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The Promise - Second Star to the Right, and Straight on 'til Morning.

I enjoy playing this game

@Thrash Panda

fucking kiss ass.

you know what? nic is dead now. it's canon. fuck you.

The Promise - Second Star to the Right, and Straight on 'til Morning.

Archie

---

"How long are we thinking we'll need? The sooner the better. Today."

Archie shifted uncomfortably at this. He seemed hesitant, like an animal unsure as to whether it was going to interact with the unknown. "I don't think today is a good idea." Archie started, his voice slow as if he was choosing his words uncharacteristic care. His statement was further backed up by Nic's explanation of his ability. He could remotely see through everyone's eyes if they were in contact with him, spreading his tendrils out in spore that people could catch like a virus or a particularly nasty STD. Even better, one could drink away the problem if they so desired.

A part of him wished there were other types of issues one could drink away... but oftentimes alcohol created more problems than it did solutions. It brought forth the memories of a gunshot, Agent Radvi bleeding out on the ground, Lynn's hands covered in blood, and Eli slipping away trying to keep Radvi from dying an excruciating death. He shivered, and in his nervousness at the idea of storming The Spire today and the ever haunting memories, a low but solitary beep emitted from his heart monitor. Archie was quick to cover it, although he was sure that the others had heard it, placing his free hand over the bracelet in embarrassment.

"I think we should give Nic a few days to... work his magic." Archie explained. "If we know when they come in and out of the entrance and their general routes in The Spire, Nic could have a mental map of the place through them. I'd rather know where I'm going than die lost and confused." Because he had known that that felt like. To be on the other side of a gun when you had no idea what was happening. To suddenly be terrified at the concept of dying when the last memory you had was being asleep in your bed. He didn't want to stumble through the dark again, and he certainly didn't want to spend any more time in The Spire than absolutely necessary. The longer they spent treading over the same ground up there, the more likely they were to be caught.

"It'll give everyone time to get their affairs in order. And give Packet time to think if they need to. Lets give it four or five days. Maybe more. However long its necessary for Nic to have a sense of direction up there."

Lest they end up lost in the stars.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

Kayla

♪♪♪

---

The snapchat group was blowing up for lack of better wording, and while Kayla would have liked to be there to prevent the girls from being their own worst enemies, she was also pretty keen on letting the women make their own mistakes to a certain degree. Yes, it would be a bit more complicated, but she couldn't exactly be in two places at once AND she had actual leadership duties to deal with. It wasn't her fault that this was planned beforehand by Agatha, who had walked. It also wasn't her fault that the text had come the day of... So she'd get to it when she got to it.

Kayla was however interested in what was going on, so she elected to send Claudette a text. She didn't particularly care for the permanence of a text, so she found herself messaging Claudette directly over snapchat instead of in the main group.

I'd like a summary of whatever's going on, on your end as soon as reasonable. Interviewing the new members at the moment.

Kayla

It was quick, concise, and to the point. As Kayla was, herself. Claudette was the only one in the collective at the amusement park that she trusted, having very quickly taken up the position as her left hand in directing the chaos that was The Coven. The woman was smart, and it would be apparent to her that Kayla valued her input. It was an extension of trust- She was leading a group now, and Kayla for all her pride and ego was well aware that she couldn't do something like that alone. Not with this many women wielding paranormal abilities and unruly temperaments to match.

She would be meeting Lyss and Henrik at the Dairy Queen to interview the new supposed members of The Coven. Lyss had quickly taken up a position as her right hand woman, having shown competence and leadership qualities when under direct pressure from a supposed governmental agency when others had not. She, like Claudette, had a good head on her shoulders and seemed to at least have a solid handle on themselves. Preferring to observe than to buy into the group's rather... colorful personality. Kayla liked that. In her world, the ones who talked to much were the ones that shit themselves and hid in a corner when things went poorly. It was the quiet, almost reserved ones that you had to worry about. Kayla preferred to have them on her side.

