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Veera tried to follow Derrick, but was swept away by violence. She turned her focus inward, letting her fighting instincts take over as she parried and cut, turned and cleaved. Her eyes glowed in the rising sunlight as her face was splattered with the blood of yet another victim before she turned back, able to breath for a moment as she searched for her comrade. He was gone from this street, and she frowned, ignoring the smaller battles around her and turning towards the larger street, where most of the bodies seemed to rage in a sea of violence and hatred.

The world's gone mad. And the rest of us with it. She mused as she almost casually cut down a doppler who was trying to assault a woman. "Get out of the city." The witcher told her, blood dripping from her sword. "There's no haven here." It was becoming more and more evident that they were clearly outnumbered, and she was beginning to understand, even at this early stage, that they would not win.

Derrick.He was surrounded by a small mob, about to become their newest pin cushion. Veceslav was working on cutting his way through the crowd, trading blows with those around him. Her heart warmed at the sight, but also dropped. Where was Aaron? They would have to find him and Olivia later; for now those two would have to fend for themselves. Veera couldn't see a way through the crowd, at least not in time to save Derrick. She turned and shoved her sword in her teeth, despite Veceslav's voice in her head screaming at her not to. You'll lose your teeth! Your tongue! You want to be a mute, girl?

Puling herself onto the roof, she carefully spit the blade out and raced along the top. An arrow caught her in the shoulder and she stumbled, glaring at the general direction of the archer before breaking the shaft off and continuing. "Derrick! JUMP!" She yelled as she leaped into the air, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as she fell towards the earth. Her fingers worked quickly, performing the sign of Aard, finishing just as she landed, one knee touching the ground, palm pressed against the earth. The minute her skin touched the cobblestone, the telekinetic wave rolled along the ground, knocking down most of the enemies within a foot or two, and removing them from immediate danger.

She brushed her hair from her face, wincing as her shoulder throbbed before getting to her feet. "As usual, saving your ass." She tossed to Derrick over her shoulder with a grin before diving back into battle, cutting a path towards Veceslav.

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His plan was working perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. The number of witchers in his city seemed to have increased, but it wouldn't be much a problem for longer. Despite the fact that his birds carried to him words of a witcher rallying the townspeople, he remained unconcerned. There were too many dopplers, and they were too angry. Such a rage could not be quelled with mere force. You needed numbers, and the witchers didn't have them. Although...the reports of possessed children was slightly disturbing. He didn't question his birds' sanity, although he was tempted to. Another mage, it seems. That could be the only answer, and Bryce resolved not to run into the fellow, or lady, as it were. He had his fill of magic, for the moment.

No, Bryce was on the trail of far more satisfactory prey. "Come to me, my bonnie lad. Come to me, 'neath the willows." he sang softly, strolling across the bridge of Oxenfurt. Behind him, the Church glowed, still a fiery sign of the chaos that reigned in the streets. His two bodyguards kept pace, their hands on their swords. Rael had a curved blade, similar to those used in the south, while Fiel preferred the work of a recurve bow. Still Bryce insisted that they carry both long and short range weapons; one never knew what trouble one would run into. Especially when hunting a witcher. "Soon Aaron. Your hour will be soon. But mine is just beginning."

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Tessa waited for a response from the barkeep, her legs wavering in their strength. She needed rest, and badly, but she refused to fall down here. Seth needed her to be strong, Seth needed her to be brave. Seth needed her to be patient. And so she was, though her reserves wouldn't last forever. "Please, sir." She added quietly, desperation and pain clear in her voice. "Please help us."

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Brianne watched Nick's work with a critical eye, and then nodded. "You need practice, but it's good. She'll stop feeling pain, but we can't wait for it to do it's work. We need to go." She grabbed Roxanne's arm, albeit gently, and draped it over her own shoulders, taking the brunt of the girl's weight. "You stay ahead, and make sure the path is clear. Hopefully we don't run into real trouble until the rune is finished." She rubbed Roxanne's back with a little difficulty one last time. "I got you." She told the girl, before pulling her out the door. "The Mortal Cup is a sacred relic that the Angel Raziel created. He cut open one of his own veins, and poured the most angelic blood this world has ever seen into the cup, giving it to some of us more mortal Nephilim. Our ancestors drank from the cup, and thus the first Shadow hunters were created." She readjusted her grip on Roxanne as they began to descend the stairwell, her ears and eyes wary for any sign of trouble.

"Besides being an ancient item, and extremely important to our race because of its history, the Mortal Cup still retains extremely powerful magic. In times of desperation, it could be used to create new Shadowhunters from humans, or cause Downworlders to become our slaves. If a demon drank well...it would be bad." Brianne finished her explanation to Nick, stepping out into the cold night. "So if the Mortal Cup really is gone, then we need to find whoever took it before they create a personal army. And even if it isn't gone..." She paused. "Well we just became the most wanted people in New York City. Can you stand?" She asked Roxanne.

