xp_logs | Dixie Dead Shake

Amanda and Marie-Ange walk into Candra's estate to facedown Selene.

It had been almost twenty years since the last time they were in Candra's sprawling estate. The damage they'd inflicted on it had been repaired, and as they went in flanked by guards, they could see the new outbuildings. Only eyes trained like theirs ignored the lovely gardens and statuary to see that behind the beauty was a strategically laid out armed compound, capable of repelling a well equipped assault. Candra had obviously learned from their last encounter and now Selene was the beneficiary, able to sit safe in the middle of her castle.

There were pauses as they hit various guard points and finally they cleared the front doors. The interior was as richly appointed as the grounds, and they were led through a maze of hallways with old oil paintings, gilded wall sconces and plush Persian rugs before reaching a pair of dark walnut doors. The guards opened them and the pair were led into what could only be called a throne room; a converted ballroom that now contained a high chair in the centre where Selene perched with her guards arrayed around her.

The scars on her back were itching as they'd entered the building and Amanda's tension was visible in the clenched jaw and hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Looking up at the dark haired woman on the throne it took all her self-discipline not to either launch herself at the woman or turn and run. She swallowed, her throat dry, and forced out the words: "You summoned us, My Queen?"

"Oh, how classic. How artificial. You are wasted in this world, my Rook." Selene purred at her. "You and your little assassin pet were so much happier with my court. But... I don't see the cheerleader. Do you have a good reason she isn't with you?"

"Psionic migraine. Unfortunately, my lady, New Orleans is a hotbed of magic and power. As you know, it makes power for some." Marie-Ange nodded in Selene's direction, expression cool and still and one hand on Amanda's shoulder. "And rather a nasty place for others. Ms Grey has a bottle of sumatriptan and a dark room on her agenda, and is quite insensible at the moment. Powers like that, so unstable, I keep reminding Amanda, why bother?"

Amanda shrugged. "She's safe enough where she is and she wasn't in a fit state to bring before you. But you will have her, that I can promise."

Selene leaned back in her throne, compulsively opening and closing the hand that in her world, Remy had crippled. "I'm afraid I taught you too well. When that damn firebird burned our world and I was on the razor's edge of death, I could suddenly see the facade - the fake artifice that it was. And yet, like a church bell on a clear day, something of me resonated. Far beyond the edges of that world. And as the flames consumed me, it let my essence free, drawn inexorably to, well, myself. Not myself, but myself. Across time, space, dimensions even? The old tomes used to talk about similar events. And there I was, in a body of my own if not as I knew it, but not in charge. A rather low hedgewitch of limited cunning and great ambition. I could whisper in her ear but mostly, I could only observe. Fortunately, she had interest in your doings, my Rook. And yours, assassin." She shook her head from side to side, her beautiful visage growing sinister.
"This is not my world, nor our either of you. You're the brats that this world's LeBeau brought to the swamp. That firebird never felt the cleansing torture at my hands. I had hoped you'd try some kind of ruse like this. Worrying you out of the swamp would simply take too much time. But I know you."

"Are jah sure?"

"And the bogwitch herself! Tante Mattie. You never fail to impress." Selene smiled viciously. "I knew you couldn't be far behind. But unfortunately, you have made a mistake. You see-" She flicked her fingers. "My men are letting it be known that the time has come to liquidate your community. I certainly don't need them any longer."

"Well, it was worth a shot." Amanda gave Marie-Ange a brief smile, glanced over to Tante who was standing in the doorway before facing Selene again. "I hate to say it, 'My Queen'," and here the title was said with contempt. "But things have changed. And you definitely don't have the upper hand you think you do."

"I had really thought she would have said something as soon as she saw my eye." Marie-Ange's eyepatch was stained with mud, but present, and her alternate had never had one. "You are right, this is our world. We knew yours, and we know ours. We have just been stalling you."

"And what will that cost you?" She made motion to the man beside her. "Andre, contact our babysitters for the Guilds. Let them know I no longer need... let's say half. I think that's a fair price to pay to start. Make sure that a lesson is learned." Her baleful glare centred on Tante. "Make sure to let them know who got them killed. A tired old woman whose time is long past."

The man picked up his phone but there was a kerfuffle near the door, and it was pushed open despite the best efforts of the guards. One died immediately from a vicious throat strike as he attempted to stop Daniel Boudreaux from walking in.

"Have some news for you." He said, a deeply satisfied leer on his face as he addressed Selene. "Dis reign is over. De Guilds... day free again. And all 'gainst you."

"Impossible!" She hissed but the man beside her lowered his phone. "What? How?"