Lyss was handling the preinterview and she'd have to speak with her about her meeting with the 'FBI' once this was dealt with. They didn't know of Kayla's existence at the moment and for the time being she was just fine with keeping it that way. Henrik was there as an insurance policy. His large size and intimidating presence disarmed people. He made them easier to crack, even if he didn't necessarily have to do anything aside from simply be there. Kayla was tired of people that would up and run as soon as things got scary, and in a world like theirs a large man was potentially the least of their worries. She knew that better than most, having stared death incarnate down less than a week prior.

She held the door open for Oleander, who trotted into the Dairy Queen with little regard for the 'No Pets Allowed' sign that was always up and never respected. Kayla brought business, and kicking her dog out meant that they'd bring down her wrath on them. They had learned that the hard way. Oleander seemed to have a directive of his own, immediately zeroing in on the group and heading to their table. Kayla wore beaten blue jeans, her typical combat boots, a thin grey hoodie, and a black leather jacket that obscured the appendix carried Kobra revolver. She was certainly overdressed for Florida... but the heat had stopped being an issue a long, long time ago. She dressed however she wanted, rain, shine, heat wave, sleet or snow be damned. Her makeup was all smoke and cinders and she cast each of them glances with hooded eyelids that felt like she was burning right through them.

"Agatha left us about a week ago, so you'll be meeting the new leader when she arrives."

"-longing for some companionship in this cold, cold, world... I decided to check you all out... That's not a problem, right, sugar?"

Henrik scooted over without a word, allowing Kayla to slide into a seat at the end of their table that allowed her to watch the entrance of the building, as she always did these days. Each of them had that glow to them that only the supernatural had. Which was a good thing, because she wanted members who could pull their weight. The one on the right was like a slightly smaller version of herself. Down to the build, and facial structure. The only difference being she was a big more aggressive with the makeup and a lot more aggressive with her hair. It attracted attention, and made her easy to remember. Not inherently bad things, but worth taking note of. The middle seemed nervous, middle eastern in descent. She shifted around in her seat as if she was just dying to say something. The last was the tallest of the bunch, clad in leather jacket and absolutely glowing, as if her skin was pale enough to create light. She wasn't like the others here, instead shining more like Babylon or The Hound than than like a normal person. She seemed at least quiet and at most patient. Kayla supposed that only time would tell which it was. Kayla's eyes flashed to Lyss, and for just a moment the thin line of her pokerface shifted up at one corner into a small smirk. She dropped a hand to massage Oleander's neck.

"We've elected to switch to more... capable management." Kayla said, having decided to finally speak now that the tension had built up enough. "And if it were a problem, you wouldn't be here."

Kayla liked this one's spunk. A spitfire attitude and narrowed eyes that challenged. Lyss didn't seem particularly phased, and Kayla certainly wasn't either. She looked the smaller girl over easily and leaned forwards, resting her elbows on the table. The orange haired one would almost certainly pipe up first having spoken so much already so Kayla gave her the most attention, choosing to move on to the more passive one in a moment. Her eyes flashed, her pupils taking on that ever dangerous molten-metal hue as Kayla allowed her small grin to melt into small but evil grin, challenging the other girl and testing her grit. “I don't particularly care how you found us. Sell yourself to me. Who are you, what can you do, and why do you want in? Thirty words or less, please.”

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

Kayla

---

It was shit.

It was all shit.

Apparently, the Coven had been raided by the FBI. Apparently, they had somehow managed to fight them off and not all be killed by Tampa PD in the process by some absolute fluke or miracle. Perhaps her forest fire was drawing city assets away and that was some sort of saving grace. Perhaps The Hound had decided that she had performed well enough tonight that it had spared the group. She didn't know, or care. She groaned, and rubbed her face as she heard the news.

"You WHAT."

