[color=lightgray] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/calligraphy-fonts/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230702/28a35c4bc008346d843a36862843012e.png[/img][/url] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e2197298-6a19-42a3-9ae7-2faa64b8bcc3.png[/img] [sub]A [@HaleyTheRandom], [@Hedgehawk], & [@SouffleGirl123] collab. [i]Featuring: [color=6ecff6]Salem De Silva[/color], [color=C4DF9B]Claire Montgomery[/color], [color=fff79a]Mary Price[/color], [color=FFFF00]Amanda Aston[/color] & [color=00FFFF]Carlisle Aston[/color][/i][/sub][/center] [indent][indent][indent] Amanda Aston was pissed off. Her own son had decided to replace her at the single most important event of the century. And he gave no thought about how it affected the Aston image. To make matters even worse, the woman he had picked was the [i]worst[/i] possible woman he could have picked. Mary Price. That waste of space. She smiled nicely and treated everyone with grace, but she knew that was only a front. It was all a ruse to pull Carlisle away from her and leave Amanda with truly nothing. So there Amanda was, sipping down shots of whiskey at the back of the house while everyone was entering the household. Her eyes never left the vicinity of Carlisle and Mary. She watched as Mary helped Carlisle greet guests and even supported him. Why bother? Carlisle had been a perpetual disappointment all his life. A few pats in the back now was hardly going to solve anything. Amanda watched as the Montgomery's entered the house. She was mid-swig when she watched them enter. It was then her eyes locked onto Claire Montgomery. That swig of whiskey suddenly turned into a choke as surprise and shock took over her system. Slamming down the glass and recomposing herself, she looked over again, just to confirm that it really was her. It was her. How? Why? Was it some illusion spell because the Montgomery's were desperate to bring back the past? To make it even worse the woman had the nerve to flip the bird at her as she entered. Amanda simply stood there completely stunned by what had just transpired. Amanda was livid. As Lilith and John broke off to go look for something, Amanda closed in like a missile. As she got closer to Claire, Mary and Carlisle she began to feel it. Something about Claire felt [i]off[/i] [color=FFFF00]"How the fuck did you come back from the dead?"[/color] She sneered towards Claire. Now she was in sneering distance it was then she felt that strange presence and was able to put a figure on it [color=FFFF00]"And why do you reek of my disappointment of a son?"[/color] She demanded glaring over at Carlisle who simply took a defensive step back behind Mary. A tipsy Claire had been standing by the door, receiving mixed welcomes from the arriving Coven members. Strangely enough, Claire was used to this. Her presence had always been a controversial one, even before her death. All in all, she was having a rather decent time until the voice of Satan rang in her ears. Looking over at Amandas pissed of expression, the blonde couldn’t help but laugh. [color=C4DF9B]”Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy,”[/color] the woman quipped, a smirk on her face as she took another drink from her flask. [color=C4DF9B]”This world has changed in so many ways - but yet you remain the same, crabby, dusty bitch you were years ago. Jesus H. Fuckin’ Christ, Amanda. Get a grip.”[/color] The gaze of hatred in Amanda's eyes couldn't grow deeper. First she flipped her off and now she was refusing to answer questions. She took a sidestep, angling herself so she could once more glare at her son, pointing her finger at him. [color=FFFF00]"YOU! Explain yourself!"[/color] Carlisle once more moved back behind Mary. Maybe it was cowardice, but he did not want to at all get involved in this. Amanda simply huffed and looked back over at Claire. [color=FFFF00]"Alot has changed in ten years. You will find all the grips you had around here aren't as strong as they once were"[/color] Now repositioning herself so that she was standing in front of Mary and Carlisle both, Claire glared at Amanda. [color=C4DF9B]”We’ll get to the fact of how you bought up all of the land with my name on it after my death later. For now I highly suggest you takin’ a few steps back there, buttercup, before I knock all of the botox out of that ugly, rigid face of yours. Do you really want to cause a scene with me, Amanda,”[/color] Claire asked, tilting her head to the side, now pointing a finger at the womans chest. [color=C4DF9B]”You may have had your chance to run this Coven into the ground while I was away - but that still doesn’t change the fact that you’re [i]you[/i] and I’m [i]me[/i].”