Future Shock

"Are you in or out?"

Garrett looks like she's waiting for an answer. She looks tired and annoyed. More so than normal even. She's wearing something dark and comfortable. It will give her freedom of movement, some slight protection, and some camouflage. It's a good choice. Garrett stands, left hand on hip, right holding her wand at her side. Madeline knows she is within the firing arc of the wand if Garrett chooses to use it.

The rain is coming down fairly hard now. It doesn't seem to be bothering Forester - a result of his years in the navy, Madeline supposes. He's dressed all in black. Much as he was when Madeline first met him in Arbor House. Madeline realizes she is all in black as well, in her armored bodysuit, and carrying silvered weapons. It's her working outfit.

Madeline frowns and raises a hand to her head. "I'm afraid we have a problem. I appear to have suffered some kind of memory loss. I do not remember the events leading up to this point." She looks at Garrett. "Can you detect any sign that I've been magically affected?"

"I don't find humor particularly appropriate," Garrett says. "I can go without you, but I can't chance your interference."

Forester frowns. "Madeline. We have to stop her. If you want to walk away, I understand. She is your sister after all."

Madeline gives him an incredulous look. "Ioan, have you ever known me to joke under circumstances like these? I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. What has my sister done?"

As soon as she asks, she knows.

In the end, the murder of Elyssa had been the critical mistake. Initially, it had appeared that she had simply been a victim of circumstances. Just an unlucky lady in the wrong place and time, killed when visiting her mother. Many had been surprised to learn that Elyssa's mother had been a courtesan.

It was Garrett, naturally, who had determined otherwise. Her investigation revealed that Elyssa had been the target and the mother was just killed to obscure the facts. The investigation quickly focused on Elyssa's past and her contacts with the underworld.

Hobart, Max, and Reggie combined their considerable resources to tear Amber apart. It quickly became clear that the underworld was not responsible. As much as Elyssa had annoyed various Crime Lords in the past, they had all been scared to harm her for some reason. This left Garrett to look at her social and professional contacts. Which lead, eventually, to two critical discoveries: Reggie was, indeed, Elyssa's father and Elyssa had discovered that Genvieve was the prostitute killer.

Apparently Elyssa had secretly been investigating the various prostitute murders, and she recognized Gen's rune magicks from the pendant Gen commissioned her to create during that one terrible Carnival season, a year and a half ago. Gen had never been quite right after the incident at the pub. Though others thought that the pub incident demonstrated that something had been wrong before.

The pub incident.... It was bad and ugly and a lot of people died. Madeline was in the hospital for weeks. Gen, even longer. Gen lost a hand. Others lost more. Cassandra somehow magickally redirected the majority of the shrapnel to her. She didn't survive. O'Donovan was blown backwards into the circle itself. He was never seen again. Rumors persist that he can be seen walking the docks on foggy nights. It's said that he only appears at the sites of future murders.

Nicholas disappeared shortly after the duel and the destruction of Wesson's Pub. There is some reason to believe this followed a letter being sent to the palace. Accounts vary on whether Nicholas or Juliana sent the letter. Some say he returned to his homeland and retired. Others suspect that he disappeared "for the good of Amber."

Much as Madeline would have liked to deny it, Garrett's evidence was irrefutable. Genvieve was the killer - and probably stark raving mad. All those deals with demons, the spectral encounters at Arbor House, the incident at Carnival. It all added up to an ugly equation.

Max, Hobart, and Reggie all wanted revenge for Elyssa. Hobart didn't have a chance against Varien, the Black Rose killer. While great with a blade, Hobart just couldn't deal with their supernatural powers. Reggie fared better, but he was reckless, and though a talented sorcerer, he wasn't in Genvieve's league. She held him in place while Varien effortlessly walked through Reggie's wards and killed him. She then killed Max in a sorcerers duel that destroyed Feldane house.

Now, after a long investigation, Genvieve's whereabouts have been determined and Garrett and Forester are going after her. Both are of the opinion that it's gone far beyond trying to apprehend her at this point, and there is a termination writ from the Crown. Forester had tried to talk Madeline out of assisting them, though. He and Madeline had continued to see each other both professionally and personally since the Carnival explosion, which was one of the reasons he tried to keep Madeline out of this, but knew, in the end, he couldn't. Madeline feels too responsible for what's happened to let someone else take the risk in stopping Genvieve. She blames herself for not seeing what was going on sooner and putting a stop to it, feeling that all of Genvieve's deaths are in part her fault.

Garrett growls. "Forester this is a waste of time."

Forester looks over. "Madeline, I know this is hard. But we have to stop her before she kills again."

Madeline shakes her head again, as all of this comes to her. "That was strange...but I'm starting to remember things again." She looks at Garrett. "I was serious about checking to see if there's been a spell cast on me. It might indicate that Gen is on to us."

"Hell," Garrett mutters. After a brief time she says, "You're clear. We need to go. Fiona might not be able to hold her much longer."

"All right. I'm ready." Madeline feels her stomach twist, though. This is her sister, after all, her twin. 'How could she have done such horrible things?' she thinks. 'And how could I not have noticed?'

She remembers asking the same questions when she first learned the truth...wanting to know why Genvieve was killing the prostitutes. Apparently Genvieve became convinced that it was necessary to do her job. She was obsessed with the idea that to maintain Amber, sacrifices had to be made...to make the land strong. To repel its enemies. The prostitutes were killed to power certain rituals. And feed her demons.

Forester had become involved because Caine had taken a particular interest in Genvieve after his encounter with her at Arbor house. After Garrett identified Genvieve as the prostitute killer, it made sense for them to combine forces.