Fighting the FBI was hands down the worst thing they could've done. The FBI would just return in greater, overwhelming force because that's how the feds did it. They didn't lose, not to some group of shitkids who can shart thunder. They had setbacks at most. This was all exacerbated by Emily Agatha up and leaving. That was the smart thing to do. To run, hide, and hope that all of this blew over before anything truly horrible happened. "Okay, anyone that actually fought the FBI might want to find a relative or leave and country and lay low for a while. Nice handcuff bruises, Emily." Kayla remarked. She'd been arrested before. She'd recognize those marks any day, and her suspicion that she hadn't fought well was shortly thereafter backed up by Maya. She massaged the bridge of her nose, god this evening had been taxing.

"I'm the only one here who has actually had run ins with the law. I need to know exactly what happened."

Kayla hated this. She knew that everyone here was fucked if they actually had interaction with the government in any negative way. Every instinct told her to run, to book it and get the fuck out of town before shit went further south... but these people had helped her, and obviously planned on looking out for her. Madison was a wreck over Molly, and as far as Kayla knew they weren't event that close. Ride or dies were hard to come by like that. Perhaps it would be worth the risk.

"I'm stepping up." Kayla announced. She wasn't one of the founding members, but she held sway and she knew it. Jess, Molly*, and Madison had seen her power, and they all had experienced her leadership in some way, shape, or form. Even Emily seemed to have begrudging respect for her given that she hadn't tossed any comments her way as of late. "We've all had a long night. Given the circumstances of our previous leader walking, we need someone who can keep us out of federal prison right now. Skip the pleasantries. Does anyone have any objections?"

These people were going to be the death of her. But she almost died for Madison tonight. Fuck it, maybe more people would make it more fun.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

Kayla

---

Kayla didn't remember much, between fading in and out. She remembered being carried, and jostled around some. She remembered the hum of an engine being brought to life. But the thing that really brought her back was the water. Sweet fucking live bringing water that made her feel like she wasnt a mummy. She desperately snatched it when it was passed to her and downed the thing in what felt like record time.

She felt better then. Not quite one hundred percent, but better. Not catatonic, which was always a good start. She had pushed the envelope again, because of course she had- that's what she always did, but what really rubbed her the wrong way was why she had to do it. Competition, inspiration, resolve to improve strengthened the muscle and fired the will, but having to give something her all as to not be killed was not something she was planning on doing this evening. It'd be different had she walked into that forest knowing that she was going into combat of some sort. Kayla was uncharacteristically quiet for the rest of the drive, and a part of her was happy they had seen how dehydrated she was. They would think she wasn't talking because of that.

When they pulled into DQ, Kayla had placed her order, a bottle of water and an Oreo Blizzard as always, and excused herself into the restroom. She walked into one of the stalls, locked the door, and cried. She cradled her legs against her chest, and buried her face in her knees, making herself as small as possible as she sobbed into her dirty smoke-smelling jeans. She had almost died tonight. She had walked into the forest without Oleander, without mentioning anything to her Uncle, and she would've never been seen or heard from again had things gone any different. Had that Hound decided to pursue them, had she not held out as long as she had, it could've found her through the smoke and fire and taken her soul with it to hell. She wasn't ready to die.

Kayla remained in that stall for several minutes to just... unwind. Allowing all that nervous, fight or flight energy to leave her body. She shuddered after a while, realizing she had no more tears left to cry, and forced herself to get up and stand up and go make herself at least somewhat presentable. She spent another few minutes hosing the dried blood off her lip and plugging her nose with a paper towel to stop the bleeding, and running water over her hands and feet to wash away the dirt and grime that had accumulated from stumbling through the burning woodland so that she didn't dirty her clothes further or infect the many cuts she had given herself. She ran her hands under the sink, and splashed the water on her face to wipe away any other crap she had built up.

"...After a freak earth quake caused a landslide. Tonight's storm seems to have created a wildfire in the forest over by..." A news anchor droned in the background from one of the TVs when Kayla walked out of the bathroom. She noticed that Madison was holding Molly in the air by her neck using her abstraction. These fucking women couldn't keep it in their pants for ten minutes without supervision, could they? They just survived being turned to ash and dust by death's hound and they were fighting each other?. Kayla walked up to the table, too emotionally and physically drained to deal with The Coven's bullshit, and grabbed her ice cream and her water.

