[center][h2][b][color=#23F794]N[/color][color=#21F19D]a[/color][color=#1FEBA7]t[/color][color=#1DE5B1]u[/color][color=#1BDFBA]r[/color][color=#19D9C4]a[/color][color=#18D4CE]l[/color] [color=#14C8E1]S[/color][color=#12C2EB]e[/color][color=#10BCF5]l[/color][color=#0FB7FE]e[/color][color=#10BCF5]c[/color][color=#12C2EB]t[/color][color=#14C8E1]i[/color][color=#16CED8]o[/color][color=#18D4CE]n[/color] [color=#1BDFBA]A[/color][color=#1DE5B1]r[/color][color=#1FEBA7]c[/color] [/b][/h2][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/uvX201s.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/A0ETWbS.png[/img][/center] [sub]banner credit to [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/hellis]Hellis[/url][/sub] [center][h2]Part 1[/h2] [@Fallenreaper] & [@DearTrickster][/center] [hr] [b]Location: Ironworks, Lost Haven Time: Present - 9:16 PM[/b] Watching Lekh’s back disappear through the portal it was Odette’s turn to leave as well. Odette was genuine in her appreciation of Lekh’s help but couldn’t believe how easy it was to trick him. He accepted her conditioned reward unaware of the nature in which it worked. Then willingly accepted her boon, allowing her to mark his soul. Perhaps a part of him was more willing to see his soul marked than to offend her. Admirable but horrifically foolish. He would prove to be a worthy investment and relationship in the future. Turning the knob on the door she ushered Racheli through first then followed behind with Bach on her heels. A brief flash of light and they arrived to the work yard of Lost Haven’s [url=http://newsherald.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/oil-refinery.jpg]Ironworks[/url]. Bright flood lights lit up the yard masking the impossibly bright light of the portal’s appearance. The noise of the refinery hard at work despite it’s employees long gone for the day was nearly white noise once Odette grew accustomed to it. Steam billowed from the 4 storey tall brushed steel towers and impossibly long lines of steel pipe crisscrossed in all directions connecting the towers. The perfect place for a metal manipulator to take advantage of. Odette shook her head disapproving of the choice in drop off location. As far as she was concerned another poor choice made by lack of information. Certainly a great place for any other kidnapping switch off but for a metahuman the likes of Racheli, it would prove to be a terrible choice if she deemed herself a nuisance all over again. Crossing the yard with a Racheli floating behind her, Odette escaped the harsh lights meaning to wait inside where she could possibly hide or properly prepare a smaller area for intrusions. Checking her phone now back within reasonable distance of a cell tower her phone’s clock readjusted to the strange time jump switching from 7:02 PM to 9:16 PM. Their arrival was about an hour or so early for the exchange. Racheli’s mind started to pull into awareness. Her eyes rolled underneath her eyelids and edged open, only to see darkness in her vision. This was followed by her arms shifting against the tightened bindings cocooned around her figure. Her struggling increased slightly, unsure if she was gaining her captor’s attention, causing Racheli to bite back a snarl of frustration. She muttered a curse under her breath at her current situation. The way the air moved across her skin, she could easily tell someone...or thing, was carrying her. A strange observation was that she didn’t feel a thing holding her up save for the wind pushing her forward. It didn’t help this position was making her feel queasy though her stomach held nothing to toss up after the last time. Michael didn’t appear but she could hear him hissing in her head, quietly. [b][i]“Well, seems we have some breathing room again. Currently it seems you’re no worse for the wear save that your ankles appeared fractured from pulling force and spine a bit toss out of alignment. However I’m currently working on fixing those.”[/i][/b] [color=indianred][i] “What the fuck happened?”[/i][/color] Rach almost screamed in her head at the virus’ statement. [b][i] “If I knew, don’t you think I would’ve said so? I’m only stating the damages and my own ideas about what caused it, other than that… it’s all theory. I suggest you start working past that headache to focusing on your abilities in order to escape. Else, things might get worse.” [/i][/b] Rach relaxed, grudgingly, for a moment while her mind tried to push aside the thumping within her head. Her muscles flexed and stretched against the plant fibers restraining her. She tried to feel out for any metals and noted several that surrounded her, her mind reaching out gradually to them. Staples, bindings and other things metal started to rattle a bit at her tapping into them. Odette’s ears perked at the sound of rattling office supplies then spoke prudently. “[color=thistle]Ah, ah. Awake for less than five minutes and already starting to cause trouble.