*'Sanctuary' for Us *

[Asa]

Kate

Someone simply appearing beside her Kate flipped around quickly.

Whoa... Seriously... Didn't the defenses round here kill you already?

She closed up the window since Helen did not answer right away and left a code she hoped at least Will would get of 911 meaning they needed help.

Ashley... right... So... what ya need since ya not dead like everyone thought?

She was incredibly distrusting of this situation and with another Abnormal here that she didn't know and 3 abnormals en-route with Magnus and Will gone and Who knows wehre Henry was was... Kate was a little on edge and ready for a fight always suspecting one was just around the corner.

Um Big guy could you join us in the Computer lab... We could use a little help in here.

She talked into the radio hoping he would hear her.

Henry there should be a van from Riz bringing in some abnormals in need of housing till we can find a better home for them.

Her eyes never left Ashley cautious and wary of this situation with what had happened earlier.

 

[DalekRasputin]

The radio crackled and Big Guy heard a broken message from Kate come over the air ways “Um Big guy … SILENCE … CRACKLE … could you join us CRACKLE in the Computer lab... We could use a little help in here.”

There was something in Kate’s voice Big Guy didn’t like, a fear, a hesitation, a tiredness that made him think of the stories of Apollo 11 when brave astronauts understated the gravity of their situation with the now infamous phrase ‘Houston, we have a problem.’

Something was wrong, maybe Ashley was back and Kate’s life was in danger. Grabbing the piece of wood he used as an improvised stake he hurried over to the laboratory. Bursting into the room he saw the two women facing each other. Aware Ashley would have noticed the stake he tried to calm the situation down.

“I … we … we mean you no harm.” Big guy tried to sound convincing “There was a misunderstanding last time and this …” He held the stake up “… This is only an insurance policy. I need you to believe me … So I’m going to trust you.”

Stepping forward he held the stake at arm’s length while he continued to look from Ashley to Kate. Struggling to communicate with Kate he knew he had to make a quick decision. Handing the piece of wood to Ashley he said “This shows you I am not here to kill you. I know you want to meet your mother and we’ll arrange that. But please … no more threats.” He made eye contact and tried to smile “Truce?”

 

[Asa]

Kate

Yeah Truce... Big guy Will and his "team" must be out of range and away from his computer pad I can't even raise them on there. Henry must still be getting our "OTHER guest" settled so he is busy with that so... Either of ya hungry? We have the usual order of Pizza plus a few due to our other guest.

She watched Big Guy and Ashley as she remained near the comp and anything there she could use as a weapon if she had to but making No threatening movements.

 

[slippedhalo]

ooc: Sorry, but everyone's moving along so fast I don't have time to wait another day for Will catch-up. If I took too many liberties let me know and I'll edit later. I suggest we take it and run with it, though.

IC:
Scotland:

Helen had awoken to see Will at the bedside smiling down at her bearing a steaming cup of tea and a scone for her. "Just something...anyway, I've been checking emails. Eamonn's gotten control of Nessie in the night. She attacked her captors. They're all dead, unfortunately, but Eamonn's getting her airlifted back to Lochness as we speak. I think we need to get back to Old City to regroup before we return to the Hidden Island...and there's another thing..."

Helen frowned, she sat up and gratefully took the tea but her eyes searched Will's for the cause for his hesitation. "Will, what is it?" she asked softly.

He looked down at the bedsheets, taking her hand in his, lightly tracing her palm with his thumb as he seemed at a loss for words.

At first she wondered if it was second thoughts about what they'd done, lines they'd crossed in the night's events. "Look, if it's about last night...If you're not as keen for this in the light of day as you were before...well, I can't say I won't be disappointed but...we could slow down, work on things..." Helen truly hoped this wasn't the case and that Will was as into her as she felt for him.

He shook his head and waved away her speech, dispelling any doubt with a smoldering smile, "No, no. Hell no, Helen. I just got you I'm not stupid enough to let you go now. No second thoughts about us. This is....well, there's been some news. I'm not sure how it's even possible...It seems Ashley might be alive."

"Ashley?!" Helen breathed, spilling her tea as she accidentally dropped the cup with trembling hands. She brought her hands to her chest as if she could somehow hold back hear heart from leaping through her chest like it felt it might. Ashley, HER Ashley! Her baby, alive!

"It might not be her, it could be a trick." he said but she was barely aware of more than her own thoughts now.

"We have to go back home. I have to see her for myself." Helen said, rising from the bed to dress in the awful dress set aside for the trip back. "My Ashley..."

