanted this?", he wonders, with a tilt of his head. "Or is this the competition?" He lets out a breath and moves closer. The young man offers a shrug to the woman, "I guess it depends on your point of view. I'm guessing that you were expecting someone who was on that plane, so I can empathize a little with your worry and concern. But, uh. Seems like an odd coincidence, given what that reporter said, the one that pissed you off there. And then this ... crash."
<The Sight> Noemi has turned on The Sight.
James' frown deepens, and he reaches to touch Noemi's elbow gently, but he doesn't interrupt her phone call, and instead just looks around, his eyes narrowing. At first it's just as though he's trying to see //something// -- anything -- but after a moment the gaze seems to be more purposeful, though it doesn't seem to be following anything in particular. He shakes his head again, though this time it seems to be in an attempt to clear it of...something. Whatever.
"Hey, chica, just calling in to see if you need me. Saw the news," Noemi murmurs into her phone, one hand moving to touch James' arm in a light, 'just a minute' sort of gesture, but then it lingers there. "How does a person get hung by oxygen masks?" she says, eyes widening a little. She pauses, then replies, "Sounds like it. Okay. Was going to run in, but looks like you've got it handled. Be safe, chica." She flips her phone shut and shakes her head. "Guy got tangled in the tubes somehow? How does that happen accidentally?" she murmurs to James, before looking at Lydia, her own eyes narrowing a little, like she's imitating him.
Unlike James, though, Noemi gasps slightly, taking a step backward, into James.
"Ms Lavigne, you have my condolnences. My name is Conni and I met your husband briefly just before he died, it was about the same time that Mr Dougall died. I imagine it was a great loss to the Realtor business." Taking a breath, Conni looks over her shoulder before speaking more softly. "Given that it might not be safe here, do you have somewhere to go? I'm sure you'll be as confused as most as to the odd deaths that are occuring. Freak tsunamis and the like." Not wishing to crowd Ms Lavigne, Conni takes a step back and starts to look around. "It is of course none of my business but the name of your company was familiar and you do look like you are in pain, I would like to help if I can."
When Peter addresses her, Lydia rises swiftly to her feet, her cell phone held fast in her hand. "Excuse me, young man? When you see people in distress, do you always try to console them by accusing them of...whatever this fucking tragedy is." She slumps back down to her seat, trying desperately to maintain her composure. "Everyone I love is dead now. Would you at least have the decency to wonder about it behind my back like everyone else?"
She folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. "They don't need to release his name. It's Shane Pierce. Because of course it fucking was. He's my brother. And my last remaining partner in Symbiote. It'll be a juicy hit piece for the Trib-Herald." She swallows hard before looking up at Conni and offering a wan smile. "That's so kind of you. Thank you. But I can't take you up on your offer. It's too dangerous, now. You should all probably clear out, actually. It's gone too far now." She turns her back from the group and breathes deeply. The cell phone in her hand sputters, sparks, and dies.
Peter holds up his hands. "No, not accusing you of anything." He blinks and looks to Conni a moment before looking back to Lydia. "But I think I know now what's happening." He blinks again as her phone shorts out. "I'm sorry for my rudeness, please accept my condolences." The young man glances back to Conni. "Erm. I have a better idea of what is happening now. I think. But I don't think we should leave her by herself."
"I have no idea," James replies quietly, though he does shudder at the thought. Or maybe at whatever it is he's seeing -- or feeling. It's hard to tell, since he doesn't say anything about it. Instead he does turn back toward Lydia then, and his eyes narrow just slightly as he catches what she says to Conni and Peter.
<The Sight> Noemi has turned off The Sight.
"She's... do you see," Noemi murmurs, staring at the woman before she closes her eyes and turns away, rubbing her eyes a little as if she could get rid of the image there. "Her hands are stained with blood. There's something black wrapped around her neck and whispering in her ear. I feel her ambition," she whispers to him. "Is it a curse? Can you break it? Help her? I think she's... like that Shakespeare play with the crazy chick and the red hands. Out, out, damn spot, lo sabes? Like she didn't mean for whatever she's gotten into to get this bad. What could do that?" She looks back, over her shoulder, then back to James. "Macbeth," she remembers, suddenly.
