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xp_logsAmanda goes to London to meet with a contact. And finds herself facing Adam Destine instead.
Warning: Blood, slight gore.
Post-Brexit London was a jumble of stress and anger and contradictions and fear, which suited Amanda's current mood almost to a "T". A week of dead-ends and failed leads and nights spent researching had taken their toll, all the while watching those who were cursed go through more and more pain and distress... Amanda ground her teeth as she shook herself free of the ancient stones of what remained of the Roman wall, thinking of Molly writhing in agony as arcane words and symbols were etched into her skin and flesh by unseen hands. Hopefully her contact would give her the angle she needed to stop this and put the perpetrator in the ground for good...
"The only way you could be more predictable is if you were wearing a leash. Remember, like the one Rack would make you wear and feed you dog food for a couple of days when you didn't earn out?" The voice seemed to come from right next to her ear, but as she turned, there was nothing there. "Bones of this city, aren't they? These walls? Back when Jolly Ol' London was a savage place. Where you either fought for your place or died in order to help someone else earn theirs. It is a model to learn from."
She knew that voice. Without pausing to think, Amanda reacted, unleashing a burst of raw city in a ten foot circle around and above her. It was energy she could spare after a fresh jaunt through London, and she wasn't about to let him get the drop on her again. "You were right there eating dog food with me, as I remember it," she retorted. It was a guess, but an educated one. "Only you did it by choice, trying to get on Rack's good side again."
"Ta, but I was getting access to the old bastard's good magic as a result." The disembodied voice offered no clues to Adam's actual whereabouts. "You know, like his curses? Funny thing, curses. So easy to mistake for just bloody bad luck., innit?"
"Yeah, yeah, Adam, we already worked out it was your doing. Real big of you, going through a bunch of folks who have no bloody connection to any of this." Amanda's hand slipped into her pocket to seek out her phone and its panic button. "What do you want?"
"Pain. You're wrong that they aren't connected to this. They're connected to you and her. See, if you'd just given me the old wog, this would be over. But you didn't. You got in my way. So anything I do to hurt anyone even remotely connected to you is ultimately your fault. And that, that, that is how it is worth it." It was like the wind carried his words to her. "You see, how much are they willing to accept before it is easier to get rid of her. And you. Imagine being back on our streets again, Amanda?"
"If you're trying to talk me to death, you're doing a bang up job of it." Amanda knew he was dangerous, that talking back was probably not the best tactic, but his arrogance in thinking he knew her as she was now was nettling. "London would take care of me, if it came to that, but it's really not likely. I'm not the kid I was, Adam. Trying to scare with me threats of being tossed out on my ear won't work - I'm too bloody old for that shite." Her thumb hovered over the panic button. "How about you stop with the games and lets just settle this here and now. Drop your curses on the others."
"Why would I? I think you overestimate their loyalty to you and her, Amanda. I admit, it would be tremendously satisfying to watch you take an upright trembler in the alley next to a pub for a place to sleep for the night, but you're right, those days have likely passed. Instead, I like to think of it in your fancy terms; risk assessment. If you and Topaz are radioactive to everyone around you, I know you'll walk away first. Nobly isolate yourself and the girl. It's very noble. I have a tear in my eye right now. So, how about this? Give me the little cunt and I'll drop the curses once I'm done with her. How's that for fair?"
"You know I can't do that, Adam. Topaz was just a kid when her dad dragged her into this - I can't let you have her." Amanda's thumb touched the panic button, needing only a twitch to set it off. "I'm a much better asset - take me instead and leave the rest of them alone." She cocked her eyebrow. "How's that for fair?"
"Oh, Amanda... just like when we were teens together, I could always have you whenever I wanted. But, just like back then, you're not worth anything." Adam finally appeared, the darkness around the edge of the wall dissipating. The mage leaned casually against the wall, patting it with one hand idly. "I do like the direction your mutation took. It is just so... metaphorical."