Not that she didn't trust Nick's abilities, but he was still green. She wanted to be ready just in case everything really went to shit.

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Morrigan stiffened as Masque's voice rang out in the clearing. "He's here. Kill him." She whispered to Ash, struggling to breath as the poison began to work on her chest, numbing and paralyzing the muscles that were so desperately needed to keep her alive. "I don't matter. I won't matter. He won't stop until he's gone. Please." She whispered, her vision darkening as she felt arms around her. At least I can go peacefully. She told herself. But she had thought too soon, and pain wracked her body as her muscles cramped and knotted, terrible pain that felt as though she was being stabbed by thousands of knives at the same time. The worst of it was that she was paralyzed and unable to move, alone in the black of her slowly receding conscious mind.

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Veera blinked, looking from the device to Drake, and back to the device again. Once he swung off, she simply shrugged and dropped it before following her scout leader. Clearly I'm not the only one who's had a rough day. She kept that thought to herself though, weaving with expert grace through the buildings as she followed Drake. It was time to find Flame and Gale, and the other scouts who had come with, and it was time to end this.

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Kala stiffened at Galadorn's words, her mouth tightening. She wouldn't have thought that so soon after her actions, would she come to regret them. Then again, she hadn't really thought she would have been able to complete the task given to her at all. But she had, and fate had been swift in its retribution, giving her something to force her suffering. If he knew, if any of them knew, they would kill me. And not just about what she had done, but what she was. A monster.

She bowed her head, and then turned around abruptly and wrapped her arms around Galadorn's midriff, her face pressed against the odd mixture of horse hair and human skin. She didn't mind though, as the fur helped to mask the few silent tears that she let fall. They can't find out. He can't find out. Not ever. And if that means I go to an early grave, then at least I have paid for my sins.

"If only you could." She replied to Galadorn, keeping her face hidden. If only you could save me from myself.

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Veera nodded in acqueisance before charging in. She put her shoulder into the attack, and charged, knocking Kala off of Requiem. "Run!" She hissed at her comrade before turning and leaping onto Kala, trying to hold her down.

The creature once known as Kala screamed, high pitched enough to shatter glass as she flapped her shrunken wings, trying to regain her balance before being tackled again. Her attacker pressed something cold and sharp to the back of her neck, and the creature shrieked again, before a small, human thought took root in her brain. Sand. It whispered, and the creature's claws curled around the grains of sand before tossing it over her shoulder.

Veera, by some stroke of ill fortune, was momentarily blinded by the sand, and took one hand off her blade to dash the irritant from her eyes. In that moment, she was bucked off, and tossed into the sand. The creature was on her in an instant, and landed a blow on her face, claws gashing the skin on her cheek. Veera snarled in response and blocked a second hit with her blade. The creature's claws skittered off the iron, and she turned to yell at the Andarian Prince, "Any day now!" as the claws missed only inches from her eyes.

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Veera's head was whirling. Oxenfurt, a Higher Vampire, dopplers rioting....She strapped her swords to her back with ease, following Derrick with a cursory glance at the "vampire", who mentioned an Ana. Must be the girl. Her headache seared through her brain, and Veera paused in the doorway, holding her hands to her head as her eyes squeezed shut. Voices and faces flashed through her mind's eye, each lasting no longer then a second before vanishing. The attack only lasted seconds itself, and when she opened her eyes, she glanced at Derrick. "We have to help them." She said, not entirely sure who them was.

"Derrick, I can't...." she paused, very aware of the strangers' presence in the room, and made uncomfortable like it. But Derrick trusted them, and she trusted Derrick. "I can't listen to them screaming, and do nothing."

She wouldn't beg him to come with her, but if another attack, whatever it was, happened at the wrong moment....Then I'll deal with it. She opened the door, ready to leave, when the neighboring one opened. Startled, Veera froze, staring at the man who exited, as he stared at her. Time seemed to freeze as an incredible sense of deja vu came over Veera. Had she seen this man somewhere?

She shrugged off the feeling, and her growing fear at the memories she had lost. Just what happened?..."If you want safety, come in this room." Regardless if anyone would be in it, perhaps the idea that witchers took shelter there would help. Her medallion thrummed, but she ignored it as she started for the stairs. He hadn't attacked, and his eyes showed fear as deep as hers, for entirely different reasons. She hoped he wasn't scared of her. She hadn't wronged him, after all.

Stepping out into the bloodshed, Veera drew her silver sword and stabbed a doppler with his back turned, getting the attention of his companions. She settled into her battle mindset, much more comfortable without the fear, the anxiety, the holes in her mind. Now, was the time for battle. Later, she would question Derrick, and perhaps Aaron, They would help her; they were her closest friends after all.