 

[slippedhalo]

OOC: Ok, now that we're getting everyone mostly in the same place let's keep it that way for a while and try to keep pace with each other more. Some of us are not able to post more than once or twice per day so please let's slow down or speed up accordingly. I love the hyper-posting but it's hard for me to keep up some days.
1x per day will do more than that is a bonus but we will also keep in mind when we do so that not everyone can reply that quickly either.
Thanks all!
This is so fun!

 

[YoungLisa]

“Truce?” Ashley heard the words and was willing to accept but the Melaven side recalled how King Henry and his plebs would use the term to lure people into a false sense of security before betraying them. Yet her Ashley nature was tired of killing and recalling who her father was and his lust for blood she sought security and to get that she needed her mother.

Noticing Kate was careful not to make sudden movements and knowing Big Guy had trusted her by giving up the stake that could end her life Ashley needed to make a gesture herself. Defying her Melaven side she moved towards Kate and held out the stake. “No … I …” She hesitated “I … need to prove myself.” An internal struggle was going on that made her appear volatile and unstable as Melaven tried to take over. Thrusting the stake into Kate’s hands and stepping back she said “Take it! … Take it before SHE stops me!” Then almost pleading she said “If … If she tries to take it back KILL HER!” Then realising what she’d said she whispered “What I mean is … kill me!”

Convulsing in what appeared like a fit she cried out “I need … I want my mum!” She threw herself down and begged in Melaven’s personality “Don’t … don’t … why … why did you trust them?” Then looking up at Big Foot she pleaded “Don’t kill me, I don’t want to die again! I’ll … I’ll never get back again.”

How long she writhed about on the floor no one knew for time seemed to stand still. Eventually she became calm and slowly got to her feet and held her hands out for calmness before making her way to a chair. “It’s … It’s ok, it’s me … me … Ashley! I’ve banished her for a while but I don’t know for how long.” Lowering her eyes she whispered through a strained half broken voice “I need to talk to you … explain to you … before she … before she comes back.”

Ashley calmly and simply told Kate and Big Guy her story using both memories. After which she explained “I didn’t want to kill those people yet I needed life, she needed … No that’s unfair … We BOTH needed life. And … the only way to stop is to get immortality and for that I need my Mum!”

Looking from Big Foot to Kate and back to Big Foot she said “I’ll be quiet now, but I hope I made sense.”

 

[Asa]

Kate

Kate took the stake and kept a hold of it for all the good it would do...after all she and Will were the only two mortals at any given time in this Sanctuary. Not that it bothered her till now.

Umm okay.

She looked to Big Guy with a raised brow at all she had to say.

