"Because in 20 minutes, when the Coven has finished their preparations, all four of them are going to be past caring. In fact, they'll undoubtedly be part of us." Blood says, smiling.
"You see, since that upstart decided to take what was mine before he was entitled to it, I've been stuck here. No doubt because he did break the cycle of prophecy in place for centuries. Unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do but observe you. That attack on your Tower was especially sweet to watch several months ago.
"And then Ms. Slade came along. Someone with the ability to channel the thoughts, abilities and powers of those spirits she allows to possess her. And who had no clue how to tap the potential at her disposal, besides."
"I knew I had the avenue for my return - but not the means. I had begun concocting an elaborate ruse to trick Santana somehow into accepting me in - but then she, and you, moved out here, and I met the Groundlings quite by accident...not to mention their leader - who, I was surprised to see, was an old
"You see, my ability is that I am a link between the living and the unrested dead - I can shift my very being from corporeal to spirit, I can see those in the spirit world - and I can make the spirit corporeal, through forced possession. I met Blood during a hunting party, made him visible - and Twister made the connection."
"The Groundlings found me about four years ago - one of their number was a healer who could cure certain psychological disorders...giving me the mind, and the free will...I never had before. In time, I became their leader. At least, until Lord Blood came. He now leads, although I lead the Groundlings in physical combat."
Flamebird doesn't know any of these people in person - the bad guys at any rate. But she has read the case files. She takes that sort of thing very seriously. Carefully, she moves closer to Nightstar and Nightwing.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have-" She pauses as she has to hold down a wave of nausea, "to decline your invitation to Happy Clown Candy Camp. I happen to have plans for the rest of my summer."
A traditional Tamaranean prayer comes easily and silently to her: X'hal, hear me now and mark me well ... if we fall, requite us against this enemy. Sow madness and confusion in their ranks that they die at each other's hands. May they lie unburied and unmourned. Forbid them the company of their ancestors....
"What Flamebird said goes double for me," she says aloud.
Handy. He'll remember this. And use it later. He turns his face to Conduit.
I'm sure he's already given you the song and dance about how he's going to take over the world and how glorious it's going to be, etcetera etcetera. Did he bother to tell you how he failed the first time around?
He looks back to Santana.
Santana! I know you're still in there, somewhere. You have to be. Listen! You've got to fight him! You have to!
Blood laughs. A deep, throaty laugh. "Oh, she DID fight. She REALLY fought. The problem with this particular possession was her abilities...you see, normally, when Conduit plants a spirit into someone's body, the spirit takes over the bodily functions, the speech patterns, VERY similar to the end effect of what your teammate Jericho does. But when ghosts go into Santana, SHE'S the dominant personality."
"So we broke her. Physically. Mentally. Sexually. Spiritually. I only finally entered her two days ago...it took that long to break her. But break her we did."
Slowly but firmly, Flamebird stands up, looking at Blood. "No."
There is a calm almost hollow sound to her voice as she speaks, denying him, denying these people. It is almost as if they've pushed her to the edge and over it - a look in her eyes that no one here has ever seen before.
"You see, since that upstart decided to take what was mine before he was entitled to it, I've been stuck here. No doubt because he did break the cycle of prophecy in place for centuries. Unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do but observe you. That attack on your Tower was especially sweet to watch several months ago.
"And then Ms. Slade came along. Someone with the ability to channel the thoughts, abilities and powers of those spirits she allows to possess her. And who had no clue how to tap the potential at her disposal, besides."
"I knew I had the avenue for my return - but not the means. I had begun concocting an elaborate ruse to trick Santana somehow into accepting me in - but then she, and you, moved out here, and I met the Groundlings quite by accident...not to mention their leader - who, I was surprised to see, was an old
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The people around them are still bowing, some speaking in tongues, a few crying.
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"I'm afraid I'm going to have-" She pauses as she has to hold down a wave of nausea, "to decline your invitation to Happy Clown Candy Camp. I happen to have plans for the rest of my summer."
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"What Flamebird said goes double for me," she says aloud.
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I'm sure he's already given you the song and dance about how he's going to take over the world and how glorious it's going to be, etcetera etcetera. Did he bother to tell you how he failed the first time around?
He looks back to Santana.
Santana! I know you're still in there, somewhere. You have to be. Listen! You've got to fight him! You have to!
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"So we broke her. Physically. Mentally. Sexually. Spiritually. I only finally entered her two days ago...it took that long to break her. But break her we did."
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You sick son of a bitch --
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I won't let you have the satisfaction, he snarls.
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Slowly but firmly, Flamebird stands up, looking at Blood. "No."
There is a calm almost hollow sound to her voice as she speaks, denying him, denying these people. It is almost as if they've pushed her to the edge and over it - a look in her eyes that no one here has ever seen before.
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