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Zack came out of his fear stricken mind a little as Zephyr spoke. "Hey!" He stood up, hovering over the mage excitedly. "I'm so glad you're okay!" He paused, blinking. "Wait, you don't know me. But I saw you get taken by the witch hunters, and you must have escaped because you fell into the river and I got you out and brought you here." He paused once more, before glancing at the shackles that still bound the mage's wrist. "It's kind of crazy outside right now, but I'll see if they've got something to get those off downstairs. You're gonna need your magic for what's coming." He opened the door and poked his head out, sighing in relief as the hallway revealed itself to be silent.

This didn't last long, as the witcher woman from before opened her respective door. Zack tensed up, his eyes widening. She wouldn't think he was one of the rioters, would she? They stared at each other for a long minute, her gaze confused and fearful, his gaze fearful and confused. Can't be the same reason, but it's a strange coincendence. He thought to himself as she spoke. A room full of witchers had to be safer then one with a bound mage and a doppler, and Zack poked his head back into their room.

"Hey, let's go next door. It'll be safer, and then I'll find you something for your shackles." It was to his benefit too after all, though that hadn't been the first thought in his head, if the mage was freed. After all, Zephyr would owe him. Or he wouldn't, Zack couldn't find it in himself to care. He was too shaken up by the sounds of brutality from the streets as his fellow dopplers tore the city apart. He opened the door and cautiously walked into the next room, protectively keeping an eye on Zephyr in case the mage needed help as he shut the door. After all, he was the one who pulled him from the river.

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"Go, Vyle." Teliana sucked in her breath as she put pressure on her hands, pushing her bruised body into a sitting position. She used her arms to keep the blanket wrapped around her chest, hiding the rest of her injuries from herself, as well as the vampire. Someone had bandaged her up, and she assumed it was one of the two witchers, though only one was left to thank. "If it was you who bandaged me, thank you." She whispered, her voice groggy as she bowed her head to Derrick. "I feel much better." That was a complete lie, but she would stick to it.

While what must have been a healing poultice was working wonders on the cuts on her arms and the injuries from the bolts, the scars on her soul were going to take more then that to heal, if it was even possible. She tried to smile, but her face didn't seem to work that way. "You have to go, and stop this. Help those people. It's not right." She whispered, hand throbbing as she clenched the sheets. "I'll be as safe here as anywhere else." In truth, she didn't want to move. She was too tired, too weak, and she had less of a chance of running into that...man, here. She shuddered at the thought, fighting the urge to curl into a ball and cry.

After they leave. She promised herself. "Please." That was when the door opened, and a stranger walked in. He wasn't a witcher, and Teliana grit her teeth against the fear that rose up in her at the sight of a stranger. Then her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the blanket, though it would have only revealed the still healing wounds and nothing of her actual body. "Zephyr?!" She cried, her voice cracking and breaking with the contained emotion. "You're alive?! But they said they..."

A plot. A lie. The full effects of what they had done to her, both physically and emotionally, was suddenly too much. Teliana pressed her hands to her face for a moment, taking a deep shuddering breath. How am I supposed to believe anything anymore?

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She wasn't going to make it. The poison was accelerating too quickly, causing pain in some parts of her body and numbing in others. Her stiffening fingers fumbled as she reached for her sword, determined to end this her way. She wouldn't serve as entertainment for Masque, or whoever else decided to watch this sick farce. Not that she could think of many people who wanted her dead, but Morrigan was sure there were enough. She wouldn't give any of them the satisfaction. She still had her pride, and it was her life at the end of the day.

Ash's face flashed in front of her eyes, and she couldn't help but smile, followed by a few crystalline tears. "Still mine to the end." She whispered, before cursing as her fingers slipped on the naked blade, slicing open her palm. Hand slippery with blood, she cradled her hand to her chest before making another grab for the sword. Her hand slipped over the blades of grass as she scrabbled, trying to reach her weapon before she was stopped, by her own body or other forces. Something was sticking to her palm, and she tried to shake it, annoyed, before pulling her arm to her body, desperate to get the thing, whatever it was, off.

Oh. Ash's business card was stuck to her bleeding palm, the color of the card tinged with the crimson of her life. She gently peeled it off, before reaching a third time for the sword. The charm. She smiled grimly as her fingers closed over the hilt, and slowly, painfully, dragged the sword towards her. She couldn't sit up anymore, her legs had long abandoned her. Instead, she curled on her side, laying the blade of the sword over the vein in her throat. Just one push, and it would be over. She closed her eyes, letting a single last tear soak her skin. By the Goddess, I'm sorry. To whom she was apologizing, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was that her life had been short, for a fairy's. Maybe because it had been wasted. Maybe because she had lost her single chance to take revenge for her family. Maybe maybe maybe. Just do it. She coached herself, squeezing her eyes tightly. Just do it.