You take it easy... Want some pizza?

~~~~

OOC Yeah that is sometimes the strain on group threads. Hopefully it will pan out cause I love this thread so far.

 

[slippedhalo]

It had been with significant difficulty that Magnus and Will had made it back to her home when they did. She couldn't leave behind the problems of the refugees from Hidden Island, her sense of duty and morality wouldn't allow her to do so, not even for her daughter's return from the dead. So, she managed to charter a private jet and got forty-two volunteers to relocate to Old City from the original one-hundred-twenty counted who'd been evacuated from the island the night before. It was a start to the aide she had promised both sides of that ongoing conflict, anyway.

Once the jet had been settled and was well on it's way home she tried to busy herself with reading through the emails Will had told her about but her mind was buzzing...How could Ashley have survived the EM shields dispersing her molecules the way they had? What had happened to her over the past year? Was this her daughter for real? How would she be able to detect a possible deception? Helen was afraid to get her hopes up, but it was impossible not to.

She looked over at Will who'd been shooting her a combination of private smirks and concerned psychologist looks all morning. He was worried about her, she could tell. But, she didn't know what to say about this yet. And, the idea of what had happened in the early morning hours between the mentor and protegee still seemed so unreal to her, like a really vivid dream, she also had nothing to say about that either. It was a bit of too good to be true and Helen suspected if it wasn't handled properly things could go quite badly. How would this change things between them? Time would tell. Her mind could only focus on one conundrum at a time at the moment and Ashley was the primary focus of Magnus's thought processes during the journey which left her suspiciously quiet and likely unnerved her travel partner and new lover.

He was left to trail behind her as the limo dropped them off at the door and she clambered up the steps to the front door hurriedly calling after her, "Will, I need you to oversee the guests get their needs taken care of and get room assignments as soon as possible. Perhaps you could delegate to Big or Kate if necessary but...I need to get to the bottom of this Ashley business as soon as possib.."

He put his hand over her's and interrupted her spiel, "Helen, " he said softly, "I understand. Go to her."

The expression of gratefulness in her eyes was a watery language of the body niether needed words for. He nodded and she smiled, backing out of the embrace only to quickly open the door and get inside to find her waiting offspring.

 

[Archangel1978]

Henry

He lay there with Isis and as much as he wanted it to continue forever, he knew there was work to be done. He kissed her gently on the gently not finding it the slightest bit odd. “I need to find you some clothes my dear as much as this is feeling great. There’s stuff to be done.” He tore his arms away from her and gently rolled off the couch and waited for her to follow him.
“Come on let’s check out Kate’s room. She won’t mind.”


Will

After Helen has left looking after the Ashley situation, Will began seeing to the refugees and getting them some rooms and what not. He began assigning rooms as best he could but it was still going to be crowded. He was worried a little about Helen. He worried how she would react when she saw Ashley. Would she lose herself again like she did when she was dealing with Ashley’s death the first time.

 

[Asa]

Isis

She stretched once more in this form and choosing to remain in this form she moved off the couch and following him though knowing he could probably understand her hoping her could.

Radio her and make sure I do not want to upset anyone around here... especially with Helen not here.

Once out of the Library she perked up a little sniffing the air... the scent was almost like the scent when Druitt was about to or had just shown up, a snarl curled her muzzle as she looked around wondering where it was coming from, There was something different about it... something more dark or sinister... something was not right. Muscles tense as she began to move faster again growling out.

We need to hurry!

 

[Archangel1978]

Henry

Henry radioed helen to let her know about Isis and her situation and her form.
He started running more now as Isis urged him on. Something bad he understood was around.

 

[Asa]

Isis

Catching Helen's scent enter though she began to move quickly to Helen however ready for a fight if she needed to be. She and Druitt would never kill each other but if they had to would come very close.

All Will would see if here were still anywhere near Helen was a sleek night black "cheetah" of some kind barreling right for them. A form that few alive had ever seen her in and yet here she was with Henry in tow in her fully feline form.

Stopping quickly she saw the heinous orange dress Helen was wearing and stopped dead still in her tracks as the large feline began... laughing...

She covered her muzzle with a paw laughing still watching Helen.

 

[YoungLisa]

Ashley felt a change in the atmosphere as she sensed more than once that her mother was nearby. Turning to Kate she said “I’ve practiced this moment, rehearsed it but now it’s nearly here I’m scared. I know I have to live with Melaven but she has to live with me too.”

Turning to Big Guy she said “Take the stake and keep it close by. I know you have more strength and if … if it … if she … if I get out of hand you know what you have to do.” Then smiling at Kate she asked “Will you tell my mother about us? I mean Melaven and me?”

 

[slippedhalo]

Helen stopped short as at first she thought she saw a wild cat coming toward her. But, something in the feline's movements struck her as familiar in the way of an old friend..."Isis?" she breathed, hardly having expected this surprise.

Isis began laughing and Helen stepped closer to her friend with her hands on her hips, "Hmm, Isis, indeed. What's so funny?" she asked having a feeling she knew exactly what Isis was laughing about given the expression on Henry's face as well upon taking in Helen's unusually out-of-style AND date appearance. "Well, it's not easy to find proper clothing at 3 in the morning when your plane and luggage crash and burn in the Scottish Isles. You should've seen the get-up I had to sleep in." she joked, chuckling a bit herself now.