Nodding to Peter, Conni glances over her shoulder. "I'll be right back!" Dropping her duffle bag by her feet, she dashes over to the hamburger stand and returns a few moments later with a bottle of ketchup. "Ms Lavigne, this will seem very strange..." Leaning forward, she speaks more quietly now. "Or possibly not but please bear with me." Flipping the top from the ketchup squeezy bottle, Conni quickly draws out a circle around Ms Lavigne. "I think we can fit a chair in there so you'll be comfortable but it would be bet not to leave the circle just yet." Dropping to her knees, Conni closes her eyes as she wills a little power into the circle. "There you go, all set. Now if you'll excuse the crazy behavior, I think you might just make it out of this okay." After a moments pause, Conni adds "Probably."
Lydia nods to Peter and offers him a concilatory half-smile, about all she can muster at the moment. "I would suspect me, too. Not without reason. Believe me, I get it. And hey, if you've figured something out that can help, I would love to hear it. I'm out of clever ideas." But she hears Noemi's assessment and her big brown eyes go wide. "What? How did you-?" And then Conni is drawing a circle around Lydia's feet, and the CEO looks...remarkably unsurprised by the action. Her eyes rim with tears again. "Thank you, I can't tell you how much..." she doesn't get the chance to finish.
A trio of professional looking young women in matching black skirt-suits approach the new CEO, giving everyone around her a blank, autopiloted smile. "Congratulations, Lydia! That was a great conference. You're going to be great. But we do have to have a quick chat before you go celebrate. That was number five, and you know what that means! The bill always comes due." The blonde in the front is oppressively pleasant as she speaks.
Haleakala dropped Candi.
Haleakala dropped Brandi.
Haleakala dropped Mandi.
Peter tilts his head and then rubs at the back of his head. "Okay, I'm lost. See, at first it seemed like it was just uh... unhealthy competition and meddling with powers that should not be meddled with. Theeeen I figured it was Hawaii, or forces or people protecting her, taking out folks that were doing things decidedly not for Hawaii's benefit. I can see uh spirits or gods doing that. But this lot here..." Peter gestures to the three 'professionals' who walk up. "Make it sound like you were uh looking to have some dirty jobs done without getting your hands all muddy." The young man peers at Lydia. "I think you've bitten off more than you can chew... Trust me, I know how that is." He glances to Conni. "How are we playing this?"
James listens to Noemi's description, and for a second, confusion reigns. But then his expression clears -- though not to anything like happiness, or even contentment. No, now he is //really// concerned. "Shit," he murmurs, and he starts toward the woman, just as Conni draws the ketchup circle around Lydia. He takes care not to step over it, though. "You can still come back from this," he says urgently to the equally besuited woman, but then the three other women converge on her.
He turns as the blonde one speaks, and his eyes narrow. "I don't think so," he says, and though his voice is calm, he doesn't move. "She isn't going anywhere with you."
Noemi follows, her eyes flitting from one of the bill collectors to the next to the next, and she shivers again. She turns to Lydia, her brows lifting. "Did you make some sort of bargain?" she asks quietly, her voice soft, helpful. Her nurse's voice. "I'm sure you didn't mean for those things to happen. What do you owe?" Her eyes move to Conni, then James. "Is there a way?" she asks quietly, before looking back to Lydia, her eyes studying the woman's neck for a moment, a hand coming up to rest on her own, right below the ear, as if she could feel what she saw on Lydia's.
Mandi, the blonde standing furthest back in their V formation, just tuts and shakes her head. She is erudite and speaks with a sweet voice. "A circle, Lydia. Very clever. Insulting...but very clever. The question is, how many more people will you allow to die for you? I mean, the others had some reason - you banged every one of them who wasn't blood. And you tried to keep your little brother from us, verrrry naughty, Lydia! So...you'll let these nice strangers die for you, too?" She smiles entirely too sweetly at James. "We have a job to do, I'm afraid. You don't need to be involved, I promise it's better this way."