Did it ever?

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Kara giggled, her head suddenly full of all sorts of thoughts. Mostly how tall this horse was, and how impossible it seemed to get on such a creature's back. She took hold of Ren's hand, taking a deep breath before bunching her legs and jumping into the air. She resisted the urge to grab the horse's mane, relying solely on Laurentinus' strength to pull her onto the horse. Her faith was rewarded, and she settled into the saddle, uneasily keeping her eyes away from the ground.

Ren reached around her to grab the reins, and she recovered her smile, sitting up taller and trying to mimic his posture. "This...is a lot easier then I thought it would be." She admitted, gently touching the horse's black coat with the tips of her fingers. "You do have a royal air about you, after all. It's why I call you Hawk Eyes." She continued, her tone teasing as her fingers drifted over the mane, to the fringes of the saddle, exploring the stitching in the leather. Well, part of the reason.


"Only sometimes?" She gasped, before glancing at Ren over her shoulder with a smile. "I must not be doing my job right then. The mark of a true thief is making everyone fall in love with her with a single look." She fluttered her eyelashes before reaching back to pat Ren on the cheek. "Or maybe you're ensnared and don't even know it. Anyway," she turned back around, gripping the saddlehorn with both hands now, "remind me again how this was faster then walking?"

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Stupid. Tessa told herself, kicking another rock. Stupid stupid stupid. She wandered for a while, letting her rage cool as she examined the ruins. Once upon a time, she would have loved to live here. The rocky ceilings, the sounds and smells, it called to her spirit the same way that the forest did. Thinking of her own forest, her heart ached with homesickness, and she pressed her palms to her cheeks, squeezing her eyes shut until the pain had passed.

"This won't do." She decided, talking to a small rodent that rustled in the bush. "It won't do at all." She decided, kneeling down to watch the little thing scurry to and fro as it searched for food. "They're humans, they're going to act like humans. I'm a Tessa, so what does Tessa do?" She sat down, considering her options. "Tessa will do what she can for the humans. Tessa will try to understand." She decided, pounding her fist on her palm in order to keep from scaring the vole. "And I will help both Rayyad and Conrad." She stood up, and bowed to the little creature. "Thank you for your wisdom, small one. Blessings upon you." Then, Tessa started towards the darker part of the caverns.

After another good amount of time spent searching, she eventually found the entrance to the mines. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and peered into the darkness. No wonder Rayyad was afraid to go down here. He must be terribly scared of the dark. She thought to herself, the sounds of her footsteps echoing off the walls as they became smaller, giving her less room to maneuver. "Well, I am not scared of the dark." She announced, her voice echoing down into the depths. Not at all. She reminded herself as she descended into the mines. Your worst enemy is your own mind, after all.

Sara; Random street
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She had managed to talk one of the hotel managers to letting her sleep on the couch that night. Perhaps it was her bedraggled appearance, her eyes full of sadness and pity, or her age, but whatever the reason, she had a warm night inside and a blanket with a soft bed. The next morning, the hunt was on for food. She managed to persuade several teenagers to share their coffee and doughnuts with her, and once she was full, took to wandering a little more.

Tessa; Kai's House?
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Tessa couldn't stop staring at her hands; had been for what seemed like hours. Her vision kept swaying, she was sure her irises changed color every time they did it. She couldn't quite catch her reflection when it happened, but that didn't stop her from trying. Bobbing her head up and down, from hands to mirror every five seconds was starting to create a crick in her neck.

She must be coming down, that must be what it was. But the thing was, she wanted to come down. If she had this, she shouldn't need that. But it did explain why she couldn't seem to recall her actions for the last several hours, or minutes. Or maybe it had been seconds. She wasn't sure. And right now, she couldn't be bothered. Because there went that blip again! Her gaze darted up to the mirror, and she frowned. Nope, eyes were the same color. Gross. Back her gaze went to her hands.

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Kara smiled sweetly, curtseying to Ren as she glanced at the stable boy. "Best do as he says, he's in a terrible mood." She whispered to the boy. "It was all Lord Arval could do to calm him. Bad year with the dragonfruit in the south." Turning her attention back to Ren, she winked at him before taking his hand and staring at the horse with as much courage as she could muster. "It's...terribly large." She laughed as she glanced back at Ren. "The horse, I mean."

She gently held her hand out to the creature, fingers curled slightly, hand steady in spite of her uncertainty. Always mask your fear. Animals may smell it, but humans will respect you for the lie. Hopefully you didn't teach me wrong. She sent the curse towards her old mentor as she waited, hand ready to jerk back in case the horse took badly to it. "So how do you....mount it?" she asked, slyly smiling back at Ren, despite her heart beating faster by the minute in her chest. It looked terribly far off the ground, for starters.

