[center][h1][color=lightpink]Olivia[/color][/h1]
[sub][color=lightgreen][s]Persephone[/s][/color][/sub]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/FfdNy36.gif[/img][/center]
[color=LightPink][color=lightgreen]Time:[/color] Evening
[color=lightgreen]Location:[/color] Damien Estate Masquerade
[color=lightgreen]Interactions:[/color] [@princess]Charlotte
[color=lightgreen]Mentions:[/color]  
[color=lightgreen]Aesthetic:[/color] 
[url=https://i.imgur.com/BkY7bJB.jpg]braid[/url]
[url=https://i.imgur.com/KPh9GKq.png]owl mask[/url]
[url=https://i.imgur.com/Vqe0KN2.png]dress and accessories[/url][/color][hr]

[color=lightgray]Olivia swallowed and shook her head. [color=LightPink]”I don’t think so.”[/color] Olivia’s voice was quiet and barely audible over the ballroom noise. She took several deep breaths to soothe her racing heart. There wasn’t any need to panic although the way he’d approached her, both at the beach and now, held more sinister tones. It was as though he was trying to recognize her. Rejecting his dance had been wise, but Olivia worried he’d continue pursuing her throughout the night. Was the magic spell all for nothing? She gritted her teeth. Fear was overwhelming her. She had a few peaceful days but it was over. Was she meant to never be at peace? Was she meant to live her life on the line? It felt as though her whole life was one big cosmic joke.

[color=LightPink]”I don’t… I don’t think it was a coincidence, but we can’t continue worrying or it’ll be suspicious. Why don’t we - “[/color] Her voice was cut off as a group of dancers split them up. Liv inhaled and reached for Charlotte when a gloved hand took it instead. She looked up and her eyes widened to the size of the moon. A man with jet black hair, gray eyes and a black and red tuxedo stood before her. His ominous smirk sent shivers down her spine as they locked eyes. Olivia opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. He grinned as he released Olivia’s hand and swept into the crowd where Charlotte had been. She watched as Asher bumped into Charlotte, then he offered an apology and kissed her hand. Right after, he disappeared into the crowd. He moved like smoke from a fire; appearing one moment and disappearing the next, as if the fire had been extinguished. 

If Calbert hadn’t rattled her nerves enough, this sent her overboard. Olivia grasped at her hair with utter panic and urgently tried to move towards Charlotte once more. She shoved a few people out of her way furiously, who turned glare and holler at her, but she ignored them. She grasped her friend’s arm and steered her off the dancefloor. [color=LightPink]”Did he say anything to you? Did he do anything?”[/color] Olivia pressed urgently. Tears swam in her eyes and she struggled not to let them overwhelm her. [color=LightPink]”I think we should go.”[/color] 

The flashback pulled at her mind. She struggled to ignore it but she was unsuccessful. A starry eyed gaze filled her eyes.[/color]
[hr]

[hider=Flashback][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BIFC1B7.png[/img][/center]
[color=lightgreen]Time:[/color] [color=lightgray]Late Evening
[color=lightgreen]Location:[/color] Sorian Slums[/color][hr]

[color=lightgray]Soft footsteps sounded through the quiet streets of the slums. The pitter patter of the rain kept in time with her footsteps like a sadistic drum. Lightning clashed ahead of her, but she didn’t quit running. In fact, she welcomed the storm and wished it could become a monsoon that sucked this dismal world into it like a blackhole. She wondered how anyone else but a street rat like her could be outside, but these assholes kept a tight leash on their food. The backpack on her back continuously slammed against her, but she didn’t pay any mind to it. The treasures inside were worth the pain she’d endure. 

With a piece of bread in her mouth, Persephone scowled. Behind her, the voices grew louder. [color=yellow]”Bitch! We’ll find you. You can run but you can’t hide!”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]”We’ll see,”[/color] she muttered under her breath through a mouthful of bread. God, the warmth from it lifted her spirits. It was like the first Christmas she’d ever received a toy. Her stomach grumbled hungrily, but she didn't dare devour it yet. 

As she ran, she briefly caught sight of herself. Her dirty blonde hair was mucked with grime and stuffed into a haphazard braid down her back; it was so thin that if she combed too hard it would begin to fall out. Her face was soaked with moisture from her tears. Her shirt was tattered and had holes in it she kept taping over, and her pants were too big so she’d created a makeshift belt with rope to keep it from falling. The soles of her boots were worn and begging for relief, but she didn’t have time to fix them. The laces were chewed by rats and had teeth marks in them. Seph would be damned if she let them go though; they were one of the last gifts from her family. Around her, the thunder rolled loudly, as if it were her heart.