"Madison," she said, giving the group a cursory glance and not a second more of attention despite the show they were putting on. "Outside. When you're done."

It was more of a command than it was a request, and she would know that. Kayla didn't wait for a reply, or to find out who Molly was. At the moment she didn't care. Stepping out of the Dairy Queen and into the humid Florida evening air was a welcome rush of warmth. A subtle comfort. She sat down on the curb and ate her ice cream, content for now on counting how many fire trucks passed by on the way to the woods.

The Promise - Second Star to the Right, and Straight on 'til Morning.

Archie

---

Hearing Natalie's story had been haunting, to say the least. This felt like it was the Shitty Childhood Olympics: Promise Edition, and they were all going for gold. Personally, if he were the judge, he'd give it to Natalie or Lynn for the All-Around, but he was probably pioneering in the Coping Very Badly event.

The worst thing was, he got it when Natalie said that she didn't want to leave, because there was nothing for her on Earth. He felt that shit, because that was him. Archie had done his absolutely best to eek out a shred of normalcy up here and all of this, everything that had happened... he couldn't keep fighting for something that was going to be nothing more than a commercial break in a sea of shit shows. It seemed like she was coming to that realization, too.

"But... If I have all of you, there's a chance we could actually do it."

"You guys should just put some thought into it is all. Because if you go up there and you haven't made up your mind and shit then the guy who has is going to get you. Then that's another motherfucker I have to deal with."

"Lynn," Archie said, trying to get his friend's attention. "This is no way to be. I'm an accident waiting to happen, and we all know what happens to accidents like us. I ain't have nothing to lose." he finished, and he meant it- giving her a reassuring smile. Archie had no plans to die, but if he went out, he could be okay with that. Yeah, he lost a lot of the people in his life that were supposed to protect him, make him feel loved and safe and welcome, but there had been good in his time, too. He had his own space as a kid, saw sunsets, ran on the beach, flirted with girls, forgotten homework, and skipped out of math classes.

"It sounds like we all want to go for the kids." he reiterated, his eyes glancing to each person around the table. Archie understood their desire to ensure that these theoretical children did not end up as bitter and jaded and hurt as they were. All things considered they had quite a colorful cast of rejects with their own circus of issues. It was a miracle they had managed to work as well together as they had. "I know we're all still explaining our powers and all but... Eli," he questioned, turning his head to look at the tallest girl of the group. "How long would it take to get this Packet person ready to help us?"

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

I didn't know the FBI was hiring discount emos with scene haircuts.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

We interrupt your normally scheduled chaos to present Izzy simply vibing in her apartment

@Knight of Doom

vibe check

Izzy's vibes
en.shindanmaker.com/chart/937709-67d6…

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

Kayla

♪♪♪

---

When the Hound brought it's paw down, Kayla desperately attempted to do what she could to shield the blast, but she would need another few minutes before she could do something like that again. She wouldn't be able to dampen in incoming shock wave on her own.

Thankfully, she didn't have to.

Molly had appeared, summoning a wall of earth before them both and diverting the force away from them both.

"Whatever you have planned, I would hurry."

Respect surged through Kayla in that moment. Not even because Molly had been blind or appeared powerless up until now, but because she had taken it upon herself to defend her while she was downed. Kayla nodded, wiping her bloodied nose on her sleeve and clearing what was left of the hemorrhage away from her face. She breathed once in and once out and spoke. "Molly," she began, forcing herself to her feet. The pupils of her eyes already glowing a dull red like molten metal. Kayla peeked out from the side of the wall. At quick glance, it appeared that Madison was clear. Kayla turned to Molly, and with practiced glace gave Molly her shoes.

"Take these, get Jess and Madison, and run. Book it to the car. I'll be right behind you."