[/color]” Odette tsked, “[color=thistle][i]Restreindre.[/i][/color]” The bindings pulled tighter against Rach’s body painfully. Odette finished tapping away a message on her phone barely looking up. In a short message to The Cowl she sent, [color=thistle]‘[i]Arrived a tad early, we will be waiting for you. Use the backdoor. I’ll be the one in blue <3.[/i]’[/color] Purposefully keeping it rather vague for security. It was just too dangerous to be sending text messages with pertinent keywords that could easily be flagged. Something she learned in her time with the Syndicate. The blood beneath Racheli’s skin resisted the cut in circulation but her skin paled further in spite of the nanites resistance. [color=indianred] “Fuck!”[/color] Rach uttered while she felt her body being slowly crushed. Her bones managed, barely, to withstand the pressure applied as her veins seemed on the verge of bursting. Her focus was interrupted almost immediately causing the items to cease their rattling then drop back to their form position, stilling at once. Without missing a beat, Michael popped into existence alongside Odette. His own expression filled with pain through the irritation underneath was well hidden when he gritted his teeth, speaking through them. [b] “Continue doing that… then I can’t repair the damage.”[/b] Odette looked up from her phone regarding the apparition with disdain upon hearing Racheli swear. “[color=thistle]What do I care of damage being repaired?[/color]” With a flick of her wrist the restraints eased up back to their original pressure easing off considerably. Bach’s expression was that of shock at Odette’s immediate response to loosening. [b] “Considering you’ve had every chance to kill us, but haven’t, I assume you want us alive at least. So logically, too much damage, especially internal, will result in her dying. I might be a virus, but she’s still mostly human.”[/b] Michael admitted, his eyes narrowed on Odette with studying eyes. His arms folded behind him and didn’t react to Odette releasing her crushing grip over her bindings and allowing Rach to breathe again. “[color=thistle]You would do well not to push your limits. Silence was the comparatively reasonable one in applications of pain against helpless captives. I rather relish another opportunity to exert that fact.[/color]” Odette said tapping away more notes onto her phone confident in her abilities to restrain Racheli with divided attention. Flicking her blue eyes at the apparition pointing her camera on her phone at Michael snapping a photo then staring at the empty frame. “[color=thistle]Interesting.[/color]” She said then showed Bach her phone as well. He squinted at Michael. “[color=darkseagreen]Are you aware of me?[/color]” Bach asked Michael pointedly. [b] “Yes.”[/b] Michael stated calmly while he turned to address Odette. [b] “Unfortunately not pushing our limits… That’s easier said than done as my host is a rather...stubborn individual and even I can’t get her to listen. It’s part of the reason she managed to survive the process and not die. Now, continue and kill her… well, I’ll instinctively latch onto the closest [u]human[/u] host available.”[/b] He partly wondered if she was smart enough to realize what he was warning her about and if she was willing to risk it. After all, he already had numerous victims under his history and adding another wasn’t much of an issue to him, especially when the said victim didn’t listen to him. Odette scoffed at the poor attempt at a threat, “[color=thistle]Your virus speaks more than you do, Racheli. Very informative. I pegged you a survivor the moment I laid eyes on your photograph. I do not underestimate my captive’s abilities or their desperation... Especially after your dramatic attempt at escape earlier.[/color]” [color=indianred] “Bite me, bitch.”[/color] Rach said, coldly. Her eyes sharpened with hatred after her last attempt as she banefully glared at the pair currently conversing, her vision unable to see Bach. She considered trying to manipulate the surrounding metal again while the woman distracted, but it would’ve been stupid to attempt it so soon. Odette squinted at Racheli when she cursed again, her skin crawling with distaste. Michael flickered a brief, unsavory smile at the mention of the escape. His eyes flickered with knowing but his lips weren’t uttering the secret as he continued on the subject of survivor. [b] “You have no idea. Her history speaks for itself and it helps her mentality fits my own, syncing in a way few have actually managed.” [/b] “[color=thistle]How… incredibly unpleasant. You are rather chatty.