Dogs barked in the background and she swore. Dogs! Dogs were chasing her now? For fucking [i]bread[/i]? They had enough fucking bread! She groaned and turned the corner and began heading back towards the arena. Maybe she could hide in the stands? She didn’t know. All she knew was she had to escape [i]fast[/i]. Seph managed to take a bite of the bread now as her stomach growled so loudly that she couldn’t tell if it was thunder or not. 

Dizziness swept over her but she ignored it. There wasn’t any time for feeling ill; she had to escape, or she’d be dog chow. Couldn’t she have one win? One? The leeches and dogs behind her were growing louder. Seph panicked and turned left which turned into a dead-end. She took a few steps back and went to jump her way to the rooftops, but the voices were now behind her. 

[color=red]”Well well well, cornered like a rat - fitting aint it, Ed?”[/color] The man smirked as she slowly turned around to face her tormentors. The group office laughed as two of them restrained their dogs which barked and snarled at her hungrily. Mentally, she began to recognize him; the voice was familiar, and so was the looks. Was this…? Fury rose inside of her as did bile. This man… If this was him…. 

Persephone rolled her eyes and stuffed the bread in her pocket. [color=lightgreen]”Wow, you’re fuckin funny aren’t you? Bitch. The joke’s dumber than your ugly fuckin face. Surprised I’m not dead from staring at it. I bet your mama never loved you huh?”[/color]

The man growled at her and cracked his knuckles. [color=red]”Funny for a bitch outnumbered with two dogs included.”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]”Wow, you can count and talk? I’m proud of you, fuckface.”[/color]

The tall blonde with vivid blue eyes stepped forward. This must’ve been the leader who’d screamed at her, because the group took a collective silence and awaited his next words. [color=yellow]”Lots of bravado. Your mama didn’t tell you to hold your tongue did she? We cut it out, you won’t be able to eat that bread and it’ll be in vain. Give us the fuckin bread back or we’ll make you.”[/color]

Persephone laughed spitefully, and took a bite of the bread. She spit a piece out towards the leader who glared at her angrily. The dogs howled with anticipation of ripping her to shreds. [color=lightgreen]”Or we’ll make you. Bullshit. You’re more talk than game, Eddy boy, maybe you should let fuckface talk instead. Or maybe the ginger asshole to your side?”[/color] 

The more she spoke, the angrier the collective group would become. If she could buy enough time, maybe she could make a plan. Her mind swam with the rising temptation but she tried to ignore it. She couldn’t rely on magic. It ruined her family and her life. Her gaze narrowed as she watched the dogs forcefully be restrained and looked at the two holding them back, including ginger and his brunette companion who resembled an Ogre. Gross. 

[color=lightgreen]”Are you two pathetic enough you can’t fight and need the dogs? I should have suspected you’re a bunch of cowards.”[/color]

The two men moved with agitation and she turned back to Edward. [color=lightgreen]”How about you let me have this and we never meet again, yeah?”[/color] She smirked as she slowly moved into an offensive stance and began to mentally review a plan of action. This once, she’d use magic, this once. 

While her left hand moved to her bread pocket, the right hand moved to her right side and made contact with an unknown object. She reached into her head as if to scratch it, then ripped out a lock of hair, dropped it and then whispered, [color=lightgreen]”Sine dolore.”[/color] A pleasant sensation overcame her, erasing any fatigue and numbing the ache all over her body. She spitefully took a bite of bread and then swallowed it. 

[color=red]”Whaddya touchin in your pocket, eh? We can pickpocket her dead body when we’re done, right?”[/color] He smirked at Edward who nodded and moved forward. 

[color=yellow]”You can do whatever the fuck you want with her but first, we get our food back, Asher.”[/color] 

Seph laughed gleefully as they shuffled and took an offensive stance. [color=lightgreen]”Aww, five against one. I like my odds, gentlemen.”[/color] She mockingly bowed to them and grinned as she stood up. This only aggravated them, and the dogs continued to whine. 

[color=lightgreen]”But I like my fuckin bread better.”[/color] She beckoned Edward first as she prepared the next spell. [color=lightgreen]”Wanna be a good boy and come at me and show your betas what a strong alpha boy you are?”[/color]

There was a collective [i]ooh[/i] from the group. Seph smiled sweetly and beckoned him again mockingly.

