The crackling blast of power struck Grover in the chest and sent him flying against the wall. His protective aura glowed white hot as it tried to disperse the energy. Grover groaned as he tried to sit up, but it was too late. Havok leaped across the table and was sitting astride Grover before he could rise from the floor. The Black Knight morphed his hand as he brought it up and was about to bring the now clawed appendage down across Grover's throat, when a single word blasted into his brain......."STOP!!!!!!"
Nemesis approached the two men cautiously, her grip on Havok's mind was secure, but she could tell he was fighting her. His rage at Grover was delicious as thoughts of revenge and violence rolled through his mind. She was almost overcome by the intensity of his emotion, but she consumed it all greedily.
"Such a bad boy he is," she thought.
"Why did you stop me!" screamed Havok. "He's admitted his treason. He's plotting the downfall of us all."
"That's not true," groaned Grover, "and if you'll remove your person from mine, I'll explain."
"Let him speak," Gregor barked. "I would like to hear him try to explain his reasoning for conspiring against us."
"It was not my intention to conspire against anyone," Grover explained as he stood up and returned to the table. "I know nothing of Puma's disappearance, and I have done nothing to endanger any of you."
"Then what of your allegiance to the IHFC you boasted of earlier?" growled Gregor.
"I owe allegiance to none, save myself," continued Grover as he began to regain his composure. "I simply said that I was a link between the Houses. At the time of the disagreement that sundered this house from the International Hellfire Club, I was placed as a monitoring presence in your midst. At first I believed as I was told, that you all were a great menace to the IHFC and to the world at large, so I took my position as guardian of you all very seriously. In time I grew unhappy with this role, however. I saw through the propaganda I had been fed about you, and saw the core similarities between the groups. I came to realize that your goals are not that different than the other houses. Your more aggressive posturing is what caused the rift, not ideological differences. Since that time, I have strived to build bridges between the two houses and work toward re-unification, not bring about the downfall of either group."
Gregor looked at Grover through slitted eyes. Havok's murderous gaze trained in on his former teammate as they all waited for Gregor to speak.
"I choose to believe your story, Grover, for now," said Gregor finally. "but from this moment on, any further alliances with any of the other Great Houses will not be tolerated. If you are a Black, then show us that. Reunification is an impossibility. I reclaim you as our brother and pardon you this offense. Do not let there be another lapse in your judgement..........or the punishment will be quite severe."
"I thank you Black King," said Grover solemnly as he bowed before Gregor, "but do not discount the BHC being part of the larger whole once again. Reunification is perhaps just around the corner."
"IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!!" spat Gregor. "Speak no more of this."
Havok sullenly slumped back to his chair. In his heart, he knew Grover to be honorable and felt badly for his outburst......but he also wondered if Gregor would have been as forgiving if it had been he that had held dual allegiance. Grover's mind also whirled. Why was the Black King so dead set against reunification? What did he have to hide?
Outside the door, Shockwave listened intently. She, Glittergirl and the visiting Janista had been eavesdropping for the better part of an hour. The sleeping guard at the door was courtesy of Janista's mental push on the sleep center in his brain.
"Someone has Sasha," whispered Shockwave, "and they sit in there discussing houses and games like its nothing! We've got to do something."
"I'm in," said Glittergirl, "if it involves getting off campus for awhile. This whole place has been such a downer lately."
"Do not pretend to be so callous," said Janista quietly. "I don't even need to be a telepath to see that you are as worried about Sasha as we are."
Glittergirl and Shockwave looked at Janista appraisingly. The young girl was a telepath and telekenetic of extraordinary potential, but she spoke so quietly and so seldom that when she did, it was definitely worth listening to.
"So who can we trust to help us and not spill the beans?" plotted Shockwave. "Do you think the guys could handle this?"
"Puuuhhlease!" said Shae still pretending to be unconcerned, "When three fly betties like us ask them, they would follow us anywhere."
"We don't need love sick followers, GlittherGirl," said Shockwave with deadly seriousnes, "we need teammates willing to do what is necessary to get one of our own back."
At this, even the unflappable Shae Marquette, A.K.A. Glittergirl, didn't have a response.
Sasha opened her eyes and saw only more darkness. Where was she? She tried to move and realized she was bound by some sort of metal sheaths that surrounded her hands and feet. Sasha concentrated on changing into her transitional form to increase the scope of her vision, but was jolted back into her natural state by a brutal shot of electricity.
"Careful kitty kitty," a voice hissed from the darkness. "Curiosity's not the only thing that can kill a cat. Even a gorgeous she-cat like yourself."
"Who are you?" Puma demanded. "What do you want?"
"Why, my fuzzy little dear," the voice teased, "I'd be sooooooo disappointed if I thought you didn't enjoy my company."
The figure in the cloak hit a button on the his button covered gauntlet and a bright spotlight showed down on Sasha from above. She only realized at this point that she had been stripped and was bound naked on some sort of metal table. Her face blushed and she felt a wave of revulsion and shame wash over her. Sasha was naturally uninhibited and had no shame about her body, but having it displayed like this without her permission was unthinkable. The figure came closer in its hooded cloak and ran a finger along her soft jaw line.
"Leave her alone!!!" another voice snarled from the corner.
"Aaaaaaaaaah, so my other beast awakens," said the figure this time in a strange lilting feminine voice. "Would you rather I play with you for a bit."
The figure hit another few buttons and the control panel beneath the other captive lit up. WildChild struggled furiously against his bonds, but like Sasha he was as naked and as helpless as a newborn. When the electrical current shot through him, he refused to cry out, however, and only stared menacingly at the figure. The figure approached him and traced its metallic fingered gloves down Alex's chest. The figure leaned close enough to the struggling WildChild for him to smell the breath beneath the hooded cape.
"My brave little wolfboy is trying to protect his furry little companion.....HOW SWEET!!" said the figure in a sickeningly sweet sing song.
With one quick motion WildChild strained forward and grasped the hem of the hood with his razor sharp teeth, tearing it away from their startled captor. When the figure pulled away quickly, her long blonde hair fell free and the face of Nytshade, the White Queen, was revealed.
"Why do you fight Alex," she purred. "I'm sure there have been nights that you laid awake imagining me tying you down, and having my way with you."
"No, it can't be.....It's impossible," Alex sputtered.
"All things are possible to me, furry," the White Queen spat.
"You aren't Jon," screamed WildChild. "I know her scent, buddy, and you definitely don't smell like any woman I know. Who are you really?"
"Aaaaah my ever perceptive beast," the figure said. "you wouldn't understand if I told you, but since you will never be able to tell anyone, I'll give you a hint."
"I am the one that is all, and the many in one" I am he who once ruled you all I am the survivor of death and the bringer of vengeance I am Paramount, and I am your Doom"
"Now let me introduce you to my final guest, before you must go," Paramount laughed maniacally. "She's been with me much longer than the two of you, so please excuse her appearance."
Touching a few more buttons on control gauntlets, a final table was lit and on it, laying filthy and beaten, was the Black Princess, Blink.