He gave her a smile as his hand glowed for just a moment. Deep in the earth, in the foundations of the ancient walls of Roman London, a burst of pressure suddenly rippled out, pulverizing the ancient stones in a single, violent thunder-like clap/
Her link with London shrieked and her voice joined it as every bone in her body felt like it was crumbling along with the wall. Her body jerking and shuddering, Amanda struggled to pull the magic together to respond: a shielding spell. It was ragged and uneven, however, barely cutting her off from London's pain. Panting, she felt for her phone... only to realise it had been jerked out of her pocket with her own spasms and lay outside of the fragile bubble of her shield. "Bastard," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Still won't face me head on, have to use someone else." It wasn't the smartest plan, but if she could antagonise him enough to attack her directly, she might stand a better chance. And there'd be fewer casualties - already she could her faint screams as the damage rippled along the ancient landmark.
"I thought you had got education, Amanda. What fucking git faces anyone head on? Doozy cunt." Adam motioned at the phone and it skittered into his own pocket. "So let me tell you how this is going to go. I'm going to set up your fucking corpse like a scarecrow with Topaz' name carved into your forehead. And when she comes, I'm going to do all kinds of horrors to her. Until I get the old man. And him. Oh, I've made a little deal especially for him." He clenched his fist and a crimson shaft struck upwards from between her feet, impaling her on a shaft of fire. It was the same spell he'd attacked her with last time, but the intensity was greater.
Well, at least he's not hurting London... was the briefest of thoughts Amanda had before the pain struck, fiercer than before. The very marrow of her bones was on fire, it seemed. But the pain also clarified something for her. Adam wouldn't stop, ever. And she couldn't call for backup. So it was down to her to deal with this, and to do that, she had to stop holding back. She was going to have to kill him.
Slowly, agonisingly, Amanda reached up the energy spike impaling her. Crackles of crimson energy flared over her hands as she grasped it and ever-so-painfully began to pull herself up off it, hand over hand.
"The tenacity. The grit... it's all just so inspiring how you won't give up." Adam made a flicking gesture with his fingers and a second crimson beam lanced out of the nothingness, this one skewering her left leg and erupting up through her wrist. He did it again, and the three beam came in diagonally at her hip, crossing through her torso and coming out her right shoulder. "Oh, wait, it isn't. You're going to die here, Amanda. Pinned like a butterfly in a collection; a pretty dead thing."
The scream that erupted from Amanda's throat was raw with agony and echoed in a sudden blare of car horns, house alarms and emergency sirens. Her grip on the spike slipped and she slid down slightly until she hung limply, pinioned by Adam's spell. Her head hung down and the hair that had escaped her braid straggled damply over her face, blown slightly by the agonised gasps of her breathing. Finally, a pained whisper escaped her.
"Please. No more." She looked up, expression naked with pain. "Adam. What happened to you? This is Rack's magic - I thought you wanted to be free of him?"
"Free of him? That was you. I wanted him close to learn what I could. But he wasn't interested interested in sticking it in me." The pillars of red fire burned through her as Adam stepped closer to come face to face with her. "Remember that night, Amanda, we had both scored. Hard. Both of us had money and we put on those clothes we bought second hand and took his cut to the casino? Remember how swish we thought we were?"
Her body jerked and shuddered under the increased pain. Then, incredibly, a low chuckle escaped her; she'd seen grainy security footage of two skinny kids bluffing their way into the place and while she didn't have the memories herself, it had seemed so familiar somehow. "I remember. We totally cleaned up on the craps table. Before they threw our arses out for being underage. I told you those fake IDs were shite."
"I feel bad that I have to hurt you this much. You know, there's a place with us if you want it. We have the old man's skills. It could be different."
She met his eyes, her lips trembling with the effort not to keep screaming. "I can't, Adam. I wish I could."
"Do you? You know how badly you're going to die here." Another red beam materialized, lancing through her throat. "I just want the old man. The girl too, but I can make a deal for her. You can make this easy.”
She gagged and tried to reply. A few croaks escaped her before she was able to actually form words. "You can have Taboo. I don't give a fuck about him. Topaz... I can't let you have her, Adam. She's mine. My kid." Tears leaked from her eyes and she looked him as fully in the face as she was able, pinned as she was. "I love her."
