Hell's Belles Chapter Six: Order in the Court
Gomurr and the girls trudged along for hours until what passed for nightfall in this place began to descend. He looked into their tired eyes and gauged the distance between themselves and their goal. They weren't going to make it tonight anyway, and driving these children too hard would only make them lose hope faster. He had formulated a plan as they walked. Although airwalking taxed his system, he must get help for these children. Flying the distance between here and the monolith would leave him too tired to put up much of a fight if danger lurked there......and what if nothing was there...after flying that distance, he would be too drained to return here....and what of leaving these three headstrong and desperate girl to their own devices....All these questions were mad pointless by the sudden arrival of even more trouble.
As these thoughts raced through Gomurr's mind, the sand began to shift and stir beneath their feet....forming dunes in front of them. Then the dunes began to take on features......arms.....then legs.....and then incredibly faces. Lightning crashed down from the sky hitting each dune-man in turn transforming them into creatures of glass. The shattering sounds as they moved toward Gomurr and the students was enough to drive them mad. Gomurr let loose a bolt of fire from his staff but it served no purpose. The same could be said for all his efforts. These crystal soldiers seemed immune to any magic bolt he could muster. Then in desperation, he struck at one with his staff. A huge chunk of its arm fell away and turned to sand the instant it struck the ground, but just as quickly the crystal creature drew more sand into itself and the arm reformed.
"RUN," shouted Gomurr, but when he looked behind him he realized it was already too late.
The soldiers had formed in a circle around them and were already closing in. Jam was the first to be reached by a soldier. She tried to fight against it, but the jagged glass arms held her close. The more she struggled the more pain she inflicted on herself. Soon all of the party was held in the jagged grip of a soldier the other soldiers formed a circle around the ones with hostages and reached out their hands to one another. They began to shift into sand form and the sand began to form walls and a floor underneath their captives. Finally a ceiling was formed of the shifting sand and then it regained it's glass like state. Gomurr, Jam, Bux and Rita were effectively caged within a glass prison. The cage begin to sink and the desert floor opened up to accept its latest catch
As the liveried servants closed the huge mahogany doors, Gregor called the meeting to order. The gathered members of the Black Hellfire Court found their places and sat down staring across the ancient marble table at one another. To the outside world, they presented a unified front of international wealth and power, but within the court several power struggles and secret intrigues were often found. Nemesis, the Black Queen, watched the others as she lounged seductively in her chair, her fingers sliding up and down the leash of one of the panthers that were hers to control. It was wondered whether her mind control ability also worked in controlling animal brains, or if the cats, like most of the men in the room, found her beauty so seductive that they had no choice but to do her bidding. Her Pawn in the Black Court, Clarice Ferguson A.K.A Blink, stood behind Nemesis. Blink's high collared black military style jacket and white riding pants were in sharp contrast to Nemesis' extremely low cut black evening dress and generous sprinklings of priceless and ancient jewels, but both women held the same air of quiet power and stunning beauty. Jack Silver, known as only as Silver in the super hero set, sat to the right of Nemesis in the Black Bishop's seat. His abilities lay in the transmutation of metals and other earth born compounds. His chemical engineering empire made him one of the wealthiest men in the room, yet he felt little use for the decadent and often times cruel life styles practiced by others in this group, and thus refused to dress in the manner of the shamelessly wealthy. His simple yet elegant suit seemed in sharp contrast to the outlandish leather, spandex or Victorian garb worn by the others. Immediately to the right of Silver, sat Havok, who was helping himself to another snifter of brandy. Then came Supergrover, his hooded cloak covering his blue countenance. Two advocates to the inner circle were also in attendance sitting at the other end of the table beside Gregor. Deadpool sat toying with a rather wicked looking knife and at his side, as always, was Siryn. All eyes were finally turned to Gregor McMendl, their Black King. As he had called this meeting, he thus had the floor.
"You've all been briefed on the situation.", Gregor boomed, "Now I'm ready to hear some solutions."
The seated members looked around from one to another, carefully avoiding Gregor's eyes. Silver twisted in his chair, his mind in a desperate worry of the missing students and his hands absent mindedly changing his salad fork from silver to gold. Nemesis pretended to consult with Blink, and Deadpool for once said nothing. Finally Supergrover spoke out.
"It appears," said Grover suddenly, "there are three views to take on this issue. Let's look at the facts. The first portal that swallowed Gomurr and the three young ladies was assumed to be mystical in nature. The one that spirited Rahsas was one of his own mutant powered shadowgates, only altered somehow. This leads me to one of three conclusions. One........Rahsas somehow managed to follow the original travellers...and this is our best hope. Two.......Rahsas attempted to follow them, but something went wrong with his shadowgate and now he is lost or dead......and Three, the disappearances are not related at all. My suggestion is locating another being of mystical energy that is familiar with Rahsas shadowgates and convincing him or her to help us."