Garrett and Forester, both of whom had known about Madeline's real job for some time, then brought Madeline in on the situation. There had been some initial hope that Madeline could reason with Genvieve. Failing that, Garrett wanted to try a sympathetic magic involving their nature as twins to track Genvieve. Didn't work, alas. Genvieve had gotten too powerful by that point. And had Varien's cloak to shield her. Varien's been her assassin of choice for some time, and there is suspicion that he's undead. He and Genvieve apparently met long before they were socially introduced at Elyssa's birthday. They met during the murder of the second set of prostitutes. The one with the riot in Southside.

When evidence mounted that Genvieve was involved, Forester's team was sent after her during a visit to the family home...Genvieve and Varien were on a romantic holiday visiting the folks. Madeline had not gone with her...probably one of the reasons they chose that time to make the move.

Forester was the only survivor. He jumped off a cliff into the ocean. He wasn't happy about it. Genvieve disappeared then, and hasn't been seen since.

Madeline shakes off the unhappy memories, focusing on what lies ahead. The plan is simple, deceptively so. While Fiona keeps Genvieve busy, Garrett, Forester and Madeline will sneak in while others lead a frontal attack to deal with Genvieve's more unpleasant allies.

Amber has a mass of underground sewers - like Paris - and such beneath it. Add in some truly ancient structures and there is a second city underground. If you like rats and thieves and beggars and murderers. It's called the Labyrinth, and this is where Genvieve has gone to ground. Ironically, they enter the Labyrinth through the burned out basement of the building where the second set of prostitutes was killed. It was here that the blood magic ritual was done.

The basement is a burned out hulk. But even after so much time it still smells of blood and death and magic. Years before, Garrett, O'Donovan, Admiral-High Mage Ambrose, and Father Beyron foiled a blood magic ritual here. Varien was here that night as well. And Genvieve. Though neither ever told anyone.

They met socially at Elyssa's birthday party. Genvieve took him home that night and woke with a black rose on her pillow.

Genvieve invited Varien to her little party on the Eve of Carnival. Varien used it to cover other activities. Genvieve somehow didn't seem to mind being used as an alibi. She always seemed to forgive him everything.

Varien looked promising enough in the beginning. He was a young lord with a good family. But he was a vigilante in Southside. Later a thief who, after the encounter with Genvieve at Elyssa's birthday party, started leaving black roses with his female victims.

Phillip always regretted not killing him the night of Carnival. In retrospect, he should have. Juliana and her child might have lived if he had killed Varien. Madeline remembers the awful double discovery that Juliana had been murdered in Southside and that she was pregnant at the time. Varien apparently had issues with Juliana. He felt Southside was his and resented her meddling. Or so the reasoning goes.

The death of Juliana was not attributed to Varien until long after it was too late. Juliana was notorious for being in dangerous places and helping wayward women. When she was killed in Southside, it looked like another Southside tragedy.

The results were certainly tragic. Phillip went more than a little mad. He began prowling Southside at night hunting the murderers and thieves and rapists that haunt that place. Eventually, he annoyed too many of the Crime Lords and they killed him.

After the deaths of Phillip and Juliana, Eric sent the troops in. Oberon disappeared one night almost a year and a half ago, and Eric has been running things ever since. The weir ran through the moonlit streets and any criminal unfortunate enough to be in their path was devoured. Julian led the cavalry through the streets and broke into hidden Crime Lord strongholds. Caine and his special units hunted their agents, leaving none alive. Gérard and the fleets shattered the smuggling operations. Hawk was placed in command of a special Watch group. With targets selected by the DCIs, they hit criminal operations throughout the city, not solely in Southside. Eventually, the underworld broke. The Crime Lords were dead and the survivors of their forces fled into the Labyrinth. Through it all, Madeline and Genvieve were there doing their part.

Genvieve was apparently playing a second role as well. With the destruction of the Crime Lords, someone had to give the criminals direction and safety. Someone who could protect them and build them into an army. Someone who knew the enemy's moves. Genvieve sacrificed those who gave her trouble so that mop-up operations appeared successful. But throughout the Crime War, there was a serpent in the midst.

The Labyrinth was always dangerous. Even under Oberon's reign. It was where the forgotten and unwanted dwelled. Now, with Genvieve's servants, human and otherwise, calling it home, it was infinitely more dangerous than ever it had been before.

Thus far, all Madeline and the team had to contend with was flooding and rats. The bulk of Genvieve's forces had hopefully been drawn off to face the troops entering other parts of the Labyrinth. Soon, though, Madeline and the team will likely run into a problem.

Forester forces an encouraging smile. He knows it isn't enough, but makes the attempt nonetheless.

Madeline attempts a smile back, but fails miserably. This place brings back nothing but bad memories for her. Still, she moves forward, eyes alert for trouble, weapons ready.

The way is dark and long. Down stairs. Over flooded passageways. Through strange tunnels. Every so often, Forester stealthily dispatches a sentry.

"We're getting close," Garrett says eventually. "I can feel the wards now."

Forester nods.

"Ever commit regicide before, Forester?"

"No."

"Me neither. It always conflicted with the job description somewhat." Garrett chuckles darkly.

The Queen Under the Mountain. That's what the underworld called Genvieve. As above, so below. Madeline chooses not to comment. She's not in the mood for jokes, even dark ones.

