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[b][code]The Beach House.[/code][/b][/center][hr]


There was something about Alyssa's response that didn't resonate too well with Madison. Of course, maybe it was because the apparent news of the death of Izzy was fresh on her mind (but Emily and Vashti had good points). Everything that Lyss said felt a bit... insincere. Like she was telling them what they wanted to hear - and glossing over the fucking question of the year: "...why the fuck do you seem all buddy-buddy with the very people that attacked us?"

When the new people walked in, Madison could only give them the slightest bit of attention - it was the drag queen that Madison met on the ship and probably [i]another[/i] nutty white girl. After Lyss finished talking, Madison just wiped her tears and shook her head. She slid her way out of the room and moved her way into the kitchen and opened the wine cellar. When they got here the wine cellar was [i]fully[/i] stocked, and not even a [i]week[/i] later the motherfucker was almost empty. [i]Almost[/i]. It wasn't entirely everyone else, but Madison helped herself to more than a few bottles. Maybe they can bug Mr. Schmidt to restock it for them.

She grabbed a bottle of Blake's fancy red wine and she quickly screwed it off and immediately put it to her lips and threw her head back. Madison boasted that she could probably outdrink the entire Coven, but lately she's been finding herself getting drunk more and more. Alcohol has been the only relief in her life and her encounter with the Hound was not a good idea. However, she didn't want to miss anything important so she slinked her back into the room. Still, with a bottle in hand, she stopped at a nightstand right next to the entrance and placed her hand down on it as she listened. Madison took another long sip of the wine as she listened to them chatter.

"Luther Saul..." Emily trailed off as the name made sense. She knew that Blake and Saul were buddy-buddy with each other, with Blake donating money to the Forgiven movement for some reason. However, Emily was not entirely sure if this information was entirely truthful. Again, taking things at face value was kinda stupid, especially from a shady government agency (and someone who was trusting enough to believe everything they say). For all they know it's a cover-up for something else... but as Claudette said Lyss was a veteran of the group, so [i]maybe[/i] they should trust her. Or maybe it's all bullshit and Emily's earlier theory was right and Izzy was killed and it was a cover-up. Rushing into things and jumping to dumb conclusions was not a good idea, so Emily needed a bit more information. [i]For now,[/i] she was going to give Lyss the benefit of the doubt, at least while it was beneficial. The last thing Emily wanted to do was cause a [i]further[/i] divide between the Coven... because even she can sense it.

"I will keep my ear to the ground," Emily said.

Claudette awkwardly coughed at the revelation of Annabelle Heart. She, from the look on her face, fully believed that Lyss was telling the truth but there's more to this. More than what she, Lyss, or perhaps even the DENS has seen. Claudette had a feeling that some of the sisters would be inclined to look into this, primarily Annabelle. While a part of Claud wanted to look into it, she had to stay focused on her [i]own[/i] ends. After she gets them she can let the Coven go do whatever they felt was necessary. She was [i]hoping[/i] that she could pop the question of going to find someone who can cure Afflictions in this meeting.... unfortunately, this was not going to happen.

"I appreciate you and your efforts, Alyssa," Claudette softly answered her. "But please, no more secrets from now on... and that goes for all of you." She, for a moment, sounded like a Den Mother again... but she already resigned herself to that role a long time ago. She looked around the Coven and everyone was in various amounts of grief, and maybe it would have been best to just dismiss everyone so they can get over it. However, the threat of Annabelle got her thinking; the Coven is underprepared for any form of attack. The Outsider showing up was proof as they were almost decimated. If Annabelle is real and she's as dangerous as they're making her out to be.

"Now, I know everyone is reeling over the loss of Izumi and being informed of Annabelle Heart, but I think it's proof we need to prepare better for these kinds of things."

She sighed as she looked among the group for responses and just decided to cut to the chase.

"I'm suggesting that we go out to the woods somewhere and go train with our abilities... because honestly, we could have handled the Outsider better and it was only a stroke of luck we survived that encounter and we [i]somehow[/i] got over on Blake."

"... [i]Somehow?[/i]" Madison asked with a raised eyebrow as that comment was the only thing keeping her from drinking some more.

"Point is, I'm not comfortable with getting by on chance alone, we need to get better at this... and to be entirely fair the Coven was assembled to explore magic, correct? So far all we've done is shakedown vampires, argue, and try stupid get rich quick schemes. And I told myself as the leader of the Coven I'd [i]try[/i] to get something [i]actually[/i] productive done for once."

[i]Yet not what I want.[/i]

"So, thoughts? Questions? Concerns?"