[center][hider=Witch Hunt Cast][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/M7SP0oU.png[/img][/center] [center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/50eMiVQ.jpg?1[/img][/center][/hider][/center] [center][i][h1]The Calm Before the Storm[/h1][/i] [i][h3]Part 1[/h3][/i][/center] [center][b]Location: Hoover Dam – Las Vegas, Nevada Time: Late Evening, Present Day[/b][/center] [hr] Marie fell to the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her. She had passed through many of Puck’s portals, but their composition was entirely different, more sophisticated in Marie’s opinion. Where the Ambassador linked places through doors opened via the Arcane Stream, Puck’s doors connected to the soul of a place, his presence infused within the very stones. No matter her method of travel, Marie was safe . . . well, relatively speaking. She glanced at her wounded party, all understandably shaken by their brush with death. Somehow, they had emerged victorious. Holt formed next to Marie, wispy hands running over the length of her arm as a sort of rudimentary comfort. His attempts at emotion were well received. [color=90ee90][i]Are you well?[/i][/color] he spoke softly to her mind, trying not to surprise her further. Marie’s strength had been completely sapped. The bullet’s poisoned continued to work its way through her veins, slowly draining her vitality. It was a vicious weapon the Hounds wielded. Had she not conjured that memory, had Gwyneth’s Sight not been in her hand, Marie might have fallen. [color=ffe4b5][i]Well as can be expected,[/i][/color] her mental response was sluggish, bearing the weight of her physical fatigue. Marie turned up to find the Ambassador standing over her, words falling from her lips in irregular passes, fading as she struggled to fight the bullet’s poison. She saw the glint of the phone being handed to her and weakly grasped it. Had she been in a better way, Marie might have appreciated the charm on the back. As the Ambassador took her leave, Marie turned back to the others, Benjamin noticeably more damaged than she. [color=ffe4b5][i]We have to get him help soon,[/i][/color] Marie’s thoughts were like a whisper to Holt. [color=ffe4b5][i]I might have something useful back with the Lachance witches . . .[/i][/color] [color=90ee90][i]Worry about yourself,[/i][/color] Holt interrupted. [color=90ee90][i]Your energy is all but gone, and your strength will continue to deplete until you undergo a purifying rite, one I’m sure the Lachance witches know.[/i][/color] But the question remained, how would they get back to the Lachance family stronghold? Marie and Benjamin were in no condition to travel, and Puck’s door required a more direct link to the target location than Marie possessed. Holt could carry Marie and Ben, but Yeong, Ji, and Kat were all rather close to him at this point; they’d throw a fit if Marie spirited him away. Fortunately, Genevieve Lachance had been a gracious host to Marie and provided her with a means of returning to their stronghold. Marie riffled through the small bag at her side, filing through the miscellaneous witching instruments before happening upon a long, white wand. It was crudely fashioned, resembling a limb more than the intricate ceremonial implements she’d seen before. The only signs of its power were small inscriptions along each side, written in the same tongue as the magic mirror in the desert, but these words she couldn’t read, not in her current state. Despite this, she knew the wand’s purpose. With some difficulty, Marie positioned herself closer to the group, the twins and Kat all huddled around Benjamin. She grabbed hold of his back foot, flinching at his soft whimper. [color=ffe4b5]”Everyone place a hand on Benjamin,”[/color] Marie commanded with clenched teeth. She could sense their unease, understood their hesitation, but had no time to deal with any objections. Eventually, all did as asked with the exception of the Dover Twins who promised to keep in touch. Marie turned to Holt, giving him a weak nod. He took the wand in both hands, dark tendril-like claws wrapping around branch like an enveloping black pitch. Then he snapped the wand in half, releasing a deafening crackle of energy. There was no flash of light, no wind or mist, they had simply vanished, fading from one place to the next. [hr] [center][b]Lachance Stronghold – Henderson, Nevada Time: Late Evening, Present Day[/b][/center] [hr] All became clear once more. The sudden blur of one world fading into the next began to melt away. When at last their eyes adjusted, they were met with a strange spectacle indeed. Before them stood a tree far larger than words could describe, its bark white as snow, emanating a soft glow that was icy yet comforting. Its long branches were littered with silver leaves and crimson blossoms, all floating on an ethereal wind that gave the illusion of dancing, or perhaps they were dancing. The tree called to them with a faint hum like the chiming of bells, was it singing? A slender figure approached from a long corridor leading into that divine arboretum, scarlet locks falling around her painted features. Genevieve Lachance, head of the Lachance witches, came to greet her weary guests. She could see it in their eyes, the source of their suffering. “The Hounds,” she spat with disgust, kneeling down and cupping Marie’s face. “What have they done now?” [color=ffe4b5]”S-ss-silver b-bullets.”[/color] Marie struggled to speak. How effective could this weapon of the Hounds be? Surely their knowledge of witchcraft wasn’t so sophisticated, nor her powers so weak, that she could be so easily bested by a simple graze from a bullet. [color=90ee90][i]”Blessed silver,”[/i][/color] Holt corrected, falling onto Genevieve’s shoulder in the form of a raven. [color=90ee90][i]”The sort used by The Winter Court . . .”[/i][/color] “Don’t speak their name,” Genevieve warned, shuttering at the mere mention of the infamous hunters. “I know their handiwork, and worry not, my dear, I can reverse whatever ills they have inflicted.” Marie didn’t follow Genevieve's and Holt’s conversation, but she was relieved all the same. “That, however,” Genevieve pointed to Ben, the corners of her mouth turned down. “That is beyond my power. I can do nothing for your lycanthropic friend, nor do I fully understand why you’ve brought them here.” Genevieve turned her back to the others, speaking quietly to Marie. “I gave you that wand in good faith, White Witch. Your path, your deeds are known to me, theirs are not. I agreed to grant [i]you[/i] my aid, not these creatures. The Families are weak, we cannot afford the chaos that your friends here will surely bring.” Marie shook her head. [color=ffe4b5]”I promise, they can be t-trusted. They’re helping me just as you. They w-won’t cause you any trouble.”[/color] Marie only half believed her words. So far, this group had been nothing but chaotic, but she hoped things would simmer down now that they were all out of immediate danger. [color=ffe4b5]”I have a method for healing B . . . the wolf. It’s in my b-b-bags. Holt can find it.”[/color] Holt offered a small nod to both Genevieve and Marie before flying down the corridor to locate Marie’s belongings. Genevieve sighed. “Very well,” she turned back to the rest of the group. “You are all safe here, but hear me when I say this place will not abide the chaos your kind brings. You will be mindful, you will be respectful, you will make yourselves scarce, or you will be forced from this place. Where exactly that lands you . . . I couldn’t say.” She let out a soft chuckle, motioning for a few of the witches throughout the chamber to carry Marie and Ben to separate rooms to be healed, and leading Katarina, Ji, and Yeong to another room to wait.