It was good to see her old friend again and it was an unexpected but welcome surprise considering what she'd been gearing herself up for. Still, she was anxious to see Ashley. "Isis, was it you who brought my daughter back? What's happened? Where is she?" Magnus asked, bending to pet her friend's head and suddenly realizing Isis was in her feline form in front of a ''stranger''. How had Henry managed to get Isis to relax enough to show herself to him this way? Curious...thought Helen.

 

[Asa]

Kate

Kate nodded brow raised that she would think that Magnus was here. Looking to big guy she was not sure about this Melevan and her getting near Magnus. She was distrusting and protective and this situation had so many redflags popping up in her mind that it was not even funny.

Yeah... sure I can try to explain it... She might understand it more than I do. So Big Guy should we go find Magnus or do you want you two to stay here and I go find her?

 

[Asa]

Isis

She swatted a paw at the dress and then looked shocked hearing her ask her about Ashley. Shaking her head no that she had no idea about Ashley her nose caught the scent once more from a moment ago as she then tensed again could something have mimicked Ashley and gotten in here or was Druitt here with Ashley. Turning sharply she moved standing between Helen and the general direction of the lab snarling. She had been right something was not right.

Crouching slightly ready for combat she would protect Helen and the others if she needed to from whatever... having heard about Ashley trying to kill everyone last time she was here.

 

[slippedhalo]

Helen could see Isis didn't know what she was talking about but definitely sensed something was wrong in the house. She turned her attention to Henry, "Henry, where's Ashley? I want to see her, now."

 

[DalekRasputin]

The Big Guy took the stake and held it in his hands. Beckoning Kate to him he said "Go and find Helen and bring her to the door. It's not my place but on this occassion I'LL decide the next move."

Turning to Ashley he said "Whether you see your mother or not depends on you. Any hint of trouble and I won't let her in. Understood?" With that he looked at Kate and said "See if you can find her."

 

[Asa]

Kate

Kate headed out the door and looked around the mansion spotting Magnus first then the large pissed off looking cat and cursing as she reached for the stunner that she now realized she had not picked up.

Umm Magnus... We seem to have several ... weird things going on... Calisar hounds attacking Isis who was in the... *Spotting Henry* who must be there with you looking completely like a cat... Ashley here but word of warning Big guy is in charge of that situation... you are just to go to the door of the lab and he will decide when you get in and we have a delivery of whats left of the Calisar hound pack but something seems wrong with them too.

 

[slippedhalo]

Magnus took one look at Kate and her barely repressed frustration at this confusion seeped through in her tone as she said, "Dear God, have you all gone mad?" She pushed her way through the new crowd and ran up the staircase to meet the first floor lift. She knew others would pursue but didn't much give a care.

In the lab she saw Big Foot blocking the door and set her hand upon the small of his back in greeting, "Dear friend...Please let me through."

He took one look down at her and shook his head with a grunt, "Magnus, not sure if that's the best idea...She's not the same Ashley..."

Helen shoved him ineffectually and he moved slightly of his own accord more than any sign of her strength. He looked slightly bewildered and sad but she maintained her frustration even with her friend. "If that's even a HINT of my Ashley you WILL let me by. I won't ask again!"

He sighed and grunted once more but moved to let Magnus pass...

 

[Asa]

Kate

Kate took off following her still not trusting ANYTHING that was going on.

Isis

Isis sensed Helen's mental state and her desire to only see good in a situation that everyone seemed on edge about as she followed Helen even getting a little in front of her with the speed of this form.

The massive feline looked at Ashley and seeing not only her but the other spirit within her as well as if they were two separate people standing there and began shifting to her full HEP form. Standing there lumbering a hair shorter than big guy in this for she snarled darkly at what looked like Ashley though her snarl was directed at the other being within her. Claws dragged down the wall beside her sparks dancing from the contact.

You will not harrrrm Helen!!! Norrr Ashley!! Nor any herrre.

 

[slippedhalo]

Helen took a step forward, her eyes must be decieving her...She couldn't get past how relieved she felt to see Ashley even despite the warnings given by the others. "Ashley...darling is it really you?" She asked in a choked up voice, her eyes brimmed with tears as the blue eyes so near to her own in appearance stared back at her with just as much hope and emotion as she was also feeling. This looked so much like her daughter...

...Another step forward, shaking off a warning hand placed on her shoulder by Isis, she moved toward the only person she ever truly shared a bond with, her own flesh and blood child, "...how?" she asked in a whisper as a tear rolled down her cheek. The emotions bubbling inside all rolled to the surface of her breast now leaving her nearly unable to voice a single word properly. She felt as if at any moment she might burst but wasn't sure if it was from joy, sadness, grief, shock, love...

...At a loss, Magnus stood there dumbfound, just feet from the living, breathing form of her daughter, unsure if she should do anything at all but tempted to reach out and pull her into the tightest hug...All the disciplined, long jaded, near-immortal could do was reach out her hand to gingerly touch this girl's face, tracing it carefully, reliving physical memory of the same face...Was it so? This wasn't wishful thinking, was it? This felt to Helen like the real thing, like her real, true daughter. But, how?