What she wasn't afraid of was that the stable boy would report anything they said; it wasn't uncommon for higher up lords to take lower born women, especially pretty ones, to their bed. And poor Kara might be, but she was not plain.

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Tessa wrapped her arms around her body, stiffening at Conrad's words. "You humans." She whispered, her voice muffled from underneath her hunched form. "Even Rayyad. I thought he was different, like me. I thought we had....I don't know what I thought." She corrected herself mid sentence. "But you're all the same. You all lie." She pulled her face up, and stared at him with hard eyes. "Rayyad lied, when he said he just wanted to show us his house. He was going to trap us here, you or me. You are lying, right now. You don't think we're going to get out of this. Why can't you just stop lying?" She got up abruptly, gritting her teeth.

"Why don't you two just go lie to each other then? I'm going to go find someone to talk to who doesn't lie." Granted, the only things down here might be spiders, or maybe a slug or two, but Tessa didn't care. Beneath the anger, she was hurt, and she felt stupid. Stupid that she thought she could have been the same, stupid that she could have trusted anyone else to not be human. Because that would be denying them their true nature.

Turning on her heel, she stomped off towards the forgotten city. A fair distance away, she broke into a run, and didn't stop running until she was out of breath, and well, truly lost. But that's okay.She thought viciously. Anything is better then being with them. She touched some of the old, moss covered stones, her breath coming out in small huffs. Anything.

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Kara sighed as Laurentinus began to give her the whole "Friends in danger, hero time, blah blah blah speech." But her expression changed, and her smile began to widen once more as Ren kept talking, until she was grinning by the time he mentioned dinner. "You know, would you believe it if I told you that I've never ridden a horse? A very drunken man once told me I had the perfect legs for it. He didn't think the same after those same legs kicked him in all the wrong places." She took Ren's hand and led him away as she spoke. "Besides, it would be an honor if His Lordship would do me the pleasure of teaching me a thing or two." She winked back at Ren. "About horses, I mean."

The night in the city was tense. The cold winter air burned the faces of many as they looked to the moon. Folk barricaded themselves in their homes, or drank themselves into a stupor to forget. The smart quietly packed their things and left, choosing their safety over their homes and a few belongings. Here and there, small bonfires burned strong and steady the fire light illuminating the faces of those that crowded around them for warmth.

On first glance, they might appear to be simple farmers or laborers, too poor to own homes of their own, and avoiding the hovels they did call their own. A second glance, if one dared, would show the stone cold faces, or perhaps the eyes that glittered with a dark light. If one waited a little longer, they might catch a glimpse iron and steel, shining for brief moments before covered once more.

These men were anything but simple laborers and farmers. They were anything but men. And they waited, these complicated creatures. Waited as the moon rose and sank in the sky, each hour becoming more tense, their pent up fury radiating further and further. Others joined the group; men, women, teenagers, anyone who could and wanted to hold a weapon. The first guard to try and smother one of the bonfires disappeared. He would be found in the river, with his throat slit.

Finally, as the first of the sun's yellow rays appeared over the horizon, the bonfires were extinguished, one by one. The small groups became a larger crowd that grew less silent with each added member, more violent with each new shout. They circled the town square fountain. Some's faces were streaked with blood from their night time excursions. Some were clean, and others were dirty from forced camoflauge. All carried the same angry expression, the same violent gaze as they stared at the figure who stood on the fountain, commanding their attention.


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Bryce looked at the sea of faces, and smiled. He hadn't expected such a turn out, honestly. For so long, dopplers were used to be downtrodden, stepped on, and smothered. It seemed he wasn't the only one who wanted to walk in the light. Who wanted vengeance for the lives taken. He raised his silver sword in the air, and a rousing cheer went up with it, forcing a shiver up his spine. Truly inspiring. He thought as he looked at that crowd. But now he must be more so.

"My brothers and sisters! Today is the day we stake our claim in this world! Too long have we let others choose our fates for us! They have tossed us into the fire!" With this a louder roar rose up; they were angry. Good. "They have fed us to their dogs!" He cut the air, growing angry at his own words. Careful not to become immersed. He reminded himself.

"They have taken our children! Our homes! Our lives!" Another roar, this one the loudest of all. He lowered his sword, feeling the sun warming at his back. Almost. "But today, we take their children! We burn their homes, and we destroy their lives! BLOOD FOR BLOOD!" At his final words, the sun rose, peeking it's golden head above the horizon. And across the city, the world was set on fire as the Church of the Gods went up in flames.