[/color]” Odette pulled a face. Her attention still trained on Racheli. Moving with the grace of a ballerina despite having chosen heavy leather boots for footwear. Odette moved to the window peeking out into the yard looking for signs of movement. Reminding herself now would be a good time to set some traps for the entourage Racheli attracted. Bach could easily keep an eye on her while Odette worked. Bach approached Racheli next speaking as if examining something clinically. “[color=darkseagreen]Fascinating. Metahumans have and continue to baffle scholars. Easy enough to manipulate but their very existence changes the definition of so many pre established thoughts and theories whenever they pop up.[/color]” Bach slipped so easily back into the role of an academic when presented with new subjects. It made it difficult to keep up the appearance of a creepy unknown when opportunity to study something arose. Racheli could feel something watching her, her skin tingled and flickered with goosebumps as she shivered inwardly. Something unsettling was seeping into her flesh causing her teeth to grind tighter. She tensed against the restraints, instinctively trying to shift out from them through with more caution than before. Inside her body, Racheli could feel the little nanites working away at her insides to repair what damage had been done. Their legs tingling along the inside of her veins and made her disturbingly aware of what was happening inside her that she could tell where they focused on the most, giving her idea where the most damage had been done. Michael made no note over Racheli’s more cautious nature at the moment, his attention forcely turned to his captors while he spoke. [b] “I wouldn’t say they are easy to manipulate. Evolution takes an interesting route when it comes to humans, as I’ve recently discovered, and metas are one stage for them. However, as your associate here proves, not all humans become metas and remain weak.”[/b] Bach’s grin was rather menacing in his reply, “[color=darkseagreen]Wrong, humans are easy to manipulate and it will be a long time until they, as a whole, prove to be stronger than their petty needs and wants.[/color]” His hand hovering above Racheli’s forehead noting her apparent discomfort and relishing it. “[color=thistle]Bach, please keep your distance from her.[/color]” Odette warned her partner. The virus’ image tensed and his expression darkened, his eyes studying Bach with a venomous, silent warning. He was about to say something when he heard Odette warning toward the Fae. His eyes narrowed and stared a moment to registered the reasons, then asked a simple question. [b] “What’s to worry about when you have the situation under control?”[/b] Bach’s hand retracted hesitantly at Odette’s warning, “[color=darkseagreen]Yes, My Lady.[/color]” Odette ignored Michael’s note. He was poking for chinks in her armour or confidence. Stating or drawing attention to her actions calling them as he would to unnerve her. Michael noted that Bach seemed to obey, through he was hesitant over it. As if he was slightly wary of his partner and that made the virus curious, realizing that Odette was ignoring him causing him to smirk. His gaze turned to her and carefully observed her actions. Odette took a step away from the window then pressed her hand against the window sill a small mark of a Yew tree burning into the side. Words of Power trailed out trapping the window to shatter and burst on first contact. Odette proceeded to do the same with the doorways to the open yard, leaving a Yew tree mark behind. If found she could escape further into the factory to lose any pursuit. Kneeling by the floor at the door whispering another trap spell, this one was an illusion. Her finger trailed in light of a spell circle tracing lines from memory. Her hands brought up the light seemingly in the shape of a bluish bubble with a mirror like sheen to it. Liquidity webs shot out from the bubble binding it to the doorway before it shimmered away only leaving the circle on the floor. “[color=thistle]There. You were saying something, apparition? Something dull I have no doubt.[/color]” Odette remarked drily. [b] “Naturally. Though I’m not sure you should be concern with barring yourself in as worrying about you’re trying to keep contained.”[/b] Michael stated, his eyes turned to Rach. The nanites were already saturating, the stress from earlier was already increasing it, as he watched her skin flicker silver briefly. Like a silver fish darting through water, Rach started to twist about again against the restrains and the vines creaked from the stress. Odette snapped at Michael growing rather tired of his chatty visage, “[color=thistle]Do not pretend you know what I am able to do.[/color]” Bach’s eyes narrowed at Racheli watching her move, the restraints being tested again this time with a stronger force. “[color=darkseagreen]Something is different.[/color]” The sorceress let out an irritable huff her hand clenched into a fist pulling again on the pressure of the restraints. “[color=thistle]I’m sure you can live without feeling your hands or feet. [i]Restreindre.