[/color] [color=FFFF00]"I didn't run it into the ground. I made it better. And you decided to drink drive into a post or whatever it is you decided to do"[/color] Amanda snapped back at Claire. While it was true that she had bought up most of the land around the Montgomery Ranch, she wasn't about to let Claire think she had the upper hand. [color=FFFF00]"Yeah I did. Been thinking about getting planning permission for some lovely social housing around the ranch. What do ya think?"[/color] With a scoff, Claire reared her arm back to throw a punch at Amanda before a hand gripped her arm. [color=6ecff6]”Now ladies,”[/color] Salem began, lowering Claire’s arm for her. [color=6ecff6]”Don’t you think there’s a better time and place for all of this?”[/color] Amanda gave off a smug grin as Salem had intervened. She didn’t want to gloat, but she knew that when it came to Salem, Amanda had a fair better relationship than Claire. [color=FFFF00]”You will have to excuse Claire. She has been dead for ten years, and somehow she is back, and I know my rotten son is involved somehow. Please tell me someone can feel it too”[/color] [color=C4DF9B]”Don’t you dare apologize for me, you fuckin’ cunt,”[/color] Claire spat before adjusting her jacket. [color=C4DF9B]”Sally,”[/color] she nodded, greeting Salem. [color=6ecff6]”Claire,”[/color] Salem responded, raising a brow at the woman momentarily before shifting her focus back to Amanda. [color=6ecff6]”We’ll focus on the witchy woo-doo at hand later - for now, I believe you and I have much larger matters to discuss.”[/color] As she spoke, Salem crossed her arms, looking the Aston woman up and down with disdain from head to toe. Amanda looked over at Salem and noticed the sudden look of disdain. This wasn’t normal. The duo normally had gotten along just fine. Amanda straightened her back and looked over at Claire once more, the fire really starting to show in her eyes. [color=FFFF00]”Sure. What is it you need to discuss? If it is coven related matters, you will need to speak to the hiding, hapless Carlisle over there. Apparently Ty and John though it appropriate to leave him in charge”[/color] Salem took a step forward, positioning herself so that she was now the closest to Amanda, and also so that she could put distance between her and Claire. Pursing her lips, Salem began to play the little mind games with Amanda that she was best known for, letting the other woman sit in her worry and fear. [color=6ecff6]”I seem to remember you making a phone call about twenty-five years ago - very close to this time of year, too, now that I think about it. You didn’t happen to leave out any information that you thought might benefit you in the long run, did you?”[/color] Amanda took a step back as Salem came forward. She hadn’t been subjected to this in a long time. Amanda was normally an iron spined woman, but as Salem came forward she found herself shrinking down. Shaking her head, she took a second to try and figure out exactly how she was going to answer this. [color=FFFF00]”I told you exactly what you needed to know. You got your fugitive, I got a safe coven”[/color] Amanda replied back, keeping her composure. Focusing on her breathing now, Salem shook her head as a small, dry laugh escaped from her throat. [color=6ecff6]”Come on, Mandy,”[/color] the woman taunted. [color=6ecff6]”Don’t play dumb with me,”[/color] she continued to speak, closing what little distance was left between the two of them. [color=6ecff6]”Think harder.”[/color] Amanda suddenly found her retreat cut off by a wall, forcing her to stay still. [color=FFFF00]”So there might have been a few details I might have embellished when you wanted to know more…”[/color] Amanda's voice spoke out, shaking, confused, and a little afraid. With another deep breath, Salem took a moment to close her eyes and recenter herself before speaking. Looking at Amanda once more, her eyes began to flicker with the literal power brewing beneath their surface. [color=6ecff6]”Everything you know,”[/color] she growled. [color=6ecff6]”Now.”[/color] Amanda normally wouldn’t crack under this kind of pressure. She looked at Carlisle, hoping that he would cast a barrier around her, or do something to allow her to resist the advances of Salem. And Carlisle was prepping a barrier in his one hand, but it seemed to aimed at Salem, and not her, which only made it worse for her. With a frustrated growl, she carried on, keeping her voice low enough that Carlisle and Mary might not be able to hear. [color=FFFF00]”So I wanted Aloysius for myself. I never intended to hand him over. Only he wouldn’t take my advances. So I discovered he got with Mary, and then got her pregnant. I had planned to separate him from his newborn child and hope that would bring him back to me. Or at the very least, I could remove Mary and adopt the kid as my own.”