Candi, the blonde nearest the front, is barely holding her mouth in the shape of a smile...it keeps trying to turn into a snarl. "Oh, there's no /waaaay/ Lydia bit off more than she can chew. She's a master negotiator, she staked her soul on it." Candi cackles to Peter, her teeth too long and pointed in the long shadows to be healthy. "The best thing you can do for her, is to let her come with us," her cooing to Noemi sounding a bit more like a threat. "She is reaping what she sowed."
Haleakala dropped Haleaspects.
"Oh Ms Lavigne!" Conni says suddenly, her voice raising it to something of a stage whisper. "I brought that Axe you wanted to have a look at. I'm very proud of the work and I thought I'd bring it here to show you." Smiling as if she's only just picked up the expression, Conni reaches down to her duffle bag and undoes the zip. It takes her only a moment to unwrap a rather impressive looking half moon ax that she had in the bag, the blade notched with sigils that catch the light in disturbing ways. The artwork continues on down the haft, various Norse runes are inscribed in the handle and at the very bottom there is a leather loop for tying around the wrist. "It really is fantastic work and I'm very happy with it." Hearing Peter now she looks over to him. "Hmm? Oh!" Smiling once more, she turns to the three that have approached, hefting the axe in one hand as she slips her other through the loop. "I am terribly sorry but Ms Lavigne is currently dealing with the loss of a loved one. Do you think you could leave a card and then come back later?" Leaning over, she looks to Peter. "I think we'll look after Ms Lavigne for the moment. She seems genuinely upset and these people could be a bother at a trying time." She watches as Noemi and James approach, eyeing them carefully for several moments before offering them a more genuine smile. Looking to Noemi, Conni raises an eyebrow. "A way?"
The smile vanishes from Conni's face as she listens to Mandi and Candi. "Demons?" Oddly, Conni seems rather excited by this prospect. "Really? They'll be so jealous!" Lowering her voice, Conni directs her attention to the three ladies. "It's just us here now which is something. You still can't be killing people out in the open. You still have the option to leave."
Brandi, the blonde situated roughly halfway between the other two, says little, because every time she opens her mouth, sulfurous fumes come billowing out of her mouth. "Enough! She comes with us, or we kill you all and take her by force." Brandi exhales through her teeth, and the air becomes fetid with the stench of burning sulfur and charred flesh.
Lydia actually has tears streaking down her cheeks at this point. She can't help but laugh at Conni's stage whisper. "That is indeed a fine axe, Miss Conni. But..." she looks past the tall blonde Dane to Peter, then to James and Noemi. "You should all go home. I made my bed, and I'll lie in it." She mutters a word in some forgotten tongue and gathers a ball of bright purple plasma lightning between her hands, then thrusts it out towards Mandi...only to have it rebound back at her against the magic circle at her feet. She dodges the lightning ball, crumpling up into a terrified ball on the ground, within her ketchup fortress. "What the...??"
Candi, Brandi, and Mandi all find this HILARIOUS.
Peter grins brightly at Conni, looking rather enthusiastic about the axe with the sigils etched into it. He nods to here when she says they'll be looking after Lydia, and he looks back to Candi. His grin is full of teeth too, sharp and pointy as the man begins to change: growing larger, his clothes disappearing, stripes and fur growing in their place. The Siberian growls at Candi, moving to place himself between her and Lydia. Without further ado, the feline lurches forward, aiming to sink his teeth into the Candi's leg, which she moves out of the way in time.
James nods once at Noemi's question. "It won't be pretty, but she'll live," he says succinctly, turning his head to meet Conni's eyes briefly, and giving her a nod as well. It's probably meant to convey some recognition -- that they will be working toward the same goal right now -- before he back to Mandi. Wait, is it Candi? No, Mandi. That's right.
"You know, I don't think the Council would agree with you," he continues, just slightly louder, though his tone is still calm. Conversational, even. "They really tend to frown on this kind of thing. I think they'd be pretty interested in what we have to say about it, too." Out of the corner of his eye, though, he catches sight of the fireball from Lydia. He lets out an annoyed grunt, and while he doesn't take his eyes off Mandi, he does say, probably for Lydia's benefit, "What do you think a circle does?! You're //inside// it!"