All present looked stunned by Supergrover's well conceived and logical statements. It was easy to underestimate this one....easy to look at the blue fur and ridiculous costume and think that he was a buffoon, but Supergrover's statement had drawn them all from their own musings and centered their thoughts, so they thus began to formulate a plan.
Gregor quickly called in Avalon, the Black Scribe and gave orders for all data on Rahsas to be cross referenced with any mystical beings he had come into contact with. Avalon's hands flew deftly over the keyboard. His blonde hair hung almost down to his eyes that stared unblinking at the huge computer monitor that covered the wall of the information center. A more mundane computer system would have almost immediately crashed at the touch of Avalon, but this marvel of technology actually was enhanced by the youth's ability to manipulate the electromagnetic field. Finally with his voice as cold and as emotionless as the machines with which he was so adept, he reported to Gregor.
"The only reported incident of Rahsas coming into contact with any type of mystical energy other than that of Gomurr's occurred before he was enrolled at the academy. Apparently he is acquainted with a member of the White Hellfire Club known as Nytshade, If I'm not mistaken she is their White Queen. All reports indicate that she can utilize mystical energies to some extent, and that she tried to enroll Rahsas before you did, sir. It is unclear why he did not take her offer."
This brought mumblings of disapproval from almost all seated at the table. Asking the White Hellfire Club for support would mean making an alliance of some sort between themselves and the white branch of the IHFC. Since the Blacks were a renegade house, this was almost unheard of. As the voices begin to grow louder, Silver began to speak. His normally calm voice, strained with worry over his students, came out almost as loudly as Gregor's normal rantings.
"There is no time to argue, it may already be too late to save them!!...........Gregor, make the call," he commanded his voice like cold stone.
All concerned knew why it was up to Gregor to call. The history between himself and the White Queen was common knowledge in this circle. Gregor looked angry for an instant, but just an instant. It would not look good to show dissension in the ranks in front of the two advocates. He then slowly picked up the phone.
"Calm yourself, my good bishop, all we be well," he spat, but nobody seemed to notice.
Nytshade answered her extension at the White Hellfire HQ. She was a bit unsettled concerning the man at the other end of this call. Why would Gregor call her? She hadn't spoken to Gregor since.......hmmmmmmmm, well there was no time to think about that now. The Blacks were a renegade house. This would have to handled very delicately. She touched at her pale delicate throat where a beautiful golden band encircled her neck. At her touch the band seemed to come alive...and what had once been links of gold became a writhing 3 foot rattle snake as it slid down her shoulder and onto the floor.
"There you go my pet, go amuse yourself among the servants. I have some business to attend to," she mumbled.
"Helloooo, Gregor, what can I do for you?" she cooed in a husky taunting voice.
"I've called concerning a student of mine, White Queen, a young lad by the name of Rahsas.", I believe you are familiar with him," Gregor returned.
"Gregor, I'm sorry, I don't believe I'm familiar with this boy. Maybe you can be a bit more specific."
So that was it! He wanted information concerning that ungrateful whelp that had refused her generous offer of sponsorship. She smiled grimly. Well whatever had happened to the lad, he deserved it. After attacking her like that when she offered a hand of friendship to a hapless homeless cur.
It can be noted at this point that Nightshade's offer for sponsorship involved using Rahsas mystical abilities to augment her own. Although this process could have also augmented Rahsas' energies, it could have just as well destroyed him, but the White Queen had little time for second thoughts. Her abilities lay in the mystical realm, yes, but as a succubus. She had no real power of her own. She simply surrounded herself with others that had this power and siphoned it off like a psionic leech. Although this ability oftentimes also increased or boosted the host's powers. It was known to have caused permanent damage and even death, but weren't a few sacrifices necessary for the good of the whole (the whole meaning herself). She reasoned in a life as long as hers, (some would say at least 100 years, although she looked as young, and radiant, and beautiful as any of her teenage students), a few sacrifices had to be made.
"Jon, there is no time for your foolish games," Gregor roared, "The lad is in danger, and you may be our only hope of saving him."
"Games...oh GREAT AND MIGHTY BLACK KING," she said sarcastically. "Why, whatever do you mean. You must understand there can be no further.......fraternization......between our students.....or us.......or the Black and White Houses for that matter. I could be dethroned if it leaked out?"
"I'm sorry as well, but I won't let foolish House politics interfere with the safety of my charges."
"Oh please, Gregor, you are only interested in people as long as they serve your purposes. Our relationship plainly proved that point. I'm sorry I can't help you"
"How DARE you accuse ME of using people.....YOU!!!, who feed on the energy of others like a common parasite. You have no choice, you must help me," Gregor roared.
****CLICK****
The White Queen set the phone down on the reciever, and looked calmly off into space.
Gregor slammed the phone down hard enough to shatter the plastic casing. His face was a mask of rage. He must not look foolish in front of the other members of the council......What was he going to do?
"Nobody speaks to me in that manner!", he roared, "The Whites will pay, and pay dearly."
On to Chapter 7.
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