[/color] Amanda breathed heavily as she finished explaining. [color=FFFF00]”Imagine it though. If me and Aloysius had a kid. The raw power it would have. It would have been spectacular. Put you to shame. But no. I had to go and have Carlisle. Little weak Carlisle.”[/color] Mary knew that the conversation wasn’t for her but that didn’t stop her from eavesdropping. Amanda had a big mouth and even when she was trying to blab ‘quietly’ a whole neighbourhood could hear. Quiet was not her forte. She didn’t know whether to be mad or confused. Aloysious wasn’t a name that rung a bell to her. Well, actually, it did. She’d heard of the antics of some uprising against the guild from a man named Aloysius through the grapevine back in the day but apart from that the name was meaningless. [color=fff79a]”What nonsense are you spewin’ now, Amanda? You ain’t makin’ lies about me to get yourself out of what Salem’s got planned,”[/color] she quips, rolling up the sleeves of her dress and stepping forth toward the woman. Salem already knew the repercussions of Amanda’s actions - she just needed to hear the words. Claire was ready to rip the Aston womans throat out, but Salem seemed to beat her to it. Slapping Amanda across the face with a small electrical charge, Salem continued to glare at the woman as she cowered down. [color=6ecff6]”You stupid [i]fucking[/i] bitch,”[/color] the Guild leader spat. [color=6ecff6]”Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”[/color] Amanda let out a gasp as she was slapped across the face, feeling the electric shock enter her face. She went to raise her arm to cast an ice spell at her but was stopped as Carlisle cast counter-spell on her. [color=FFFF00]"I don't. I don't know what thing you seem to be panicking about"[/color] At this point, Salem really didn’t know if Amanda was playing dumb or if she actually didn’t know. The woman was doing the best that she absolutely could to keep her anger in check, but the blue hue from her eyes never faded - even as she shot a look of thanks towards Carlisle. [color=6ecff6]”You were so caught up in your want and need for power that you never stopped to realize that a Leighton child is running through the streets of Tanner. A magi child - with no training or guidance as to what stirs inside of him. And now he’s gone and found himself a home with the Montgomerys’.”[/color] Arms now crossed once more, Salem shook her head at the floor before looking back up at Mary. [color=6ecff6]”I’m not upset with you. I have a strong feeling you didn’t know outside forces were directing the course of your life, and that isn’t fair to anyone.”[/color] Her eyes flicked back and forth between Claire and Mary for just a moment, her mind trying to find the right words to say. [color=6ecff6]”Your children, however, have broken one of our most ancient laws - Magi and Witch alike - without even knowing it.”[/color] Carlisle spent his time listening, not taking direct action unless it was against his own mother. He was trying to do his best to learn from Lilith and not trying to ‘help’. But his brain was struggling to process what was going on. [color=00FFFF]”Let me get this right: Miles was a Magi the whole time? And my mother is somehow involved. And now he and Lil are together. And great families should never mix blood. So what exactly do we do?”[/color] Mary looked back and forth between Salem and Amanda unsure what to say herself. She knew Miles’ father was a magi- a secret she kept closely guarded even from the Montgomerys. She also knew he had a mark the way magi did but she had assumed it was because of his descent, not his power type. A lie she’d told herself until she’d convinced herself that he was a warlock. Mary knew how to train warlocks, not magi. Still, that name floated in the air; [i]Aloysius Leighton[/i]. That leader of the rebellion against the Guild. [color=fff79a]’I think you may have my boy mistaken,”[/color] she gives a sigh as she thinks through her words. [color=fff79a]”I know Milo’s dad was a magi but he’s not this Aloysius guy, just some Korean bastard from England. I don’t see how it’s much different to Ty and Junie, for both me and our kids. They’ve only been back together for what? A month? I don't think there’s much damage that can be caused.”[/color] [color=6ecff6]”First off - the man is Japanese. Don’t tell me you’ve been making that poor boy eat kimchi for nothing.”[/color] As Salem began to joke, the electricity radiating from her body seemed to fade. She had turned her attention from her anger at Amanda to her focus on the diplomatic duties at hand. Her eyes flicked to Carlisle. [color=6ecff6]”If I’m right - there’s nothing anyone can do at this point.”