"Blood for blood!" The crowd, now an angry mob chanted, thrusting their weapons up into the air in time. Bryce grinned. "The first of our family to bring me that witcher bitch's head, will be remembered forever!" He called, hopping down into the crowd. His two bodyguards followed him, weaving through the crowd until they were at the head. "BLOOD!" He yelled, charging forward into the city. The guards at the edge of the square met them first, and Bryce raised his sword, ready to charge. Instead, they simply bowed their heads and stepped aside. "Spare our families, sir, and we'll not do aught against you." The guard commander offered. Bryce looked from one side, to the other, gauging the reaction of the crowd. They were still sane enough to listen to his commands. He turned and nodded to the commander, and the guards quickly dispersed. The townspeople however, were not so intelligent.

"Monsters!" They called out, raising their pitchforks and hand made spears in defiance as they gathered. How pitiful. While they had thought themselves in their homes, Bryce had been arming his people, his army, with swords and spears made from iron, bows and arrows made from the finest wood, and shields strong enough to take the force of a thousand blows. He charged forward into the fray, the two armies colliding.

Truly, the sounds of battle were glorious. Screams and cries sounded in Bryce's ears as he slashed through a farmer sideways, blood and organ matter spattering his face. His next victim, a woman, screamed as she fell to the ground, her belly split open. "Witness us!" He hissed to her before stepping over her writhing and soon to be corpse, crossing swords with a pikeman. In the background, the Church burned high and bright, while smaller groups of dopplers broke down doors, killing fathers who tried to defend their families and dragging women into the streets. We will never be hidden again. Bryce thought with glee as he parried a blow from the pikeman, and stabbed. Never.

The pikeman fell, and he stepped over him. Word had been brought to him of the young witcher that had followed the woman, Veera. What better way to help Veera understand his situation then to take her family, the same way his had been taken from him? "Oh Aaron, I have something special in mind for you." he whispered, wiping his sword on the body of a teenage girl before striding away from the battle, his two bodyguards once more at his side.

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Veera jumped awake as the sound of a roar, and was out of the bed without a moment to lose. She reached for her sword, and her hand grasped...air. She stared, confused, and then with growing horror as she turned around. What in the fu- "Derrick!" She spotted a familiar face and practically darted to it, hands clenched. "Where are my swords, why is there a woman in bed with me, and where the hell are we?" A glance out the wind revealed in the dim light of dawn to show the Church of the Gods, which had conveniently not been mentioned before. "We're in Oxenfurt?!" She screeched. Her head was pounding, as though she suffered from a hangover, but witchers couldn't get drunk. "Derrick," She said again, trying to calm herself but unable. "Derrick, why aren't we at the Kaer? How did we get here?"

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Zack couldn't sleep, no matter how he tried. He tossed and turned, half the time getting up to make sure the mage hadn't frozen to death, and the other half of the time just staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts turned and twisted on themselves, until he wasn't sure what was right or wrong, or most importantly, what he should do. Dawn came all too soon, and with it, the sounds of a riot. Zack didn't want to look out the window, didn't want to go out the door. Instead, he shut the shades, and made sure Zephyr was in a comfortable position before pressing his back to the door, covering his face with his hands. "We should have left." he muttered to himself. "We should have left this cursed city." Because once the mob became blood thirsty enough, how would they be able to tell who was a doppler, and who wasn't?

Why do I have to be one thing or another? Why can I only be the warrior or the woman? Why can't I be both?

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Kala wandered through the darkness, mostly because she was bored. She was supposed to be finding out what happened to her world, finding a new place to rule, understanding the power, but it was just disappointment after disappointment. A girl can only take so much of that. She sighed, then open a portal with a twist of her fingers before stepping through.

Maybe it was her distracted mind. Maybe it was that she didn't really know where she was going. Or maybe it was bad luck, but whatever the case, she felt herself stepping onto air, and realized it too late. She fell a short distance, onto something large, and soft. "Uh..." Kala looked underneath to see the person she had fallen upon. "You're cute kid, but a little too young for me." She stood up and brushed herself off, looking around with something close to disappointment. Whatever this place was, she was sure it wouldn't be better then the last world. "So where am I?" She asked idly, examining her fingernails.

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Teliana flipped her dagger before letting it rest by her side. "Name's Teliana, Ana for short." she answered Carson, looking around. "I'm looking for these creatures because I want answers. It's personal." She said, tapping her fingers on her side. "But so far, I haven't had much luck. And I've been stuck here for a long time. At least, it feels like a long time. I don't have a personal means of travel at this point." If there even was such a thing.

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"When does it ever make sense?" Sara responded to Arsenal as she ran towards the battle, taking a moment to appreciate the kid's archery skills. He was taught well. The thought brought a little tug to her heart, and she pushed it away as she approached, carefully. While not life threatening, another blow to any one of her injuries could make it worse, or at the very least make it hurt a hell of a lot more. That was when the giant ship appeared overhead, and she stared at it through her mask, wondering what on earth could be coming their way this time.

Just as she was distracted, so was Blue Beetle. Canary took this moment to leap into the fray, using her bo staff to aim a heavy attack towards his head as she ran towards him.