"Jesucristo," Noemi murmurs, her eyes getting a little wider -- this is not something she's dealt with before. "Babalu-Aye, I need you at my side." She stares at the demon trio and then Peter, and finally turns back to Lydia. "Calmate. Listen. You screwed up. It's okay. I can see you're sorry. We can all see you're sorry. We're here to help you." Well, that's not why they were there, but that's why they'll stay here. "Just... listen and do whatever my friend here tells you. He's a good person. And I can tell you are too, underneath. You just let things get a little out of priority, si? But we'll help you. No one deserves to lose their soul like this." She stands a little behind James, definitely seeing his larger form as protection. That and he can probably hurl fireballs and the like.
Mandi snarls at James' calm proclamation, her flesh mask warping slightly. "White Council has no business interfering. But if you want to play, I consider that a threat against me and my sisters and I have no choice but to respond in kind!" A swirling black miamsa coalesces in her palm, and she utters blasphemies too old to be recalled as the blonde demoness hurls the swirling black hole of entropy at the wizard, only have it splatter and eat away at his magical shield.
Candi isn't as eloquent as her sister. "That's a naughty kitty!" she hisses, eyes wild with blood lust as she rakes at the giant tiger, only to have the bony, sinewy talons catch nothing but air. She screams in frustration.
"It is a very nice axe, thank you Ms Lavigne but I really can't go and leave you like this. It wouldn't be me." Conni winces as she watches Lydia try to cast. "Well, at least we know the circle works!" Always looking for something positive, she watches as the first few attacks are made. James' look is returned, Conni doing her best to look innocent as she turns her attention to the one at the back who has apparently terminal halitosis. Raising her left hand, Conni draws out a rune in the air with her finger, the air around her starting to crackle as she does so. Finishing her little spell, Conni whispers a word and then a wrist thick bolt of lightening flies from her fingers and lashes out at Brandi, leaving spots in front of the eyes and a distinct smell of ozone in the air. Stepping back, Conni flexes her shoulders as a pair of wings appear behind her, her jacket slipping to the ground as she does so. Raven black and almost touching the floor, they offer an odd contrast to the pale skinned Dane but are no less frightening.
Brandi is hit by the bolt of lightning, which burns through a healthy portion of her human suit on the shoulder, leaving a glimpse of the gritty, pestilent demon beneath. Rather than speak, she just whirls and spews a bolt of ionizing radiation straight at the winged Valkyrie, only to have the winged Dane dodge out of the way. Brandi gives a toxic, glowing grin. "How fun, girls, we hunt winged prey!"
Lydia stays huddled in her circle for now, humbled by her errant spell. "Please, you don't have to risk your lives for me. My teacher will come for me, I know she will."
Amidst the sounds and flashes of magic, the large feline turns around, his claws digging great gouges into the grass as he lunges forward at speed once more. And Candi doesn't get out of the way this time, the Tiger managing to score four jagged, parallel lines down one of her legs.
"How much do you know about the White Council?" James asks of Mandi, managing to hold that same conversational tone. "Their business is interfering. It's what they do." That blast of entropy does cut his quips off for the moment, though, which is really too bad bad. But instead, he murmurs something himself, his own words not in English, but nothing like what her incantation had sounded like. It sounds clean, and the light that shoots out of his hands could not be further from the darkness she had thrown at him. It twists into a long, shining rope that wraps itself around her feet to hold her in place. "Give up now," he says, and this time his voice is a little louder, and harder. "You three are done here."
Continuing to watch as the fight progresses, Conni makes a quick decision and takes a step forward, breaking the circle around Lydia. "You'll have to excuse me Ms lydia but I think it would be best if I got you out of here. We have some rather talented back up so I believe the Demons will be taken care off." Looking over her shoulder, she nods to Peter, James and Noemi. "Sorry to do this to you guys but I really want to talk to Lydia in calmer circumstances. Peter there knows how to get hold of me, if you want you can leave a message at the hostel, I still collect my mail there." Turning back to Lydia, Conni simply scoups her arm with her powerful arms and then turns her back to the demons, bringing her wings up in a defensive posture as she gathers her energy. "Please hold tight, this could be an interesting flight!"