Not being able to sense the wards herself, Madeline keeps behind Garrett, lest she trip something unintentionally. There's a sense of unreality about this whole thing, like any minute she's going to wake up and find out it was all some awful dream. But Madeline's been trying to wake from this nightmare for some time now. Ever since she was forced to admit that her suspicions were right about Genvieve. And she never does.

Garrett stops.

"This is it. Now, once this ward goes down," she moves her hand through the air and a sickly red wall of force becomes momentarily visible, "it will be up to us."

Madeline nods, and prepares to move forward.

There is a crackling in the air.

Garrett's eyes widen.

"I don't think that was good. We'd best go now."

Garrett steps across the area where the ward had briefly been visible.

Forester takes a deep breath and follows. "We few. We happy few," he mutters.

Madeline winces as she moves forward, unable to help thinking that Forester and Garrett's lives wouldn't be in danger right now if only she hadn't been so blind to what Genvieve was becoming.

Once past the ward, they come to a door. Garrett frowns and it opens. A set of stone stairs leads downward.

Forester moves to take point. Madeline does as well. Damned if she's going to let someone else get themselves killed before she does. Garrett stops them. She begins down the stairway, her wand glowing very faintly lighting the way.

The sounds of battle reach their ears. Sound plays tricks down here. The chambers and dark hollow spaces echo. It's a long, dark, and winding way. They are deep underground now.

Eventually, the come to a landing and a door. Garrett stops and regards the door.

"It's clear."

She opens the door.

"Let's go."

The team races through the darkened halls of this vast underground structure. Madeline stays close behind Garrett as they go, not sure what to expect but ready for something.

"Damn," Garrett whispers, "I was afraid of this." She looks to Madeline and Forester. "We're too close. I can no longer use Madeline to track Genvieve. At least the similarity fooled her wards."

"We'll do it the hard way," Forester replies.

Madeline nods. "At the very least, my appearance should still prove confusing for anyone...or anything we encounter.

"One can hope," Garrett agrees.

The sounds of battle become more clear. The smell of blood fills the air.

"We're here," Garrett says.

The team has come to the entrance of a large underground cavern arranged in mockery of the throne room in the palace. The throne sits before a huge abyss. Genevieve sits on the throne. The space between is filled with the clash of bodies. Strange demonic forms are devouring a rag-tag assortment of criminals and beggars. Madeline looks on with horror as she realizes that Genvieve is feeding her criminal army to her demons. The floor is covered in blood and appears to be glowing in a strange unpleasant pattern. Genvieve is laughing. Varien, clad all in black with his mask firmly in place stands at her side.

Garrett shakes her head in disgust. "She's sacrificing her own people. The entire structure is a magickal working."

Madeline looks sickened. "We'd better get to her before she finishes it."

Garrett frowns but says nothing.

"Let's do what we came here to do," Forester says and moves forward.

The way is hard and dangerous. Luckily, there are few better at stealth than Madeline and Forester and few better at sorcery than Garrett.

Genvieve is laughing hysterically. She seems to be having the time of her life. Varien remains at her side, immobile and silent like a statue.

Madeline tries not to think of the woman up there as her sister, because the sister she knew couldn't do that. 'Then Gen I knew died a long time ago,' she tries to tell herself. 'We're just getting rid of what's inhabiting the shell.'

As she draws closer, Madeline can see that the demons are feeding on the humans. They tear them apart or devour them live. With each death the pattern on the cavern floor glows with more sickly light. With each death, more and more witchfire cascades over Genvieve's body. When was the first time she saw that witchfire? Arbor House? Had that started the path to destruction? Or had it begun even before that, when Madeline and Genvieve were separated and attended separate boarding schools? They had both returned vastly changed. Madeline had always thought their forced separation was a bad idea.

As Madeline draws ever nearer, she hears Genvieve say, "Who is the little hedge witch now, Fiona?"

Madeline has to think for a moment to remember how Fiona was brought into this. Fiona always had an interest in the magickal workings of the realm. She was as much as fixture at the crime scenes as Garrett. Then, there was Max. Depending on the source of gossip, Max was either a trusted agent, a friend, a lover, or a favorite toy. His death did not go unnoticed.

Truth be told, every sorcerer in Amber knows precisely where they were and what they were doing the exact second Max died. Max was the seventh son of a seventh son in a house of sorcerers known for skill and power to rival the Royal Family. The death of Max and the destruction of Feldane left a scar on the magickal consciousness that may never heal.

Genvieve gestures to one of the demons. "You," she says. It walks forward and kneels before her. "This one will be sufficient."

Varien steps forward.

Madeline catches Garrett's eye, then motions from her crossbow to Gen, wanting to know if Garrett can sense any barriers around Gen.

Garrett frowns. "There is too much sound in here to get clear signal."

Varien walks forward. He reaches out and grabs the demon by the throat with one black gauntleted hand. The other tears its hand from the arm. The demon screams in agony.

"Oh hell," Garrett says.

"What is it?" Madeline asks, looking for an immediate threat.

"That."

Varien tosses the demon back to the cavern floor where others of its kind immediately pounce upon it. He carries the hand back to Genvieve. She extends her arm, baring the stump at her wrist.

"Oh hell," Madeline agrees.

There's no chance of reaching Genvieve before the attachment takes place, not personally. That leaves only Madeline's crossbow. She can't guarantee the success of the shot due to possible magical hijinks in play, but at this point they have nothing to lose. Madeline's positive that bad things are going to happen if Genvieve grafts a demon hand onto her body. Reluctantly, she raises her crossbow, and aims for a kill shot on her twin.

Garrett raise her wand aiming it in the direction of Genvieve and Varien.