Kayla didn't give her any time to fight her on it. This was her ace in the hole, her eject button. It was truly all or nothing now, for this was not a foe they could best. Kayla's whole body began glowing a dull red, like when one held a powerful flashlight under the hand, except it was her whole body. Her bones shone through her clothing as her core temperature skyrocketed, casting skeletal and angular shadows. Her hair danced, changing from her natural brunette to brilliant yellows and reds and blues as it became flame. She pushed her sleeves up, revealing flames that danced across her forearms.

The forest was alight, it was like she was one enormous light bulb. It was so hot near her that the ground beneath her feet began smoldering and catching fire. The rain that made it through the trees above didn't even make it to the ground, evaporating into hisses of mist as soon as it came within ten feet of her. Her shoes, if she hadn't given them to Molly, surely would've melted. She cracked her knuckles, each eliciting a supernatural crack. Like each bone was a supercharged firework. The Hound's attention was shifted to Kayla.

There were no words exchanged, no insults or clever taunts that were so typical of Kayla. The woman wasted no time, and with both the Aether and Oblivion whispering in her ear she drove her hand into the overturned earth and roared.

If the power she had released earlier had been empyrean, a the will of heaven above... then this was the chthonian wrath of hell. The cracks in the earth created by both Kayla and The Hound began glowing incandescent hues of reds and yellows. It held for a moment, Kayla's eyes flashing to Molly and Madison as they made it behind her and away, and then Kayla let loose for the second time that night.

The earth beneath and around The Hound erupted in a hellfire that consumed everything it touched, uncaring of the rain. It split the beaten earth, throwing it up and away with explosive, concussive force. The flames climbed higher, consuming the destroyed forest in a primordial torrent of fire and rage. It was a wall of fire, climbing up and above the tree tops- which caught flame and spread uncontrolled in the blaze. The forest was alight, scorching the the earth and turning everything it touched to ash in its rage.

With The Hound at the center of the inferno.

Kayla directed the holocaust like a conductor of a runaway train, unable to stop the spread but capable of aiming the apocalypse that was unfolding. She couldn't stop it now that it was going- not this much fire, but she could aim it. Waves of fire crashed in The Hound's direction as the forest became an ocean of fire, fueling her onslaught to an almost unprecedented degree. In that moment, Kayla didn't care about self preservation, or thirst, or hunger, or air, or sex, or guilt, or Madison and Molly and Jess. She let go of anything that made her human, and her body erupted with the fire.

It felt good.

But she was dying, and even if she didn't know it and didn't care, the passenger within her did. It tugged at her psyche, pulling her out and away from her high and forcing her back down to earth. Run, Kayla.

Her body's internal temperature dropped, and her body extinguished even as the forest fire's flames licked at her body- the devil on her shoulder encouraging her to come back to them, except it was all around her. The visibility was so low and the fire so loud, and the smoke so thick that there was no way The Hound could track them. She was tired, she knew this, but she was dehydrated now. More so than she felt she had ever been. She felt the heat of the forest around her, burning at her clothing and attempting to make her one with it once again... heat had stopped affecting her a long time ago but er dehydration dragged her psyche, making her sluggish and confused. She couldn't remember which direction was safety, and while the heat of fire was no longer dangerous, the smoke that came with it could still kill her. She had completely forgotten about The Hound, her addled mind more focused on not suffocating to death in her own flame.

The smoke in the sky hid the stars above, darkening what had once been the canopy of treetops in a thick, soupy smog. She could see the dark, skeletal shapes of tree branches that had yet to burn. Come on, Kayla! that voice hissed in her ear, urging her up from her hands and knees and onto her feet. Her legs shoved her forwards in a direction, pushing her forwards every time she stumbled or fell, unwilling to let her own flame go out in the dark.