[/color] Hearing Mary’s words, Salem gave the woman a look of sympathy. [color=6ecff6]”You say he went by the name of Johnathan Park? That’s an old Guild alias a friend of ours used to use [i]way[/i] back in the day for undercover missions. Aloysius was originally born in England - that he didn’t lie about. And there’s no way to be for certain without a DNA test - but the sight of your son sent literal shivers down my spine, Ms. Price; From the way that he smirks, to the way he carries himself - even his tone of voice. I strongly believe that Miles is Aloysius Leightons son.”[/color] Letting her words settle into the air for a brief moment, Salem continued to answer the rest of the group's questions. [color=6ecff6]”Ty and Junie are a normal magi and a normal witch - for lack of a better term. When people like them have children, the child becomes either a witch or a magi - no inbetween. One of the bloodlines will trump the other every time. Sometimes you can have magi and witch children in the same family, just like with the Delamars. In your case, Leighton blood is stronger than Price blood, making Miles a Magi.”[/color] With a deep sigh, Salem finished off the rest of her explanation, hesitant to speak certain things into existence. [color=6ecff6]”When two great bloodlines merge - seeing as the Leightons are one of our major families - one can’t beat the other. It creates a whole new species entirely - one that we’ve never seen before because we’ve always made it a point to avoid situations like these.”[/color] The more Salem reveals of her son’s father the more a storm seemed to form in Mary’s eyes. She knew Johnathan- or Al rather- lied about a lot. She only accidentally found out he was magi- something her divination guided her in screaming red flags. She never bothered to ask it about much else and by the time she had Al was talking in half truths not strong enough for her magic to alert her of without a ritual. She knew he lied but this? This was too much. For the most part she was over the man, only remnants of anger and guilt for the life he denied her son remaining, but this seemed to open a whole new wound. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her hands balled into fists. She wished the man was right there to take it all out of him. She took a long drawn out breath, now was not the time for anger. [color=fff79a]”Okay, so we just have to stop them from havin’ babies, right? Not let the new species happen. I don’t know what to tell them but I’m sure we can sort this,”[/color] [color=00FFFF]"I am no diviner, but we may be too late for that. We know that they have slept together at least once. So it might be worth preparing for the possibility it is too late"[/color] Carlisle interjected. He then looked over to his mother. [color=00FFFF]"So let me get this straight: You knew about this Aloysius guy. You wanted him to have kids with you to give you a strong kid and deliberately break a sacred law?. When you couldn't have that, and he refused to be with you, and he decided to get with Mary: you decide to report him. But you knew Mary was Pregnant. You knew that you were about to split a family. Salem and Mary both were in the dark. And then to top it right off. You had a sick plan to try and take Miles for your own. So what does that make me exactly!?"[/color] Carlisle's voice got louder towards the end. The last question was almost shouted. Amanda laughed. It was long, drawn out, and had so much malice and disdain, most of it aiming directly at her son. [color=FFFF00]" You really wanna know that? Simply put you were born for one purpose: To show up the Price family. And yet you couldn't even do that. You became the first Warlock in the great families history. The weakest ever recorded. It was pathetic. And then. I had to watch your worthless ass grow up and just to rub it in my face more, you befriended that urchin. I had to keep my mouth shut and watch as you played with the enemy. I knew that great families weren't supposed to mix. It's a law that doesn't come up very often. Why do you think I kept pushing you in Lilith's orbit? Remember, I am an enchanter just like your little friend. All I needed was to keep you and Lilith together long enough. And then once again that street cleaner of a son had to come back from college and once again get involved."