Forester looks like he's about to say something to Madeline, but thinks better of it.

With an ache in her heart, Madeline fires.

The bolt flies.

Just before it strikes Genvieve, Varien steps into it. He takes it in his left arm. He makes no sound and does not drop the demon's hand.

Genvieve looks somewhat cross. "Madeline. I thought that was you."

"Hello sister," Madeline replies, moving towards the throne quickly now that they've been noticed. "It's been a while. Am I interrupting something important?"

"You always were such a bore at parties," Genvieve smiles. "You're really far too uptight, you know. I had hoped your friend there," she looks at Forester, "would loosen you up."

"Perhaps I was simply overcompensating for you, Gen. I always feared your reckless ways would bring you to a bad end...."

Genvieve laughs wickedly. "You were always so worried about playing it safe and not taking chances? Where has that gotten you? What have you accomplished? Look what I have accomplished! My workings eliminated the Crime Lords. The criminal underworld is all but extinct. Amber is safer because of me!"

"But at what cost, Gen? How many innocent people have you killed along the way? What have you become? Look around you!" Madeline indicates the carnage in the hall. "Is this truly what you wanted?"

"Cost? Don't talk to me about cost, Madeline. What prices have you paid? I've made all the sacrifices. Both for myself and the land. Yes, people have died. That's what a sacrifice is. It has to hurt. Do you still know so little about magic?"

Then, with a smile she adds. "I'm tired of the stasis spell, Inspector."

Garrett frowns and Varien begins to move the hand closer to Genvieve once more.

Madeline and the others are now 20-30 feet from Genvieve.

"Sacrifices?" Madeline sounds incredulous. "The only sacrifices you've made have been the sacrifice of others, so you could gain power. There were other ways to keep Amber safe. Ones that didn't have so high a cost. If you continue on like this, Amber will be safe only because no one still lives here." She shakes her head. "You ask why I know so little about magic. I don't want to know more about it. Look at what it's done to you!"

"You were always too conservative," Genvieve taunts. Then, looking to Forester, "About everything."

Garrett frowns. "I can't hold Varien anymore and I wont be able to hold her forces for long at all. Time for you to run."

Forester looks at Garrett and gives a somber nod.

Madeline knows the demons' first target would naturally be Garrett. She looks at her two companions...there's so much she wants to say, and no time at all to say it. In her eyes is the knowledge that none of them are likely to survive this.

Garrett forces a smile. "We few. We happy few...."

Forester looks to Madeline. He mouths, "I love you" and dives into the fray.

She mouths back, "I love you too," a sad smile on her face. Then she throws a dagger at the demon hand, hoping that if it's damaged, then maybe Genvieve won't be able to use it, and breaks into a run.

Madeline's dagger embeds itself in the demon's hand.

"Closed-minded bitch!" Genvieve shrieks.

The demons howl and gibber and shriek and begin to attack.

Madeline tries not to think about what's happening to Garrett as she pushes forward, slashing a path with sword and dagger, determined to reach her sister, to make sure that Garret's sacrifice is not in vain.

A mass of demons blocks Genvieve and Varien from sight, though Madeline can hear Genvieve cackling. Forester and Madeline are struggling to fight their way forward, always careful not to stray onto Genvieve's huge magical working. They fight almost back to back, rotating in a circuit of blood and claws and mayhem.

Behind them, a mass of demons has pounced upon Garrett. Magical energies play about them. Madeline realizes Garrett is still alive in there. Her terrible, mangled form crawls its way forward and the demons move with her. She catches Madeline's eye and mouths, "Get down."

Madeline motions for Forester to get down and does the same.

Garrett ignores the demons that are tearing her to pieces. She crawls forward. Madeline realizes she's going to drop onto Genvieve's working. She looks to the sound of Genvieve's cackling.

"Genvieve! I always knew you were a stupid amateur!" She drops onto the floor. There is the distinctive sound of her wand snapping in half.

A tower of brilliant energy leaps from the spot. The shockwave destroys everything in its path. The air is filled with the wailing of demons as they cry out and are gone. The ground beneath Madeline is hot to the touch. She scrambles to her feet and quickly surveys the area.

Genvieve is no longer laughing. Varien stands in front of her. Smoke lingers on his mask. Flaming debris falls from above. It appears the blast may have gone all the way to the surface. All that remains of the demons are smoking husks.

Fiona is standing near Garrett's broken smoking wand, having just floated down from above. Apparently she made use of the opening Garrett created. She has a split lip with blood streaming from it. "I think I've had about enough of you, little hedge witch."

Genvieve snarls.

Varien draws his blade and moves forward.

Madeline moves forward as well, intent on preventing him from reaching Fiona. Blood drips from her blade, along with other substances that Madeline doesn't care to contemplate. She knows it's unlikely that she can beat Varien, but at least maybe she can stop him long enough for Fiona to take down Genvieve.

Genvieve screams. "Bitch! This is all your fault! You made this all necessary!"

Fiona makes no reply.

Madeline and Forester are met by Varien. The crossbow bolt to his arm does not appear to inconvenience him in the least, and he makes no sound as he attacks. He's faster than Madeline remembers. He attacks with lightning swift movements of his blade. He's stronger too. He kicks Forester in the face and sends him sprawling momentarily. At this point Madeline delivers a killing thrust to his torso. Unfazed, he slaps her away from him.

Madeline staggers back, her ears ringing from the blow, then comes at him again. 'Apparently the rumors are true,' she thinks. 'That changes things.' Her attacks alter somewhat, no longer going for the sort of thrusts that would normally kill a man. Instead, she's trying to take him apart, aiming to lop off a hand, arm, leg, or best of all, head.