"It's too late for her. You used to love Rack." Adam leaned close to her and captured her chin in his grasp. "I'll make you a deal. When we put the old man into hell, you can have time to make her beg for her life. I don't promise anything, but you can give her a chance."
She looked into his eyes, her expression raw with pain. "I'm sorry." Then her left hand snaked out and grabbed at his throat and she unleashed the full power of London into him. For those moments she ceased to exist, save as a conduit for an entire ancient city's rage and pain and confusion, and the turmoil of Brexit actually worked for her, adding to the clamour she was pushing through herself and into her tormentor.
Adam reeled back, choking on the onslaught that enveloped him. He tore the charms from his neck, as electricity flowed between them. "You fucking-"
The energy lances slid from her body and Amanda collapsed to the ground, barely able to push herself up to her knees. "You can't have her, Adam," she gasped, blood dribbling from the corners of her mouth. "I told you, she's mine."
"Fuck you!" He summoned his energy to himself. "You tired little whore!"
Amanda howled. Before had been about playing with her, this time he meant torment and death. Every fibre of her was consumed with burning red energy, a thousand needles stabbing into every part of her. All she knew was pain, beyond anything she'd ever experienced, even from Candra. She thrashed and convulsed under the onslaught, helpless before the agony, only one tiny sliver of rational thought left to her: escape.
It took every thing she had, everything London had left to give her. A brief image, a moment...
Pete frowned. "I think you've got me confused with someone else, sunshine. On what fucking planet d'you think I'm going to turn up and preach at you for drinking and smoking? It's your life. Fuck it up in whatever way you want, so long as you ain't hurting anyone else."
He stretched his legs out in front of him.
"I can see why everyone hides away in this treehouse, y'know. S'quite nice up here. Peaceful."
"Glad someone sees it my way," she muttered to herself. Especially on the hurting anyone else front. She finally got a cigarette lit, and sucked down smoke greedily. She'd run out whilst she'd been holed up here, and couldn't be bothered climbing down again to grab another pack from her dwindling supply. And she was damned if she'd take any more from Shinobi, the grassing bastard. "'S sorta the point - findin' somewhere quiet so I won't be bothered. Place is full of busy-bodies."
And then she was gone, wooden floorboards replacing cold bitumen, the tang of London's polluted air giving way to Westchester's pine-laden atmosphere. Amanda gasped, blood pouring from a dozen puncture wounds across her body, and tried to drag herself forward.
***
Maya had retreated to the tree house that she and Kyle had made a bit more fancy from when he used it in order to get away from mansion drama. It now had actual glass windows, a floor and a set of cushions and blankets. She might have to bring out a cooler when she wanted to have snacks and drinks but at least she didn’t have to go back to the mansion if it got cold or stormy. Given how tense everyone was over the people in Medlab with seemingly incurable curses, she’d thought it best to just make herself scarce.
It was thus seemingly the height of irony that one Amanda Sefton would appear in the middle of her floor just as she was about to start watching the third season of American Horror Story on her laptop.
"The hell are you doing...Amanda?" Maya pressed the panic button on her Xavier's phone but she knew even as fast as they were, it would still be a couple of minutes before they got to the out of the way tree house. She stepped forward and dropped to her knees beside the older woman, unsure if she should touch her given the amount of blood currently leaking everywhere. It was going to be a bitch to get out of the floor boards. Maya shook off the last thought, trying to focus on what was important. "What happened?"
Amanda gasped, eyes flickering open. "...no... can't stop... have to keep everyone safe..." The words were a pained jumble, barely coherent, before her eyes drifted closed again and her body went limp.
Maya pulled over the first aid kit that Wade had insisted that she keep up here as the deal that let her be out here on her own for any length of time. She’d also promised to check in with him regularly while she was here but really, who cared about that right now? She pulled out some gauze and pressed it against what looked to be the most serious of the wounds. She also pulled over several cushions and propped Amanda’s head against her crossed legs as she waited for the cavalry to arrive.
“I swear to whatever deity you happen to worship, Amanda. If you die on me here and make my treehouse all maudlin, I’m going to get my Granddad to bring back your ghost just to yell at you. So, just hang in there, okay? There’s going to be a whole bunch of experts here any second now.”