Edward glared at her; he knew he couldn't reject it and look as strong, so he smiled and shook his head. [color=yellow]”If you really wanna get your ass beat, I’ll oblige.”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]”You know what obliged means? Congratulations - you don’t need a dictionary for that but what about this: Relaxatio.”[/color] 

She grinned as the dogs began to fall silent and cease their endless whining and growling. They laid down and began to pant joyfully. Edward opened his mouth to respond, but confusion swept over his face instead. Ginger and Ogre next to him stared incredulously at their now silent and blissful companions. Asher scowled with rage. Seph cackled at their bewilderment and ignored the scent of iron in her nostrils. [color=lightgreen]”So much for your canine protection!”[/color]

[color=red]”YOU BITCH! What did you DO?”[/color] Asher yelled furiously and charged at her, which was exactly what Seph hoped he would do. She sidestepped him and kicked his knee with all her might and sent him toppling down. She grabbed him by his hair and rammed him face first into the brickwall. There was a gut-wrenching crack as she successfully broke a bone; Asher screamed in pain. Blood began pouring from his face as he recoiled in terror and pain. 

[color=lightgreen]”I will not be your toy!”[/color] Persephone grabbed his head again and rammed it a second time, and knocked him unconscious. [color=lightgreen]”That’s for Max!”[/color] She turned to shove him into the oncoming ginger who could do nothing to dodge it. Asher was a tall and lumbering man. Seph tossed her backpack behind her now, knowing they were too focused on fighting her for it.

The two of them collided and both of them fell to the ground. As Seph attempted to jump out of the way, the Ogre grabbed her hair and punched her in the gut. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her, and tears sprang to her eyes and clouded her vision. She stumbled and lost her balance, but the Ogre grabbed her by her hair and she yelped. She could feel the effects of being punched, but none of it caused her any sensation.

She turned and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and spat in his face. Shocked, he cried out and moved away, so Persephone quickly kicked him in the groin which caused him to fall back in agony. She didn’t stop there either; she jumped on his stomach - Ogre now screamed in agony and curled up on his side, successfully defeated. She sensed the incoming punch and turned to catch it from ginger who was now up and yelling in rage and - Seph could sense, fear. He had not expected such a fight from a scrawny young girl. She turned and furiously faced him as blood poured from her face and her right eye began to swell. Breathing fast, she spat out blood and a tooth to her side and raised her fists. 

[color=lightgreen]”You want more, bitch? Try me.”[/color] Her voice was defiant as ever, despite the breathlessness. He glared at her and shook his head.

[color=orange]”I dunno what kinda shit you just pulled but I ain’t letting you walk away.”[/color] He moved to punch her and she ducked underneath it and returned the gesture to his chin. He yelled out and kicked at her wildly which hit her in her groin and caused her to drop. She swore now as he kicked her in the face and then again on her side. Blinded, it took her several moments to recuperate. In the fray, her hands felt something cool and metallic; she turned to find a metal trash can lid. With blurred vision, she raised it and blocked his incoming attack; then swept his legs out from underneath him and watched him fall. As he did, she jolted up and smacked him in the head. He was knocked him unconscious as well.

This left her and Edward. She glared at him and spat out more blood and now bile. [color=lightgreen]”Run.”[/color] She commanded, raising her fists once more. [color=lightgreen]”Or I’ll embarrass you next.”[/color] Though her voice was weak, she gestured to the other three. [color=lightgreen]”Be my guest if you wanna end up like ‘em, coward. Your gang has had its fun in town but that’s coming to an end if you don’t fuck off. Bold of you to take five of your shitty men to corner little old me for some fuckin food.”[/color]

Edward said nothing and allowed her to speak, then chuckled with derision. [color=yellow]”Why, witch? I can watch you burn at the stake instead and we can own this part of town - I call that a win-win situation.”[/color]

Her blood ran cold and her glare at him began to falter. She shook her head and smirked back, breathing heavily. [color=lightgreen]”What?”[/color] Then she began to laugh and waved him off as if it were a joke. [color=lightgreen]”Nobody’ll believe your gang of misfits. Fuck you. You got your ass handed to you by a street rat.”[/color] Her heart began to hammer as she began to mentally prepare a third spell in case. He loomed towards her, and she began to circle him like a shark with dark laughter. [color=lightgreen]”If you know I’m a witch then you know my fighting skills aren’t my only talent, but I’m happy to show you both expertise.”[/color] 

He glared at her, frustrated by her defiance, and angered by the fallen comrades and dogs that lay strewn in the alleway. [color=yellow]”Not if I silence you, little bitch.”[/color]

Seph mockingly laughed at him and beckoned him forward. [color=lightgreen]”Come and get me!”[/color] She stepped forward and avoided the punch; then ducked after the next punch. She punched him in the midriff, ducked, and then returned another punch, this time to his jawline. The kick he registered to her stomach caused her to recoil but remained standing; then spring forward lightly and punch him again; repeating the steps until she had single handedly taken him down. When he had finally fallen, Seph limped over to him and glared down at him. For good measure, she picked up the trash can lid and held it in front of her stomach protectively. 