Kayla didnt know how long she walked, but when she stumbled out of the woods and her feet hit the gravel of the parking lot, she collapsed. She hoped she wasn't far from Madison's car now. She hoped that they had seen her, that they would help her, and that they hadn't left her. "Help-" she choked out. The rain felt good against her still unnaturally warm skin, hitting her body and disappearing in a hiss. Her clothes were singed on all areas, some of her jacket had been burnt away. Her feet were bloodied and dirty from stumbling barefoot through the woods. Blood still lazily oozed from her nose. And she was dehydrated and confused.

She could hear the echos of firetruck sirens in the otherwise quiet night. The fire in the distance lit up the night, unconcerned with the rain up above.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

Kayla

---

There were a lot of moving parts to Madison's gambit, the fact that someone had died. The fact that she was trying to trade her soul. The fact that she had already been dead herself... All wonderful topics to explore and question had she not lunged forward and attacked the shady hound head on. Kayla had seen the kind of damage that Madison could do- which was a good deal in controlled areas like this one, but she didn't think she'd ever see the day when she'd see someone take a hit from her and laugh.

"... You know you can't win yet you still fight. If you're so set on this path at least make it entertaining."

The Hound charged, and Kayla wanted to scream. Let in rage, and more in frustration at Madison's complete disregard for their lives. Like, fuck, if you're going to throw your life away, do it on your own bill rather than someone else's. She was going to have Madison's ass for this later, dead or alive, rain or shine. She was going to kill her.

But that would have to wait. Right now, she had a death hound on her ass that needed far more immediate attention, because this Hound was going to kill them. There was something so unsettling about it- making her pulse race and adrenaline flow. There was always something about the supernatural that did that. Forest. It could be pushed. a voice whispered in her head, and as she reacted her passenger seemed to act on its own accord in her body. That's right, this was a forest. The Hound, at that, had been shoved a great distance by Madison's attack even if it was mostly unharmed.

Kayla's arm acted on its own accord, her eyes flashing a brilliant white as an invisible, irresistible, unstoppable force rippled through the air from her hand. Everything in front of her not nailed into the ground was uprooted in a positively empyrean blast of telekinetic power moving so fast and with so much power that it, momentarily, rendered the laws of physics a child's plaything. The very air danced with energy like heat on a scorching hot road during the day. It was the sound of thunder, a lightning strike of the loudest sound one would ever hear in their lives. Like a freight train passing directly by, but it's coming from every direction at once, including above and below. The breath left Kayla's lungs momentarily as the force displaced the very atmosphere around them in a vacuum lasting for not even a moment.

And in that moment there was no sound, there couldn't be. There was no air. It felt like the pressure around her had returned, and she felt like she had fallen ten feet and not at all at the same time. She gasped, filling her lungs with the air they had been robbed of. The rocks had been thrown, or obliterated outright. The Sticks, leaves, any animals among them... every tree within sixty feet of her had been not only uprooted, but hurled dozens of yards away. It was like a hurricane, or a meteor had fallen directly on the area, but only in one direction. The Coven had never seen her really let loose. They hadn't even seen a tenth of what she could do until now... but this Hound? There was something wrong with it. Something told her that it would take everything she had if she wanted a chance to survive it, if it wanted to kill her.

The Hound was undoubtedly within the rubble, having been hurled like it was nothing along with that entire section of the forest. Her hearing began returning, a small amount, but enough so that she heard more than the incessant ringing that always came after an event like this. She tasted metal on her lips, and ran a hand across her nose to confirm how badly she was bleeding. It would heal- it always did, but it was heavy on the body.

Kayla wasn't sure how the other group was fairing- they undoubtedly had been shoved back by the sheer air pressure even if they had been behind the blast, but she doubted the thing was dead. If it had shrugged off Madison's punch so easily, this likely did little more than but them time.

And create kindling.

But Kayla needed a moment to right herself. "Keep it busy!" she just about hacked out between gasps, trying to catch her breath again. "Just- just buy me ten seconds and I'll get us out of here!" Her sense of balance having been thrown off by the scale of the blast she had created- that was one of her largest. That could have leveled a fucking multi-story building. a part of her surmised, somewhat proud of her work.

The other part?

That part wanted to hurl.