Working together, Forester and Madeline are able to contain Varien. He cannot advance on Fiona, but they are unable to get past him. He's fast and skilled and armored and apparently undead.

Madeline's teeth hurt from the crackle of eldritch energies being exchanged between Genvieve and Fiona. Her left hand, twin to Genevieve's lost hand, hurts like hell. She hisses through her teeth at the pain, trying her best to ignore it. She can't afford to not be at her best right now. Not with what's at stake here.

Madeline and Forester continue to engage Varien, looking for an opening and hoping Fiona can bring this to an end quickly. Varien continues to prevent them from reaching Genvieve, but he can not reach Fiona. It's a stalemate. For now. Since Varien is undead, he will, eventually, simply outlast them.

"You're fighting for the wrong side, Madeline," Genvieve says. "You have no idea the things Fiona and her kin have done. You have no idea how they have harmed the realm. Someone had to stop them. He chose me to do it."

Madeline has very little breath for arguing, but that last bit gets her attention. "He? Who are you referring to?"

"My master," Genvieve replies. "He showed me what was wrong with Amber. What SHE did to Amber."

Madeline feels something fly past her head. Then Genvieve cries out, and Madeline feels an intense pain in her right arm. Varien takes advantage of this and damn near takes Madeline's head off. Forester parries the blow at the last second, while Madeline struggles to hold onto her sword. Her own arm wasn't hit by anything that she can tell, although it hurts quite like a knife is stuck in it. She wonders if Genvieve's right arm was hit but cannot risk taking her eyes off of Varien to find out.

"And how would this man know what ills you claim the royal family has inflicted upon Amber? Who is he?" Madeline manages to get out as she recovers enough to resume her attack on Varien.

"The true lord of Amber," Genvieve says. She growls then and something metallic clatters to the floor. Madeline feels another sharp pain rather like the knife being removed.

"Now, isn't that interesting?" Fiona says.

Madeline privately wonders which thing Fiona finds interesting, Genvieve's statement about her master, or the apparent physical link between herself and Genvieve. Assuming Fiona's noticed the latter...Genvieve might be keeping her pretty busy. This sharing the same pains is something new, and Madeline doesn't understand why it's happening. There may have been some aches and pains before, but nothing like this. She wonders how far it goes...and if this means she'll die if Genvieve does. It's a sacrifice she's willing to make...she just hopes Forester hasn't figured it out yet.

"Does this lord of yours have a name? Or don't you know what it is?" Madeline taunts.

"Names have power Madeline," Genvieve says, "you should know that much. Besides, the traitor bitch knows who I'm talking about. Don't you?"

Naturally Madeline knew that much. That's why she's been trying to get Genvieve to name him.

"You are a misinformed fool," Fiona replies. "He can no longer protect you."

Varien begins to move away from Madeline, retreating towards Genvieve. He no longer attacks Madeline at all, but only parries and concentrates his efforts on keeping Forester back.

As they move, Madeline sees Fiona has another knife in her hand.

"Damn it, Madeline!" Genvieve cries. "Listen to me! She's going to kill you!"

Madeline eyes Fiona, watching that knife hand, ready to dodge or parry if Fiona throws it at her. "I know," she tells Genvieve, her voice quieter now that she's not fighting for her life. She realizes that's why Varien is moving away from her as well. If he hurts her, he hurts Genvieve.

Forester's eyes widen almost imperceptibly.

Madeline shakes her head. "Our link was never this strong before, Gen. Is this your doing?"

Forester moves to take advantage of Varien's retreat and discovers quickly that Varien's reluctance to harm Madeline does not apply to him.

"No! Why would I do that?"

"Dame Abigail," Forester says as he barely manages to sidestep a blow from Varien. "She used laws of magical similarity to convince the wards that you were her. This must be a temporary effect of that. It should have dispelled by now."

"Too many workings by too many sorcerers," Fiona adds. "You should have all learned the dangers of that years ago," she says as though talking to students. "You understand that I can not contain her forever."

"Yes," Madeline responds, still keeping an eye on Fiona as she moves towards Genvieve. As expected, Varien steps to keep Madeline away from Genvieve. Forester presses the attack, which draws Varien away from Madeline. Forester is bruised and battered and covered in blood and gore. Much of the blood is his own.

"Can you be sure that killing me will do the same to Gen?" Madeline asks Fiona. "If you're wrong...." It's one thing to die to stop Genvieve. It's another to die for no reason. Madeline doesn't want to die for nothing.

"Maddy! What are you doing?" Genvieve cries.

"If I act now," Fiona replies.

Madeline's right arm still aches; the left hand feels like it's on fire.

"This is not happening on my bloody watch," Forester says. He's got something small in his off-hand. It may well be a flare. He used one in Arbor House. If it is a flare and it's functional, it's a powerful magickal sending that, at close range, is rather like a rocket.

"What I have to, Gen," Madeline answers as she continues to advance, her voice calmer now as she's starting to come to terms with her fate. In some ways, it will almost be a relief not to have to live with the guilt of having killed her own sister...no matter how necessary the task. There is sadness in her eyes as she regards her twin. "What other choice have you left me?"

"Maddy. Don't. What if it doesn't work? You'd die for nothing."

"Then surrender to us. There's no other way." Her eyes shine now with tears she refuses to shed. "It has to end here, Gen."

"She'll kill me anyway. She'll kill all of us. You know too much now. I'm sorry." Genvieve has tears in her eyes and a pleading expression. She almost seems like the Gen of so long ago.