"They took a changeling to the White Council. He might be beheaded now," Noemi says solemnly, even if it's probably (definitely) a bluff. "So I don't think they care about jurisdiction." She yelps when James is blasted, though, so so much for being sassy. Her eyes narrow at Mandi, then, and she murmurs something low in Spanish too-quick for anyone without near fluency to catch, her white cowrie shell tattoo gleaming a little on her wrist as she does so.
Mandi screams with an unearthly bellow that rattles the bones of the earth as Conni air lifts Lydia from the circle. "Now! Kill them, now!" She begins gathering another black hole, but she's interrupted by James' snare. When she looks up, her blue eyes are entirely gone, replaced with roiling black orbs like trapped smoke. "The only one who should be worried about the White Council," Mandi says with a slow, satisfied smile, "is dearest Lydia. We know what they do to Warlocks. Do you? Do you think you can save her from them?" She laughs, and the sound is an oil slick on fire as she flares with a dark burst and shatters the magic binding her.
As Mandi screams, her twin Brandi whirls towards the pair taking wing, and expels a beam of infrared radiation that makes every bit of foliage in its path wither and die. The big-mouthed blonde sputters brimstone as the pair deftly dodge her parting gift.
Lydia clings to Conni for dear life, her press conference taking a rather unexpected turn. "Thank you all! Don't throw your lives away! Find me, if you have questions later!" She only had enough voice left for that much hollering, then she resumes clinging to Conni and managing a crippling fear of heights.
There is a thunderous clap of air as Conni beats her wings, a huge down draft of air blowing dust and debris away from the two of them as they deftly lift into the air. Hanging in the air for just a moment, Conni seems to get a good idea as to where she is and then after a couple more flaps of her powerful wings, the two are rapidly disappearing from sight.
The large feline turns once more, and makes another beeline for Candi. His teeth fail to find her flesh this time around, and he glances upwards as the valkyrie takes off with the freshly minted CEO. He snorts noisily and shakes his head.
Mandi may struggle, but James keeps that magical hold on her. He takes one step forward as Conni takes flight with Lydia, and while his voice doesn't get louder than it was, there's a new force underneath it, an underlay of steel, or perhaps stone. "You're done," he says. "There is nowhere you can hide that the council won't find you. You can run to ground, but the Wardens will sniff you out. And when they do, you'll get what you richly deserve. Yield."
Mandi may break that hold, but James doesn't take his eyes off her. He takes one step forward as Conni takes flight with Lydia, and while his voice doesn't get louder than it was, there's a new force underneath it, an underlay of steel, or perhaps stone. "You're done," he says. "There is nowhere you can hide that the council won't find you. You can run to ground, but the Wardens will sniff you out. And when they do, you'll get what you richly deserve. Yield."
Noemi's thinking -- taking in the appearances, the sulfurous smells, the fire. "They're demons. They *can* hide from the White Council. They'll go back to where they came from at sunrise, unless someone calls them back. If you kill them, it's temporary," she tells James, still hiding behind her as she watches the others fight, giving Connia and Lydia a wide-eyed look as they fly away. "So Lydia's the warlock? I think she won't call them back -- if she's learned her lesson. Hopefully the... is that a valkyrie? will manage to help her."
Mandi snarls at James, who has apparently touched somekind of nerve, and the demoness hurls another gout of black entropic energy at him, uttering her ancient blasphemies. The spell splashes off of his spirit shield, and eats away at the earth behind and around him, not merely destroyed, but unmade.
Candi crouches on all fours and lunges at Peter, almost in the same feline motions as the tiger himself. She rakes her claws down his side, making contact but doing minimal damage.
Brandi whirls back to the targets still within her reach, and bears down on Noemi with a blast of ionizing radiation that reeks of brimstone and burning meat. She smiles sweetly, with smoke slipping between her teeth.