[/color] Carlisle's eyes opened wide as she spoke. A sinking feeling was opening in his stomach. He was used to being called useless. He was used to her attacking Miles. None of this was new. But the fact that his mother was talking about him and Lil. It was then it suddenly clicked on his mind. His hand reached out on instinct to hold onto Mary's for mutual support. [color=00FFFF]"I had been best friends with Lil for two years… But my attraction to her had started this summer all of the sudden. It was like a switch had been flicked inside me. I became so much closer to her… It was you… You enchanted me to love Lilith…"[/color] [color=FFFF00]" Guilty as charged m'lord"[/color] Amanda let out a slightly hysterical laugh, not attempting to deny anything that Carlisle said. Salem stood there watching and listening as Carlisle put together more and more of the puzzle. She didn’t know much about the young man, but she was grateful that [i]someone[/i] here was putting together the pieces. The Guild Leader had always known that her counterpart had been a diabolical bitch, but she had no idea that Amanda had treated her son this way - especially in public. Was the now ex-Coven leader beginning to go insane? As Carlisle’s comment rang in her ears about Miles and Lilith sleeping together, the woman literally bit her tongue to keep from spilling any more information. She had wanted to confront Amanda about the whole situation, but seeing how hungry the other woman was for power made her hesitant to give out the final card that she held. Besides - she still needed to confirm her largest suspicion of all. Claire on the other hand, showed no restraint. [color=C4DF9B]”Who the actual [i]fuck[/i] do you think you are to be medeling in [i]my[/i] childs life?”[/color] she nearly yelled at Amanda. Mary gave Carlisle's hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping up to her friend and once more sizing up Amanda from over Claire's shoulder. Her mind was moving a thousand miles a minute, it was almost overwhelming the amount of new information she's recieved in the last minutes. Her gaze centered on Amanda. [color=fff79a]"Let me get this right,"[/color] she says venomously, pushing past her friend. [color=fff79a]"[i]You[/i] broke up my family. [I]You're[/i] the reason my son grew up without a father. And not only that but you [i]planned[/i] to take him away from me?"[/color] Anger seemed to radiate from the woman's words as she realized the effect Amanda really had in her life beyond the jealousy and snark. [color=fff79a]"And after all that you tried to meddle with my god-daughter's life?! Well ain't you a piece of work?"[/color] Mary wasn't the angry sort, not really, not anymore. But this? This was an exception. She stepped up closer to Amanda before throwing a punch at the woman’s cheek. Amanda let out a grunt as she felt Mary’s fist collide with her face, sending the older woman staggering back along the side of the wall, and nearly bowling her over. She raised her hand to cover her face, her eyes glaring in disgust. She once again went to cast a spell, only to [i]again[/i] be counter-spelled by her own son. Just this time he wasn’t hiding it. [color=FFFF00]”Yeah I did. And I would do it again. Aloysisus was supposed to be mine! We were going to create a lineage that would put everyone else to shame. But he rejected me! Said he had no interest in power games or control. So I did what I had to do. Even if the end result was a disappointment.”[/color] Mary was fuming, so much so she could almost feel the heat coming off her skin. [color=fff79a]"You upended my whole life! You left me strugglin'. You pompous idiotic bag of garbage, I'll knock them fillers out of that face of yours!"[/color] she yells, squaring up for another hit. She bends down to get to the woman's level before throwing a punch at her face. Amanda simply got hit one more time, once more almost hitting the ground and causing a satisfying yell to escape from Amanda’s lips. The only reason she was standing was because of the wall. [color=FFFF00]”You can hit me all you like. But it doesn’t change the loneliness you feel. You should have seen him beg me not to tell. He didn’t want to leave his poor little Mary”[/color] Amanda taunted, faking tears at the end. [color=fff79a]"Lonely?"[/color] Mary laughs, standing up and looking at the slight bruising on her knuckles. It'd been a long time since she'd clobbered someone in the face like that, and she was sure the last time was Amanda too. [color=fff79a]"I ain't lonely. No, Amanda Aston, unlike you people actually like me enough to support me. I'm just mad at the life you took away from my son,"[/color] [color=FFFF00]”Oh Boo Hoo, cry me a fucking river”[/color] Amanda retorted as she straightened herself up against the wall, adjusting her hair so it was back in place. Her eyes then rested on Claire [color=FFFF00]”And don’t you start either. You should be dead. I don’t know what kind of tomfoolery my idiot son has done, but once I figure it out I am going to be sure of undoing it and sending you back to your grave.”