Fiona says nothing.

Varien moves to intercept Madeline.

Forester throws his sword at Genvieve.

Madeline keeps moving towards her sister, bracing for the impact of the sword if it should hit Genvieve.

Varien parries the sword.

Forester shoves Madeline hard and to the side. She stumbles, not having expected this, and tries to stay on her feet. "Ioan, what...?" she says, sounding surprised, momentarily distracted from Genvieve.

Forester detonates the flare. There is a blinding flash of mystical energy that explodes outward from it. Madeline is just out of range, but the shockwave knocks her back.

Madeline hears Genevieve screaming. She aches all over but manages to struggle to her feet. Her left hand feels like it is on fire and her right feels sore and tired and rather like something is cutting into it. Her vision is full of stars and she's having some trouble seeing straight.

Genvieve's throne is shattered. Genvieve is nowhere to be seen, but Madeline can still hear her screaming. Forester is sprawled face down over the edge of the ruined throne. He's struggling to get out of the position he's in. He may have something around his neck. The now burning Varien appears to be trying to grab Forester and pull him back away from the abyss.

Madeline staggers towards Forester, moving as quickly as she can manage, intending to help him once she reaches him. She doesn't understand why Varien isn't trying to push Forester over the edge, but doesn't want to wait for him to change his mind.

Madeline's eyesight improves slowly as she stumbles toward the throne. Genvieve is still screaming. It quickly becomes apparent that Varien is still trying to pull Forester back. The reason becomes obvious soon enough. Madeline recognizes a Service grapple line wrapped tightly about Forester's neck, choking him. From it, Genvieve dangles below, clutching it in her right hand and attempting to climb up. It is attached at her wrist on a bracer/bracelet housing. Varien is attempting to rescue Genvieve.

With his left hand, the still smoldering Varien holds Forester, with his right, he breaks the dagger Forester was using in an attempt to cut the line - though Madeline knows the lines are particularly strong and resistant to blades. Madeline also knows Forester's collar is reinforced to prevent garroting, else his neck would be broken by now. She realizes that Forester essentially detonated the flair and used it both as cover for his movements and as a RPG to take out Genvieve's throne. Running forward, he must have hit her, knocking her into the chasm below. Alas, she still had her grappler.

Fiona remains where she was, standing back and watching the events with clinical interest. She's sheathed her dagger.

Madeline tries to move faster. Her sword is enhanced, after all. It might be able to cut through the line. She'd throw it to Forester, if only she was sure that her eyesight was back to normal. Her left hand still grips the dagger. It remains her last resort. If she can't cut the line, or it looks like Forester is going to throw himself over the edge, she can still kill herself...and hope it's not too late for this to take out Genvieve as well. She's determined not to let any more people die in order to stop her sister.

Forester is trying to get his feet under Varien's to trip him and send all three into the chasm, but he's at a disadvantage. He's in an awkward position, he's choking to death, and Varien is stronger than him and feels no pain.

"Ioan, don't!" Madeline shouts.

"Maddy! Help us!" Genvieve screams.

"Madeline...just walk...away," Forester gasps.

"You know I can't do that," Madeline says, running towards him.

"Then...kick...him."

Madeline is unlikely to do that either, as that would send Forester, Varien and Genvieve over the edge.

"Maddy!" Genvieve is screaming still.

Madeline reaches the shattered throne. Her left hand still feels like it's on fire and her right hand and arm hurt like hell. Her eyes still have a few stars in them. Moving as quickly as she can manage, she tries to cut the line with her sword, tears streaming from her eyes as she does so. "I'm so sorry, Gen," she murmurs, her heart breaking.

"Maddy!"

Varien releases Forester from the left arm's hold. His right hand still holds the line and Forester. He swiftly turns, moving Forester and the screaming Genvieve, and attempts to backhand Madeline, but Madeline manages to duck under the blow. A good thing too. That would have shattered her jaw. Varien obviously has no intention of letting Madeline cut the line.

Varien's turn puts his back to the chasm. He holds Forester and the line to his chest with his right hand. The line dangles back out of sight into the abyss. His left hand is now free to keep Madeline back. Forester's throat, though protected by armor, is bleeding and blood comes from his mouth.

"Just...go...dammit," Forester whispers. Madeline can see him shifting his weight. He clearly intends to push backwards against Varien using Genvieve as an anchor to pull them over the edge.

"He's right," Fiona says from her vantage point. "Let him make his noble and heroic sacrifice. He is trying to save you, you know."

"Shut up," Forester chokes out a reply.

"Except I can't be saved," Madeline notes, hating Fiona for just sitting there and watching like this was some drama on stage. "When Gen dies, I'll die as well. It works both ways." Whether she's talking to Fiona or Forester is unclear.

"No," Forester says and continues working against Varien.

"The effect has limited range and duration. I believe you will find that the bottom of that abyss is well beyond that range," Fiona says as though lecturing a class.

"Maddy!"

Madeline searches desperately for anything nearby she could lock her own grapple onto. Possibly part of the cliff edge. Then she can jump over the edge and swing over to cut Gen's cable below where Varien can reach. He won't be able to go after her because if he does, he knows Forester will go over the edge anyway. The trick is finding a spot close enough to the throne that she'll be able to reach Genvieve below, but far enough that Varien can't knock it loose.

"Is there any way to stop Varien?" she asks Fiona as she looks, not really expecting much in the way of help from her.

"None that you would find acceptable," Fiona replies.