​

Catwoman rubbed her leg, conscious of just how lucky she was that the other two had showed up. Baring her teeth, she hissed as she thought, one knee resting on the ground as she planned her next attack. Arsenal's attack was well timed, and she smiled as her enemy crashed through a window, shards of glass catching the light as they fell.

She noticed the female form attack as the large ship appeared overhead, drawing everyone's attention. Catwoman lashed out with her whip, closing the distance towards Blue Beetle just as fast as Canary to land a blow to Blue Beetle's midriff. "There's a kid in there!" She shouted at the other woman. Whether or not she believed said kid had no control over the machine was another matter, but she couldn't just stand by and let him get hurt. That damned conscience of hers was going to get her killed one day.

​

The only sign that Talia had any sense of irritation was the tightening of her fingers on her sword's pommel. "Someone must set an example for this organization. If that is to be me, then so be it. I don't shy from responsibility, after all." She walked by Ward on her way out, her gaze flicking to him for just a moment. "You should think about the man you are, and not the man these people want you to be." She advised, her tone soft.

"My father may be many things, but he never suppressed my true potential. Never smothered me." She continued on her way, two shadows appearing at her side. Her ever present body guards, to prevent something from happening to the single heir of her father's empire. Sometimes she wondered whether her father hadn't created more children because he couldn't find a suitable spouse. Deep down she wondered if he had loved her mother too much, and saw it as a betrayal. No matter now, she had accepted her role. She disappeared through the doorway, and made her way to the battlefield.

​

Tessa nearly cried with relief when Flame showed up. "I'm sorry, Your Hi-...Your Majesty," she said between trying to catch her breath, bowing her head and lowering her blades. "I don't know what happened, but Gale wasn't by my side anymore and this titan wouldn't..." She shuddered, then shook herself, bringing her mindset back to the present. "I would be honored to fight with you, but I promised Gale..." She bit her lip. "I would be honored to fight with you." She reiterated, making her choice as she readied herself to follow Flame. If Gale was doing okay without her, then that was best. She didn't want to endanger him with her in-capabilities, and Flame would know better then to risk herself for a lowly scout like Tessa. At least...Tessa told herself that was the case.

In truth, she was being selfish. She didn't want Gale to get hurt because of her, and if he was working better with Chrono, then she wouldn't interrupt their partnership. If what Flame said was true, then she had almost caused his death by allowing them to get separated. She couldn't let that happen again.

​

Kala looked up at the giant arm incoming towards them and gritted her teeth, her mind racing with the possibilities of what she could do. She ducked her head and muffled her scream in Galadorn's back as he raised his arm. Then...we aren't dead? Kala raised her head and gaped with open amazement at the shield the centaur had constructed. "By all the gods." she whispered, her heart racing as he galloped away to a safer distance to rest. "How did you do that?" She asked in a louder tone of voice, sliding off his back and onto the ground so she wouldn't burden him with her weight as she dropped to her knees, waiting for her stomach to settle.

"I've seen the fey magic, and I've seen....other magic," She didn't elaborate, focusing her gaze on the ground hard as she spoke, "But I've never seen that. How did you do that?" Could she learn? Then maybe she could finally get away and escape everything, all the plots and plans and schemes. Everything. The king's face flashed in front of her eyes and she flinched, her hands digging into her knees. I'll never be able to get away now. She reminded herself with a heavier heart. Never.

"That was beautiful." Kala whispered. Why are you so perfect? Why can't I be like you? Why can't I just get away? She stood, turning her eyes to the titans. There was one way she could escape forever. One way. "What else can you do?"

​

Veera had scoured the entire house, and her parents bodies hadn't been found. She couldn't help but feel a small measure of relief, knowing they had gotten away from whatever had smashed the house. Especially after seeing her room. Had they not wanted her to go away? She wished she could ask them. She wished she could get answers for why she had been sent from the city, why she had been left to die with so many others when her friends and cousins had been left in safety. Why me? Leaning against the wall for a moment, she pressed her palms to her eyes in order to stem the emotion trying to flow from them. Now was not the time for tears, though her body protested it was. Granted, she had been on a mission that had gone wrong, captured and tortured, left to nearly imminent death, and then left by her comrades while they went o fight. Her king was dead, and she didn't know why or how. She was alone in the city she had once called home, and she had just discovered a small measure of painful truth to her past.

Tears are for later. She promised herself, taking a deep breath. She turned back to her parents room, where there lay a single photograph untouched on the dresser. She, in the middle of her two parents, all smiling. Her last birthday with them. She punched the frame, breaking the glass and pulling the picture from it, folding and tucking it into her shirt before attaching her maneuvering gear to the roof and pulling herself through the hole. Flame had forbidden her from accompanying them, but she hadn't forbidden Veera from following them and...watching. Yes, she was going to watch. And maybe intervene if they needed it.