"How? You....you were...gone..." no amount of matter of fact, purely scientific nature could make Helen say the actual word, not right there in front of the person in question, not when that person was her own child...dead, Ashley, how are you not dead?

 

[YoungLisa]

Ashley was wide eyed, trembling and split by so many emotions both hers and Melaven’s. She had so much history with her mother some good; some bad while a lot was just so difficult. Yet here, now, in front of her stood her mother and she was speechless.

Struggling to find something to say she tried humour “I see your dress sense hasn’t improved Mum!” Emotions she didn’t even know she had flooded her personality as she continued “It … it is me Mum … yet it’s not me …” Moving slowly towards Helen she looked at Big Guy and then back to her mother she said “I asked Big Guy to protect you because I cannot guarantee your safety. You see … you … you’ve got your daughter back but you’ve also got another daughter too.”

Reaching over to grab a copy of the Sun “This is what you have got as well as me … and I can’t control her.” Looking deeply to make eye contact with Helen she continued “I’m your greatest challenge because I guarantee nothing.”

Sensing her mother was about to interrupt Ashley shook her head “So I’ve made a decision. I had to see you to say ‘goodbye’ because there is only one way to control Melaven and stop her getting her wish. She wants immortality and God help the world if she ever gets it.” Looking at Big guy she stood upright and said professionally “You know what you have to do.” She unfolded her arms to allow the stake to be driven into her heart.

In an instant Ashley’s whole body convulsed and she fell to the ground trembling and foaming at the mouth. Staggering to her feet Melaven beheld Helen and mocked “You must be Helen. Hello MOTHER!” Motioning to Big Guy to move no further she said “Take one more step forward and I’ll teleport and you’ll never find me.” Turning back to Helen Melaven remarked cuttingly “I’m disappointed it’s you. I’d have rather have met Father. Now he DID show promise! … But you can stop the killings Mother. Give me … give us immortality and I’ll never kill again. Deal?”

 

[slippedhalo]

Yet again, her heart was held aloft for but the briefest of moments of flight before being demolished and crushed right before her eyes.

It was Ashley and yet it wasn't.

She'd dealt with these things before, always left battered and hurt as a result. John had been the first person she'd experienced this with and continued to torture herself with the notion of, No, no. He's not in full control of that monster, that's not really him! which always led to ruination and grief. And, a colleague she had underestimated, someone desperate to be a friend who'd later become two different people in the same body, Adam Worth, Jekyll & Hyde himself, how that had worn on Helen, the guilt of knowing it was her own clique's conciet and inflated pride which had driven him to the brink of insanity, the loss of his daughter pushed him right over the edge...

It was Ashley and yet it wasn't...She's my daughter and yet she's a stranger, a cold killer...If there is a God why would He do this to me again? Wasn't it enough to have had to banish love from my life all these years because of the evil in the man I've always loved most, now my own child?!

Helen Magnus stood before Ashley conflicted beyond measure, tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks now and all she could do was take yet another step toward the darkness which had always been the only comfort she ever sought. "Ashley, it's my fault...I never should have...I honestly thought the good in me would overcome the evil in his...I was just so hopeful fate had left me with a gift from the mistake of our union and when I found out I was pregnant with you...It was so bittersweet, knowing I could never have you in my life while there was even a chance he was still alive...I only had you when I thought he'd been long dead. When I was certain the threat of his influence would be gone. And, my dear one, it had worked, hadn't it? You're mine, my child. I, even still, see nothing of your father in you. I had you because I loved you too much to let you go. I was so protective of you I waited over 100 years before bringing you to fruition. I wanted everything for you, my baby, to be perfect. It was, we had a perfect little family, you and me, for a long while, wasn't it a wonderful childhood, my dear one?"

Helen felt she was rambling but couldn't stop herself. She took another step forward and reached out her arm placatingly, "You are my baby, my flesh and blood, my daughter, Ashley. I don't care who else inhabits you. She will not win. YOU ARE MY ASHLEY!"

Helen reached out and did what she'd been desperate to do since entering the room, since the moment the empty casket had been lain in the ground...Helen reached out and grabbed hold of her daughter, taking her into a tight maternal embrace, loathe to let her go for anything. Sobbing now, she whispered, "You don't need the source blood, you don't need John Druitt, you won't even need to feed off of the blood of humans if you'll let me help you. But, please, don't bring my Ashley back to me only to take her away again. My darling, my heart, don't leave me!"

 

[DalekRasputin]

Big Guy observed all that was happening with both restraint and sympathy. As Helen embraced what was partly her daughter he slowly but deliberately moved forward and placed his hands on the creature's back. He whispered "By nature I'm a gentle giant and I won't willingly harm anyone and that includes you. If anyone can help you it's your mother and I will do all in my power to assist her and help you."

Noticing tears forming in Ashley's eyes he said "I don't care what the Tudors did to you. They're dead and their decendants are dead, no one exists who sought to desytroy you. You are among friends here and we will help you all we can".

Looking at Helen and making eye contact with her he beckoned to Kate calling her in. "You'll be safe" he said "we all will. But now I feel these two need time to be alone." Touching Helen's arm he said "We'll be just outside if you need us." With that he guided everyone but Ashley and Helen out of the door and closed it.