Just as Madeline thinks she has a spot she can anchor to, Varien takes Forester's arm in his left hand. A terrible shattering sound follows and Forester cries out. With his right hand, Varien begins to pull the grapple line.

"Maddy," Genvieve calls. "Stop what you're doing or I'll kill him. I know you don't want him dead."

For his part, the bloody and broken Forester is working to take advantage of the shift in Varien's position. Genvieve is about ten feet down now and getting closer to the top as Varien pulls her up. It's slow going, since Varien is working with only one hand, but his inhuman strength is allowing him to make some progress.

Madeline looks at her dagger. She could still kill herself and hope it takes out Genvieve as well. The problem with this is that Varien would almost certainly push Forester over the edge then. Everyone but Fiona would die.

"Gen," Madeline calls out, trying desperately to get through to her twin...the twin she once knew. "Think about this. You know how this is going to end. It's over. But you still can choose the manner in which it ends. Is this really what you want? How you want to be remembered? The sister I knew...you have to be in there somewhere."

Madeline watches Varien carefully as she speaks, looking for that one moment's distraction that will enable her to move, and also watching Gen's progress. If Gen gets within four feet of the top she resolves to make her move regardless...no matter how much the thought tears her up inside.

"I've lost, haven't I?" Genvieve asks. "Everything was all for nothing." She sounds defeated. Depressed.

"I'm sorry, Gen," Madeline replies softly, tears streaming down her face. And she is. Not that Genvieve was stopped, but that she caused so much destruction and death thinking, in her own twisted way, that she was helping. "But you still have one last chance to do something good. Don't let your last act be to cause even more death. I know you don't want to do that."

Fiona arches an eyebrow.

"There's no way out of this now, is there?" Genvieve asks. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know. I never wanted to hurt you either. I can't imagine life without you." Madeline's voice breaks, and she has to stop for a moment to steady it. "Don't let your last moments be ones of hatred, Gen. Please."

Genvieve is silent for a seeming eternity. "You better get Ioan free. You don't have much time."

Madeline wastes no time moving to Forester, watching Varien carefully just in case Genvieve's control over him isn't as complete as she might think. She quickly realizes that the line is anchored in Forester's shoulder. From there, it goes to his neck, where Varien must have wrapped it around Forester's throat. At that point it hangs down and Varien holds it in his right hand. The easiest thing to do would be to cut it where it hangs from his neck to the point where Varien holds it in his hand. Varien is holding Forester steady.

Madeline prepares to grab Forester after she cuts the line, in case Varien decides to hang on...or even accidentally knocks him over. She looks down at Gen for one long moment. "Thank you, Gen. I love you. I'll always love you...."

"I love you too, Maddy."

Madeline brings her sword down on the line. It's tough, but Madeline is determined. It snaps. Varien releases Forester but maintains his hold on the line. He begins to walk toward the edge. Forester falls into Madeline's arms.

"Maddy!" Genvieve cries out. In their childhood language, she says, "Don't trust Fiona. She'll try to kill you too. Be careful."

"I will," Madeline responds in the same language. Inwardly she's not sure the warning will help, but she doesn't want Genvieve to die thinking her warning did no good. If Fiona decides to kill her right now, she has no way of stopping her. She has no magical defenses and Fiona is a master at such. 'I wish Garrett was still alive,' she thinks.

Still, there's no point in making it easy for Fiona. Madeline shifts her position so that she can keep an eye on Fiona, under the pretext of moving Forester further from the edge, and hopes that Fiona will decide to let them go. After all, it's not like Genvieve told her anything that will harm Fiona. Unsubstantiated claims that Fiona was involved in something bad, and the fact that Gen was working for someone else, who she wouldn't name. All things that could be chalked up to a woman facing defeat and trying to convert her attackers to her side. 'Let's hope Fiona thinks I see it that way. Who knows, maybe I do. Whoever this master was, he could easily have lied to get Gen to help him.'

"I love you, Maddy. Goodbye," Genvieve says. Then Varien steps off the edge.

"Goodbye...." Madeline calls back, crying freely now. She looks away from the edge, unable to watch Gen falling to her death. Fortunately, the placement of the cliff and Varien's position blocks Genvieve completely from view. The pain Madeline feels is so bad that part of her hopes that Fiona was wrong, and that Genvieve's death will kill her too. But then what would happen to Forester?

Fiona continues to stand there watching. "That will suffice," she says.

"Yes, I suppose it will," Madeline mutters as she blinks back tears, hating the casual sound of Fiona's words. To reduce everything that's happened, all the people who've died, to those three words...it cheapens the sacrifice they made.

Madeline's vision quickly recovers. The pain in her left hand and her arm seem to be lessening. She's cut up from fighting the demons, but her body armor prevented any serious injuries. Unlike Forester. Madeline begins doing what she can for him, trying to stop the most serious bleeding. He's a mess. He's covered in blood and gore, much of it his own. His shoulder is shot and has the grappler embedded in it. His throat is torn, saved only by his armored collar. The arm has a particularly nasty compound fracture. He is conscious, but only barely.

"What did she say at the end?" Fiona asks.

"She wanted...." Madeline swallows, fighting off a new wave of tears at the memory. "She wanted me to be careful. To not make her death be in vain. And...to say goodbye."

All technically true. She prays that's enough to satisfy Fiona.

"I see," Fiona replies. "Very well, then." After a pause, she adds, more to herself than Madeline, "I am finished here for now." Light flickers about her. She seems to become transparent and two-dimensional, then is gone, leaving Madeline alone with Forester and lots of smoking demon husks. Madeline fights off the urge to just hold Forester to her and cry. 'Not yet,' she tells herself. 'Not until you've gotten Ioan out of here.'