Veera turned her face to the sky and jumped into the air, letting herself hurtle towards the ground until the last second, when the hooks shot out to grasp the nearby walls, and pull her back up. Besides, Gale was one of her only teammates left, besides Drake, her leader. It was her duty to them to make sure they were alright. And so she headed towards the distant figures fighting, looking for her comrades.

​

"You mean my money." Kara muttered, crossing her arms across her chest with a huff. She didn't want to listen to Shyra; quite frankly because of the solitary reason that the woman had taken her loot. "Whatever. I guess I'll follow you around, Hawk Eyes." She waited until Shyra had turned her back before sticking her tongue out at the older woman and turning towards Lauretinus, pouting. "Since you just had to go and let Miss Lady Legs over there ruin our fun."

​

Tessa smiled a little at Rayyad's exhuberance, but her mind was stuck on his words. "You captured us....to trap one of us?" She asked, her voice a little off. To be trapped....forever. Her skin felt a little tingly, and her fingers went numb. "To keep us here in your place?" She felt the sudden need to sit down, and did so, pressing her forehead to the table. The room suddenly felt a little small. To break it, to be chased, or to be trapped. It was a horrible place to be, and she,or Conrad had almost been put into it, unknowingly. Now she felt sick.

"I need some air." she whispered, and pushed herself away from the table, heading towards the door. "I just need some.....air." She sat on the front steps of the house and pressed her face into her knees, struggling to force air into her lungs.

​

Brianne went to Roxanne's side, gently rubbing the girl's back with one hand as she stroked the girl's hair away from her face. "You're going to have to reveal that wound." She told Roxanne, before motioning to Nick. "You did good kid, but you're going to have to do more. Put a healing rune on her, a good one. Should stop the bleeding and only leave a scar. Do that and I'll be impressed." She told him as she continued to try and soothe Roxanne with her touch. It was something her mother had done for her, after nightmares and panic attacks. Attacks that had never completely gone away. She sighed and handed Nick her stele. "Here, mine's older, seen more. It'll be more trustworthy.

​

Morrigan gasped, curling in on herself to try and stop the pain. "If you knew it was coming, you should have dodged it, dumb*ass." She whispered as she tried to suck more air into her lungs. Then he was gone, demanding she stay where she was. Like hell. She got to her hands, then her knees. Her legs had gone numb, and she highly doubted she would get far on them anyway. No matter how pride rending it was, she began to crawl towards the woods. Even if no one on two legs was nearby, there were some four legged ones she could reach to for help. She just had to be far enough away from Masque; she didn't want them suffering for her. One step at a time, inch by inch she slowly made her way towards the woods.

​

Teliana felt herself dropped, and then picked up. Am I...flying? She couldn't feel her neck enough to move, but the sensation of open air underneath her feet was disconcerting. "Hey.....Vyle..." the words dropped from her lips like drops of rain, lost to the wind around her. "Why did you come back?"

His answer was lost to her as she finally succumbed to the pain, and let go, letting her mind float in the black unconsciousness it so deeply craved. As the numbing void surrounded her, she managed a smile as her eyes closed. I'm glad you did.

​

Zack jumped up as the figure ran past. That was..."Hey!" Zack leaped into the river after the mage, gasping as the cold water pierced his skin, driving thousands of needles into his body. "Hey!" He managed to shout again, somewhat more weakly as he swam towards Zephyr, grabbing the mage's body and struggling to drag him to shore. The current of the river wasn't strong, but the waters were deep, and Zack had never been an adept swimmer.

More hands reached down, pulling him and Zephyr from the waters. The guards on duty, while not allowing him to pass, had decided that letting him drown was perhaps a bit too far. He gasped his thanks to them as he reached down, checking the mage for any signs of life. Luckily, his lips were still parted as he breathed, his chest moving underneath his drenched clothes.

"Take him to that inn, down there. They'll help ye." The guards offered, looking properly ashamed of themselves, or so Zack imagined. He reached down and slung Zephyr's arm over his shoulders; if he had to drag the mage there, he would do it.

"I got you, buddy." He muttered to Zephyr as he began to haul him to the inn. "I got you." Where he got the endearing terms from, he didn't know. But Zack felt a kinmanship to the mage, after all, he had watched him be sold by a man Zack had thought was a great leader and a personal friend.

The inn in question was nearly full, but the woman at the desk made an exception when she saw their soaking clothes. "You're lucky I've a soft heart." She commented, handing him a key. "It's a room next to some witchers, but make no mistake, my husband said they looked to be involved in themselves. Ye should have no trouble."

Zack grimaced, but took the key with thanks, it was a free room after all, and started up the stairs. They would just stay out of the witchers, and when Zephyr was well enough, they would be on their separate ways.