[color=lightgreen]”Whose the little bitch now?”[/color] She watched as he struggled to remain conscious, awe-inspired and enraged. She spat the blood and bile into his face and smacked him with the trash can lid - this way the nail in the coffin as he struggled to sit up and fight back., but she’d had enough. [color=lightgreen]”Goodnight. Tell your friends you lost to me. Thanks for the bread and other treasures, by the way!”[/color] Seph watched his eyelids flutter close finally and glanced around the alleyway. The dogs remained blissfully unaware of the violence that had occurred. She watched them roll onto their bellies and snorted with laughter and then winced. 

For good measure, she whispered, [color=lightgreen]”Invisio.”[/color] She limped over to the backpack, and grimaced as she wrapped her arms through it. Slowly she left the alleway, blood trickling down her face, and struggled to breathe as quietly as possible. In and out, slowly, one breath at a time. Nausea rose inside of her, and she had to keep stopping to become sick.

Finally, the storm began to clear, and now she could see. After what seemed like an eternity, Persephone entered the Tough Tavern. Some of the patrons glanced at the door opening by what seemed like itself, and then slowly shut. 

Maxine's curly red hair bounced into view as she laughed at the patrons. [color=Coral]”Silly door, it opens by itself by the wind, ya? Storm was brewing roughly. Guess the wind hasn’t died.”[/color] She shut it and listened closely, and heard Seph's ragged breaths. To muffle the noise, she clapped loudly for the patrons. [color=Coral]”Free drinks for the inconvenience!”[/color] There was confused cheering but nobody seemed to hear Perspehone who headed upstairs with difficulty. Once inside, she collapsed onto the floor, fully visible now, and dropped the backpack from her back. It clattered to her side noisily. The room spun around her, she was sure this was the end.

The door shut then opened quickly; Maxine inhaled at the sight of her, then slowly began to move her out of the way of the doorframe. Seph laid there limply as the effects of all the magic began to slowly overwhelm her. Max carried her gently to the bed and began to tend to her wounds. [color=Coral]”Seph! Oh my Gods. What happened? Why are you always covered in blood?”[/color] 

Persephone chuckled lightly and shut her eyes. It helped stop the room from spinning sickeningly. [color=lightgreen]”You should see the others.”[/color] At the look of panic, she laughed and then recoiled in pain and coughed up blood. This did not ease her maiden’s fear, but she waved her off so she could continue once she’d finished. [color=lightgreen]”Ed’s gang.”[/color]

At this, her eyes widened and horror filled her. [color=Coral]“WHAT?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]”Don’t worry, I won. Go look at the bag if you wanna keep on yellin,”[/color] Max scrutinized her, then headed over to the bag. She rifled around then slowly pulled out the treasure Seph had claimed. She shook her head at the bread, butter, and other food items, then gasped in shock as she pulled out a large coral necklace with an “M” on it, two rings, and a teddy bear. Max whirled around to face her. 

[color=Coral]“What - oh my Gods - you got it back? All of it?”[/color] Max’s eyes filled with tears and she came over to gently hug her friend.

Persephone waved her off and curled up in pain. [color=lightgreen]”You're welcome.”[/color] She winced and she paled sickly.

[color=Coral]”Hold on. Don’t move.”[/color] Max joked. Seph snorted with derision and then bit her tongue to keep from yelling in pain. Maxine quickly disappeared out of the room. Seph would have laughed if the pain wasn’t becoming overwhelming. Max promptly returned and helped her eat a small stash of pudding, then took the pain and sleep pills and helped her get comfortable in bed. 

[color=Coral]”Rest. Do not get out of bed. I’ll have Helga lock the door and won’t let anyone but us inside. If you need me, ring the bell beside you. And yes, Buttercup’s safe in the stable. She’s all fed.”[/color] Seph nodded and then soon fell unconscious against the bed. The last thing she saw was Max turning off the lights and locking the door from the inside behind her. [/color] [/hider]