She finishes doing what she can to make him fit to be moved, using strips of cloth from her clothes and his to stop the worst of the bleeding. She leaves the grappler where it is, knowing it needs to be removed by a surgeon. She settles on using scabbards to set Forester's arm. His heartbeat is irregular.

"Sorry," he says. "I didn't want you to have to do it."

"I know," she says, fighting back tears again. "Just don't you die on me too, OK? I don't think I could bear losing both of you."

"Yes, ma'am," he says in his best military voice. The effect is somewhat hampered by the blood he's coughing up.

As Madeline looks at the broken and bloody Forester, she suddenly knows that Genvieve is dead. She cries out involuntarily and is very still. If it wasn't for Forester's presence, there's no telling how long she might have sat there. But she knows she can't take the time to grieve now, or he'll die. Very quietly, in the language that she and Gen shared, she whispers, "Rest well, Gen. Be at peace."

After a few more moments of silence, Madeline looks back down at Forester and tries to hide the misery she's feeling right now. "I don't suppose you have a Trump of your commander by any chance? It would save us a bit of a walk."

"Interior vest pocket," Forester replies. "If it survived the carnage."

For a brief moment, Madeline thinks her eyesight is failing. She realizes instead that the light in the room is beginning to dim.

Noting this, Forester smiles. "Alone in a dark room at last. Though not really the ambience I had in mind."

"Gen's spells must have been providing the light," Madeline notes as she checks his pocket for the Trump. "Now that she's...gone, the spells are failing. We need to get out here quickly."

The one thing Madeline can clearly see is the blood. The blood on Forester. The blood covering her. The blood all about this place. The stench of it is far greater than it should be. Madeline thinks she's found the Trump, but she's finding it very hard to focus. She feels a surge of fear go through her as it occurs to her that this could be Fiona's doing. Marshalling all of her strength and will, and holding her breath in case the spell is activated by inhalation, she tries to focus on the Trump of Caine. Even more so than before, it's the only way out of this place. If only she had Gen's skill with magic....

Madeline thinks Forester has at last passed out. She can still hear his heartbeat, though. Or is that hers? It's very loud. Perhaps it's the adrenaline. She has the card in front of her, but the light is failing. The scent of the blood is overwhelming. Despite the encroaching darkness, she can still see blood everywhere. It is almost luminescent. Its eerie red glow seems to be pulsing in time with the heartbeat. She tries holding her nose as she strains to see the card, hoping that will help her to filter out the smell of blood. It helps, but not as much as she'd like or as much as she thinks it should have. Trying to catch enough of the light to activate the Trump, she tilts it in various different directions, desperate now to get out of this place. 'We can't have gone through all of this only to die now,' she thinks. 'I won't allow it!'

As Madeline attempts to work the card, a pinpoint of light flickers before her. It seems incredibly distant, but seems to be coming from the card. Not having used a Trump before, she focuses on that light, thinking it must be a sign that the card is starting to work. She tries to make it bigger, closer, stronger....

Madeline is unsure if the light approaches or if she is approaching it. It is brilliant white and almost blinding. The only sound is the sound of the heartbeat. Or is it heartbeats? She can't tell if there are one or more. She continues to focus on the light as best she can, waiting for it to resolve into Caine. Despite the fact that Forester is on her lap, with her right arm wrapped around him, it's very hard to feel him right now. The light is filling all of her senses.

The light grows even more intense. Madeline's eyes tear from gazing on it. As she approaches it or it approaches her, it appears to become more distinct. It appears to be equine in form. It continues to grow more clear. It flickers and flows not unlike clear water in an icy stream. One moment it appears tiny and delicate. Then, it is towering and dangerous. Its horn glows intensely.

Madeline's eyes widen in surprise. "The Unicorn!" she breathes, not sure if she's speaking aloud or only thinking it. She hesitates, not certain what to do in these circumstances, and tries to remember everything she's ever heard about encounters with the Unicorn and how one is supposed to behave. It's the guiding spirit of Amber. A Nature spirit. A good omen. The symbol of Amber. Not the sort of thing one sees when dying, although no one who sees it is ever quite the same again. It has never spoken to anyone, except for the holy man/sorcerer Dworkin Barimen.

Either Madeline draws near or it does. Madeline cannot tell. It is almost close enough to touch. Slowly, she reaches out a hand as one would to a horse, palm up, not touching the Unicorn but allowing it to touch her, if it wishes.

It turns its head to gaze upon Madeline.

Its gaze is almost unbearable.

The eyes are ancient and deeper than oceans and the sky. Its expression is unreadable, but it knows Madeline. It knows her every secret hope and dream and fear and every success and failure, every love and hate.

For a seeming eternity, it regards Madeline. Then, it moves until Madeline's palm rests against it.

Madeline feels as though she is freezing. She feels as though she is on fire. There is a feeling of pain beyond anything she has ever known. She experiences a sensation of exquisite pleasure beyond imagining.

Madeline is no longer aware of Forester's presence, perhaps because the presence of the Unicorn is so overwhelming. She inhales when the Unicorn touches her...and then she laughs with joy, even while tears of sorrow run down her face. She had been wondering why this was happening, and what the Unicorn wants, but now...now she simply...is.

The light grows ever brighter until it is all Madeline can perceive. Then it is gone.

Madeline's Page | Madeline's Adventures

All text on this page is © 2003 by Kris Fazzari.

Last modified on May 20, 2003 by Kris Fazzari.