Warning: Blood, slight gore.
Post-Brexit London was a jumble of stress and anger and contradictions and fear, which suited Amanda's current mood almost to a "T". A week of dead-ends and failed leads and nights spent researching had taken their toll, all the while watching those who were cursed go through more and more pain and distress... Amanda ground her teeth as she shook herself free of the ancient stones of what remained of the Roman wall, thinking of Molly writhing in agony as arcane words and symbols were etched into her skin and flesh by unseen hands. Hopefully her contact would give her the angle she needed to stop this and put the perpetrator in the ground for good...
"The only way you could be more predictable is if you were wearing a leash. Remember, like the one Rack would make you wear and feed you dog food for a couple of days when you didn't earn out?" The voice seemed to come from right next to her ear, but as she turned, there was nothing there. "Bones of this city, aren't they? These walls? Back when Jolly Ol' London was a savage place. Where you either fought for your place or died in order to help someone else earn theirs. It is a model to learn from."
She knew that voice. Without pausing to think, Amanda reacted, unleashing a burst of raw city in a ten foot circle around and above her. It was energy she could spare after a fresh jaunt through London, and she wasn't about to let him get the drop on her again. "You were right there eating dog food with me, as I remember it," she retorted. It was a guess, but an educated one. "Only you did it by choice, trying to get on Rack's good side again."
"Ta, but I was getting access to the old bastard's good magic as a result." The disembodied voice offered no clues to Adam's actual whereabouts. "You know, like his curses? Funny thing, curses. So easy to mistake for just bloody bad luck., innit?"
"Yeah, yeah, Adam, we already worked out it was your doing. Real big of you, going through a bunch of folks who have no bloody connection to any of this." Amanda's hand slipped into her pocket to seek out her phone and its panic button. "What do you want?"
"Pain. You're wrong that they aren't connected to this. They're connected to you and her. See, if you'd just given me the old wog, this would be over. But you didn't. You got in my way. So anything I do to hurt anyone even remotely connected to you is ultimately your fault. And that, that, that is how it is worth it." It was like the wind carried his words to her. "You see, how much are they willing to accept before it is easier to get rid of her. And you. Imagine being back on our streets again, Amanda?"
"If you're trying to talk me to death, you're doing a bang up job of it." Amanda knew he was dangerous, that talking back was probably not the best tactic, but his arrogance in thinking he knew her as she was now was nettling. "London would take care of me, if it came to that, but it's really not likely. I'm not the kid I was, Adam. Trying to scare with me threats of being tossed out on my ear won't work - I'm too bloody old for that shite." Her thumb hovered over the panic button. "How about you stop with the games and lets just settle this here and now. Drop your curses on the others."
"Why would I? I think you overestimate their loyalty to you and her, Amanda. I admit, it would be tremendously satisfying to watch you take an upright trembler in the alley next to a pub for a place to sleep for the night, but you're right, those days have likely passed. Instead, I like to think of it in your fancy terms; risk assessment. If you and Topaz are radioactive to everyone around you, I know you'll walk away first. Nobly isolate yourself and the girl. It's very noble. I have a tear in my eye right now. So, how about this? Give me the little cunt and I'll drop the curses once I'm done with her. How's that for fair?"
"You know I can't do that, Adam. Topaz was just a kid when her dad dragged her into this - I can't let you have her." Amanda's thumb touched the panic button, needing only a twitch to set it off. "I'm a much better asset - take me instead and leave the rest of them alone." She cocked her eyebrow. "How's that for fair?"
"Oh, Amanda... just like when we were teens together, I could always have you whenever I wanted. But, just like back then, you're not worth anything." Adam finally appeared, the darkness around the edge of the wall dissipating. The mage leaned casually against the wall, patting it with one hand idly. "I do like the direction your mutation took. It is just so... metaphorical."