[/i][/color]” Rach gritted her teeth, feeling the vines twisting and tightening about her muscles. Her eyes scrunched up in her focus and her breathing increased as her blood tingled, the nanites tossed into an active buzz. Black blood seeped through her pores then hardened into spine like blades, cutting away the vines. Her limbs became thinner and more skeletal, allowing her to slip through and rip the grass from her eyes. They were completely black and alien looking. Bach took several steps away when Racheli’s body changed, rejoining Odette on the other side of the room. He grasped her shoulder shrinking in size climbing snuggly to sit on her shoulder disappearing in a cloud of autumn leaves once again. “[color=darkseagreen][i]My Lady, I would suggest something more sturdy to restrain.[/i][/color]” Slipping back into Common Fey. The pair often communicated in Common Fey or French when in a fight keeping their enemies unaware of their plans. Michael merely smiled while he watched his host escape her binds. [b] “I think she disagrees and I wish you good luck.”[/b] Slowly, Rach raised upright and looked between Michael and Odette. The black ‘spikes’ had hardened and remained, unable to pull back for the moment giving her a menacing look. Her hand touched the metals while she edged closer, brushing it and her skin dulled in color. In moments it became a steel coating which shined through the peering light casted past the blinds of the office. She stopped a short distance from Odette then spoke in a gravelly voice compared to her normal one. [color=indianred] “Move.”[/color] Straightening her back and clicking her heels activating the jump enchantments along her feet. “[color=thistle]You will severely regret challenging me, Racheli.[/color]” Odette’s bright blue eyes matched the ferocity in the pair of pitch alien eyes glaring at her. Chanting long enchantments in French the sound of her voice building choosing to try a physical restraint calling to the earthy stone concrete floors. Rach spotted everything running at a slower speed. Her ears caught every single detail and stored in her memory for later when her feet began to move forward. Immediately she raised a fist and ready to toss out a jab at Odette’s throat, only to come to an abrupt stop. Rach’s head darted to look at the concrete wrapping about her ankles like thick, heavy quicksand which shortly hardened. Her nostrils flared as she glared at the woman. Odette teeth clenched at the frightening speed Racheli moved at her fist coming within inches of hitting her directly. Flinching taking several steps away. [color=indianred] “What’s the point in regretting when you can’t change the past?”[/color] Her voice echoed through the office while Racheli’s fist turned downward and slammed into the stoney surface. Steel protected her interior from getting damaged as she punched one than another down into the ground, over and over, causing chunks to fly away. Her legs could move but her movement didn’t cease, her focus intending to drive herself down into the basement. With a few more thrusts she would make into the basement then bolt for the nearest wall, plowing through it and possibly escaping. Flapping her hand at the dust clouds of concrete Odette didn’t hesitate to follow her captive through the trail of destruction. Landing gracefully through the floor her jump enchantments softening her landing considerably on floor smooth as ice her eyes saw the glint of steel beneath her feet. The frantic shape of Racheli searching for an exit through the limited light provided by the hole in the ceiling. The long hallways of steel pipes and machinery lined the walls. Dashing after Racheli readying another spell this time an illusion, if physical restraints couldn’t slow her down then her mind could very well be what stops her. Instead of the aggressive needles she chose to intimidate the witches earlier the form of her illusion took shape in small leathery blue wings fluttering toward Racheli. The blue wings surrounded Racheli, touching her ears, her eyes and finally grasping at her forehead. Shifting her perception and therein giving Odette a window into what she was about to orchestrate. She could feel the overwhelming adrenaline from Racheli and tender notes of fear. In Odette’s palms felt the tingling of power unrestrained and completely raw. The spell lent itself to connecting the victims to the caster by their perception and senses. While the caster, with enough will could make the victim perceive whatever she wanted. Illusion was her favourite tool of the trade and without a well measured dose of human empathy, a mind in Odette’s hands was simply a tool to pulling the victim apart at the seams. For now, it would be in the name of crippling Racheli back into submission. Ripping away her agency once again.