[/color] Watching as Mary landed a few punches, Claire was honestly surprised that Amanda had chosen to keep running that fat mouth of hers. She had gone out of her way to to ruin many peoples lives on her pursuit of power; Amanda Aston had plotted murder against the woman that Claire called her sister, took away the father that her godson could have had, made her own son feel inadequate, and then proceeded to meddle in Lilith’s life. She had no right to tell who to get over what, when her whole entire life had been built upon never getting over a single damned thing. [i]And don’t you start either[/i]. That was all the permission that Claire Montgomery needed. Tying her hair back quickly as Amanda spoke, the blonde took a quick step forward before throwing all of the weight and force that she could manage into her punch - aiming for the other womans throat. Amanda was nowhere near fast enough to avoid the punch, letting out a heavy and heft cough as she choked on her own windpipe after the punch connected. She staggered to the side, across the wall before tripping on her own feet and hitting the floor, gasping for air. Carlisle winced at the impact. He knew his mother deserved all this, but seeing it made it hard to swallow. [color=00FFFF]"So what exactly do we do with her?" [/color] Carlisle asked, looking down at his own mother on the floor. [color=C4DF9B]”For starters you better hope she listens next time I tell her to shut the fuck up.”[/color] Claire was the first to respond as she shook the shock from her wrist, looking back and forth between Amanda gasping and the group before her. Salem had taken the backseat as the events unfolded in front of her. The Guild Leader knew the full extent of her powers, and she didn’t want to kill someone her first thirty minutes back in Tanner. Claire and Mary seemed to have the situation handled, and Salem had given out the information she had come to spread. Not to mention Amanda had nearly gotten curbstomped without Salem barely having to lift a finger. It was already shaping up to be a very interesting and eventful evening. [color=6ecff6]”Well, I don’t think we should kill her - yet. There’s still some things I’d like for her to stick around and see.”[/color] Salem said, looking down at the disgrace of a witch before turning to meet Carlisle’s gaze. [color=6ecff6]”The rest is up to you now.”[/color] Hearing that Salem had pretty much delegated to Carlisle caused the male to cough and pull at his collar. She was right though. Amanda was [i]his[/i] problem. With a deep sigh he ran his hands through his hair while he thought through his options. [color=00FFFF]"Technically she is needed for one part of the handover ceremony. But I don't feel comfortable with it. Not after learning all this shit. Alright. We will just have to change the ceremony"[/color] Carlisle clapped his hands together with a small smile. [color=00FFFF]"As for you though…"[/color] Carlisle spoke looking down at his mother. He would then cast mental prison on her, performing the same spell he had on Grandpa John and locking her away in his mind. This time however the prison was dangerous, as opposed to the blank space he had placed John. Any attempt at her to get out was going to hurt her. It seemed that a large group of people had chosen to stare at the scene happening before them. The sudden realization seemed to unsettle Salem as she cleared her throat. [color=6ecff6]”Someone tell Lilith to come find me after everything is finalized tonight,”[/color] she requested of no one in particular. With a shrug of her shoulders and a nod of the head, Claire looked at Mary and Carlisle before asking [color=C4DF9B]”Shots?”[/color] [color=00FFFF]"I should probably refrain from Drink Casting."[/color] Carlisle said with a light laugh. [color=00FFFF]"But you and Mary knock yourselves out. I will deal with everything and make sure Lilith speaks to Salem later on." [/color] [color=fff79a]"Please,"[/color] Mary responds to Claire's offer before looking around at the faces staring back at them. [color=fff79a]"Alright folks, move along, show's over,"[/color] she calls out to the crowds, using a bit of her enchantment to call for their departure. Of course this had to happen when her own parents were in town, she'd have some explaining to do tomorrow. She then turns to Carlisle, tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear. [color=fff79a]"Sorry you had to see that, kid. Guess the kid ain’t gonna see me the same after that."[/color] Reflecting through the conversation Mary seemed to be in her thoughts for a moment. Now less shell shocked she was able to pick up what Salem was trying to lay before them. Her eyes widened at the realisation as she then asked her divination a single question. [i]Yes[/i] it responded. Her face seemed to turn as white as a ghost as she purposefully looks at Carlisle once more. [color=fff79a]"I can talk to Lil, there's something I want to ask her,"[/color] she says, her voice much softer than before. [color=00FFFF]"I think we all have questions for Lilith. But sure. I am going to have my hands full with all this shit."[/color] Carlisle replied, gesturing to the entire party. [/indent][/indent][/indent][/color]