He gave her a smile as his hand glowed for just a moment. Deep in the earth, in the foundations of the ancient walls of Roman London, a burst of pressure suddenly rippled out, pulverizing the ancient stones in a single, violent thunder-like clap/
Her link with London shrieked and her voice joined it as every bone in her body felt like it was crumbling along with the wall. Her body jerking and shuddering, Amanda struggled to pull the magic together to respond: a shielding spell. It was ragged and uneven, however, barely cutting her off from London's pain. Panting, she felt for her phone... only to realise it had been jerked out of her pocket with her own spasms and lay outside of the fragile bubble of her shield. "Bastard," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Still won't face me head on, have to use someone else." It wasn't the smartest plan, but if she could antagonise him enough to attack her directly, she might stand a better chance. And there'd be fewer casualties - already she could her faint screams as the damage rippled along the ancient landmark.
"I thought you had got education, Amanda. What fucking git faces anyone head on? Doozy cunt." Adam motioned at the phone and it skittered into his own pocket. "So let me tell you how this is going to go. I'm going to set up your fucking corpse like a scarecrow with Topaz' name carved into your forehead. And when she comes, I'm going to do all kinds of horrors to her. Until I get the old man. And him. Oh, I've made a little deal especially for him." He clenched his fist and a crimson shaft struck upwards from between her feet, impaling her on a shaft of fire. It was the same spell he'd attacked her with last time, but the intensity was greater.
Well, at least he's not hurting London... was the briefest of thoughts Amanda had before the pain struck, fiercer than before. The very marrow of her bones was on fire, it seemed. But the pain also clarified something for her. Adam wouldn't stop, ever. And she couldn't call for backup. So it was down to her to deal with this, and to do that, she had to stop holding back. She was going to have to kill him.
Slowly, agonisingly, Amanda reached up the energy spike impaling her. Crackles of crimson energy flared over her hands as she grasped it and ever-so-painfully began to pull herself up off it, hand over hand.
"The tenacity. The grit... it's all just so inspiring how you won't give up." Adam made a flicking gesture with his fingers and a second crimson beam lanced out of the nothingness, this one skewering her left leg and erupting up through her wrist. He did it again, and the three beam came in diagonally at her hip, crossing through her torso and coming out her right shoulder. "Oh, wait, it isn't. You're going to die here, Amanda. Pinned like a butterfly in a collection; a pretty dead thing."
The scream that erupted from Amanda's throat was raw with agony and echoed in a sudden blare of car horns, house alarms and emergency sirens. Her grip on the spike slipped and she slid down slightly until she hung limply, pinioned by Adam's spell. Her head hung down and the hair that had escaped her braid straggled damply over her face, blown slightly by the agonised gasps of her breathing. Finally, a pained whisper escaped her.
"Please. No more." She looked up, expression naked with pain. "Adam. What happened to you? This is Rack's magic - I thought you wanted to be free of him?"
"Free of him? That was you. I wanted him close to learn what I could. But he wasn't interested interested in sticking it in me." The pillars of red fire burned through her as Adam stepped closer to come face to face with her. "Remember that night, Amanda, we had both scored. Hard. Both of us had money and we put on those clothes we bought second hand and took his cut to the casino? Remember how swish we thought we were?"
Her body jerked and shuddered under the increased pain. Then, incredibly, a low chuckle escaped her; she'd seen grainy security footage of two skinny kids bluffing their way into the place and while she didn't have the memories herself, it had seemed so familiar somehow. "I remember. We totally cleaned up on the craps table. Before they threw our arses out for being underage. I told you those fake IDs were shite."
"I feel bad that I have to hurt you this much. You know, there's a place with us if you want it. We have the old man's skills. It could be different."
She met his eyes, her lips trembling with the effort not to keep screaming. "I can't, Adam. I wish I could."
"Do you? You know how badly you're going to die here." Another red beam materialized, lancing through her throat. "I just want the old man. The girl too, but I can make a deal for her. You can make this easy.”
She gagged and tried to reply. A few croaks escaped her before she was able to actually form words. "You can have Taboo. I don't give a fuck about him. Topaz... I can't let you have her, Adam. She's mine. My kid." Tears leaked from her eyes and she looked him as fully in the face as she was able, pinned as she was. "I love her."