When Candi crouches down on all fours, the Tiger's eyes open wide and his pupils dilate. His lips curl back to expose all of his front teeth, and he lets out a low and ominous growl in her direction.
James throws up another quick shield to block that entropy coming his way, but he looks over his shoulder when Noemi tells him this, and a little smile tightens the corners of his lips. It almost looks like a grimace, more than a smile, and he turns back, letting loose another blast of light from his hands with a murmured word. This one does not twist or writhe, though -- it's straight as a lance, and it pierces her right through the middle, entering at the top of her shoulder and coming out at her opposite hip, and skewering everything in between.
There's an odd effect when he does it, though. The light //does// pierce Mandi -- there doesn't seem to be any way she could have survived that. But after what can't be more than a second, it disappears, and suddenly there's another burst of light from Candi. Now, it's //her// that's got two burned holes in her, right where the lance had gone in and come out on her sister.
"What the hell?" James exclaims, but he doesn't have much more time to do anything else, because he's turning toward Noemi. "Noemi! Are you all right?!"
When Brandi blasts her terrible, burning breath at Noemi, the woman turns away, catching most of the radiating heat in her shoulder. "Vete pa casa de la pinga, puta diabla," she hurls back -- but of course her breath and words have no stinging heat, beyond the searing words themselves.
She glances over her shoulder, seeing it's not as bad as it feels -- at least as long as it's not poisoned, then looks back in time to see Mandi's death fall on Candi. "Holy..." she gasps, taking a step back. "I'm okay," she assures James, but she takes another step back from the remaining demons and also the growling tiger.
Mandi's entropy shield dissolves under the force of James' spell, but Candi is the one who takes the brunt of the assault, overwhelming her and leaving her a shuddering heap of ectoplasmic flesh that rapidly dissipates into ether. Mandi's roiling-smoke eyes flare with rage and she grabs Brandi by the arm as she utters a string of blasphemies and opens a sulphur spewing Way beneath their feet.
"Before we meet again, darling interlopers, consider this...what is best for dear Lydia? The White Council will execute her as a Warlock. We require a debt be paid, but she keeps her head. Who is the hero here, and who is really the villain? Think on it." She smiles sweetly, her eyes sweeping across Peter, James, and Noemi in turn.
"And I leave you with one more thing to ponder. Could a warlock who doesn't know what a circle does summon any demon, let alone /us/? Check under your beds before sleep, sweet things. Bad things are closer than you think. We'll see you soon." And with that, the remaining twins disappear into the Hellish Way, closing the rift behind them.
The tiger has barely had time to let the dirt fly when Candi's body begins to vanish. Huffing noisily, the Siberian begins to shrink, stripes and fur changing back to clothing, the young man stretching and then sneezing. "Ugh. Sulfur stinks. Uh. Were those really demons? Is that what was behind the earthquake-tsunami that took out that boat, and the blast that took out the room of people? Have we two groups of people crazy enough to summon demons to fight a nasty proxy war for them?" He looks to James and Noemi. "For serious?"
James hears what the demon he'd been //trying// to kill says -- since she doesn't have the decency to die, and he's standing right there. But he's more concerned about Noemi at this point, and he goes to her, though there is a brief hesitation before he touches her, and ultimately decides not to, though he's still close enough to do it. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, though for what he doesn't say. Maybe for bringing her on the worst first date ever.
He turns to Peter then as the other man speaks, and he shakes his head once. "I don't know what happened with any of that," he says, "but yes, those were demons. That woman clearly isn't pulling the strings. It would be useful to find out who //is//."
The final words of the demon pointing out Noemi's mistake in her assumptions makes the nurse's cheeks flush a little, filling in the color where she'd been a touch pale from fear and pain a moment before. Noemi turns to Peter and shakes her head to indicate she doesn't know about any of that, then narrows her eyes at James when he apologizes.
"Not your fault, pedregoso. I'll be fine. It's like a bad sun burn." Hopefully it doesn't get worse. "Let's go home and figure that out tomorrow."
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