"It's too late for her. You used to love Rack." Adam leaned close to her and captured her chin in his grasp. "I'll make you a deal. When we put the old man into hell, you can have time to make her beg for her life. I don't promise anything, but you can give her a chance."
She looked into his eyes, her expression raw with pain. "I'm sorry." Then her left hand snaked out and grabbed at his throat and she unleashed the full power of London into him. For those moments she ceased to exist, save as a conduit for an entire ancient city's rage and pain and confusion, and the turmoil of Brexit actually worked for her, adding to the clamour she was pushing through herself and into her tormentor.
Adam reeled back, choking on the onslaught that enveloped him. He tore the charms from his neck, as electricity flowed between them. "You fucking-"
The energy lances slid from her body and Amanda collapsed to the ground, barely able to push herself up to her knees. "You can't have her, Adam," she gasped, blood dribbling from the corners of her mouth. "I told you, she's mine."
"Fuck you!" He summoned his energy to himself. "You tired little whore!"
Amanda howled. Before had been about playing with her, this time he meant torment and death. Every fibre of her was consumed with burning red energy, a thousand needles stabbing into every part of her. All she knew was pain, beyond anything she'd ever experienced, even from Candra. She thrashed and convulsed under the onslaught, helpless before the agony, only one tiny sliver of rational thought left to her: escape.
It took every thing she had, everything London had left to give her. A brief image, a moment...
Pete frowned. "I think you've got me confused with someone else, sunshine. On what fucking planet d'you think I'm going to turn up and preach at you for drinking and smoking? It's your life. Fuck it up in whatever way you want, so long as you ain't hurting anyone else."
He stretched his legs out in front of him.
"I can see why everyone hides away in this treehouse, y'know. S'quite nice up here. Peaceful."
"Glad someone sees it my way," she muttered to herself. Especially on the hurting anyone else front. She finally got a cigarette lit, and sucked down smoke greedily. She'd run out whilst she'd been holed up here, and couldn't be bothered climbing down again to grab another pack from her dwindling supply. And she was damned if she'd take any more from Shinobi, the grassing bastard. "'S sorta the point - findin' somewhere quiet so I won't be bothered. Place is full of busy-bodies."
And then she was gone, wooden floorboards replacing cold bitumen, the tang of London's polluted air giving way to Westchester's pine-laden atmosphere. Amanda gasped, blood pouring from a dozen puncture wounds across her body, and tried to drag herself forward.
***
Maya had retreated to the tree house that she and Kyle had made a bit more fancy from when he used it in order to get away from mansion drama. It now had actual glass windows, a floor and a set of cushions and blankets. She might have to bring out a cooler when she wanted to have snacks and drinks but at least she didn’t have to go back to the mansion if it got cold or stormy. Given how tense everyone was over the people in Medlab with seemingly incurable curses, she’d thought it best to just make herself scarce.
It was thus seemingly the height of irony that one Amanda Sefton would appear in the middle of her floor just as she was about to start watching the third season of American Horror Story on her laptop.
"The hell are you doing...Amanda?" Maya pressed the panic button on her Xavier's phone but she knew even as fast as they were, it would still be a couple of minutes before they got to the out of the way tree house. She stepped forward and dropped to her knees beside the older woman, unsure if she should touch her given the amount of blood currently leaking everywhere. It was going to be a bitch to get out of the floor boards. Maya shook off the last thought, trying to focus on what was important. "What happened?"
Amanda gasped, eyes flickering open. "...no... can't stop... have to keep everyone safe..." The words were a pained jumble, barely coherent, before her eyes drifted closed again and her body went limp.
Maya pulled over the first aid kit that Wade had insisted that she keep up here as the deal that let her be out here on her own for any length of time. She’d also promised to check in with him regularly while she was here but really, who cared about that right now? She pulled out some gauze and pressed it against what looked to be the most serious of the wounds. She also pulled over several cushions and propped Amanda’s head against her crossed legs as she waited for the cavalry to arrive.
“I swear to whatever deity you happen to worship, Amanda. If you die on me here and make my treehouse all maudlin, I’m going to get my Granddad to bring back your ghost just to yell at you. So, just hang in there, okay? There’s going to be a whole bunch of experts here any second now.”
