Snippet #2560189

((And huge colab because the universe and RPG have aligned to make this post possible.))

Garrett walked out of the room and went to Helena.
"Ok, sorry for the delay but we can't just run in to this. These are sleepers and they can be very dangerous, especially since Michael is commanding a genie."
He said leaning on the wall.

"The location to the base that we got off the dead sleeper, well the girls aren't there. Stacy somehow managed to get a tracker on her and she left the receiver in the kitchen during the attack. It was found a few minutes ago and we've determined that Stacy's located at a separate base. Since Michael walked from Stacy's room to the door that leads to Amirah, we know he's keeping them relatively together. I doubt he would let them out of his sight anyway so it makes sense."
Garrett explained.

"It's not that I don't want to do this, I just want us to be as safe as possible doing it Helena. I can't lose you and I won't let you get hurt. But you know, that being said... The others are going directly for the girls but there's reason to believe that Matt isn't with the girls. His ability is perfect for conditioning sleeper agents, so he is more than likely located in a nest of sleepers in need of conditioning. I think he is at the base the dead sleeper revealed and it's obvious they launched their attack from there so we might find the bastards that invaded HQ. I think we should pay them a visit and teach them a little lesson."
Garrett said smiling.

He knew how Helena could get antsy and he was sure listening to the group inside argue about what to do wasn't helping. Garrett wanted to see the girls home safe, Matt too, but he also wanted revenge. By going after Matt while the others went after the girls, it served to complete all their objectives.
"We should go. We have to set up base camp outside the facility and develop a plan before nightfall."

Grant walked out of the room and went to his daughter. "Helena, listen I really don't want you to go because I'm your father and I love you. But hear me out before we both head out on equally suicidal missions. I have trouble realizing you've grown into such a strong woman that doesn't need her dad following behind just in case she gets hurt. I will never want you to be in danger or in a situation where you could get hurt but you're all grown up now and you've become so strong and independent. So I won't try to hold you back, it’s about time I started treating you like the adult you are, and believing in you. I trust you to stay out of unnecessary trouble, and to take care of yourself because contrary to how anyone has ever made you feel or how you view yourself, you're very capable and strong. More so than most of the people here and you belong here with us because you're one of us and that will never change or go away. So I have to let you be one of us and that sometimes means being in dangerous situations. I love you sweetheart and good luck." Grant said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

He looked over at Garrett. "Try not to die." Grant said.

"Oh so she gets this epic father talk and I get try not to die?"
Garrett said chuckling. Epic father talk was an understatement. Garrett could count on one hand the times that his father had ever addressed him like that. He knew Grant was a different type of person, more emotional, more open, but it still amazed him how Grant was so expressive with his emotions when most people in the Delegates were emotionally inaccessible. When Grant cared about someone, they knew it. He said it regularly, and showed it even more with his kindness and concern, with his consideration and admiration. For all his faults, Grant was a really great guy and an even better father. Garrett looked up to Grant a lot, respected him, and admired his open heart. If Garrett ever became a father, he would want to be like Grant in some ways. Helena and Hunter were really fortunate to have a father with those types of rare traits.

"I amend my statement." Grant said. "Try not to die again."

"Will do."
Garrett said laughing.

"Good. I'll see you soon." Grant responded walking back in to the room to see if they made a decision on accepting the help of the ancients.
Midnight looked over at Khalid “Toe stepping is the least of my concerns Khalid. If they’re going to help get the girls and Matt back, I’ll cooperate fully.” Midnight said.

Now was she overly thrilled about working with the ancients, no, but she would work with Hitler if it meant getting her daughter, best friend, and their resident psychologist back. The ancients were a complex lot and they did take the concept of elitism to the extreme but Khalid felt they were out of options. Midnight had plenty of ideas how to do this without them but they were dealing with a very powerful creature at the whims of a psychopath. The supernatural up until recently wasn’t the Delegate’s forte, so the ancients would have a much better chance of success.

“Khalid… just be careful working with them. I know you know what you’re doing so don’t think I’m saying it out of a concern you don’t have control over the situation. It’s just I know Michael, and he’s a lunatic, but he’s also a genius that thinks ahead. Just be prepared for anything. And get your asses moving, we don't have all day.” Midnight said.

Michael had already gotten to them. By attacking Aubrey, he had clouded Arucan’s judgment. By hitting Will in a soft spot, he had fueled his anger. They could easily become irrational and make mistakes that would cost them dearly. And Grant, he could hardly contain his emotions on a daily basis, not to mention when his daughter was in danger. In fact, he was scary calm which was the first sign he was going to freak out at some point. Midnight couldn’t help but think it should be her going to face off against Michael, she knew him best, could predict his behavior, and she could shut down emotionally. But she couldn’t go and she needed to learn to trust others. She was placing her faith in them to handle this, and she knew they would come through. In the meantime she would help Garrett and Helena locate Matt at the other facility. She would let go of her careful grip of control to do what’s best for the people in danger, but she would be there if anyone needed her.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Michael giggled sitting in the throne room.
“Predictable. Why are they so predictable? God it almost ruins the game!”
Michael said angerly throwing a vase to shatter on a wall.
“Ancients… well I called it. What do you think they’ll try to do?
Michael asked.

“They may be powerful and arrogant but they aren’t stupid. They will not cross you when you have the harbinger of their destruction. They care little for this world and the people in it; in fact they are not even loyal to each other. They would destroy one another if it would benefit them. They only remained together here in Alcazar because of the energy and power that once filled these halls, once made this place as magical as the creatures residing in it, and which once made them like gods. This place has been dead for a long time, all the energy that was once here, is spent. Now it is a pit for magical creatures, sucking away their powers when they set foot inside. It is no coincidence they abandoned the palace. It’s almost a shame; this place in its glory was quite beautiful. It was alive at one time, it had a soul, had a heart. It was once a grand city and now this palace is all that remains.” Armaan said.

“Jeez if you love it so much, why don’t you marry it... It’s just a palace, and buildings aren’t alive. Is that why you live here all alone? Because you feel like you have a connection to it? Ugh don’t answer that, of course you have a connection to this place. It’s where they first enslaved you isn’t it? Pity for you, good for me I guess. Having Amirah certainly changed the playing field. It is no coincidence that they disbanded very shortly after her mother was killed. Poor creatures lost their connection to that vital source of energy they need to use all their awesome powers. And now I have access to it through you my friend. Why are your powers not drained here? Like the others would be?”
Michael asked.

“I am not of this world, and my power does not come from here but from the spirit world that I was born from. The ancients and magic users are powerless here without the energy of this place flowing because they do not have a direct connection to the spirit world. There has only ever been one bloodline with the ability to tap into the endless energy of the spirit world and that bloodline grows stronger with every generation. Amirah’s bloodline on her mother’s side. It is why she is also unaffected by the void here. This place has turned from a spring giving energy to the people here, to a void that sucks it up. What would you do with the ancients if they did side with you after they realize they’re powerless in this palace?” Armaan asked.

“Funny enough, nothing. I don’t want them to do anything to hinder or help the Delegates once they set foot in here. I simply want the delegates to think they stand a chance and then to realize their last hope is gone. I have spent years planning this, years and years of thinking, planning, and preparing for every move they could make, plotting for every contingency. How can they think that coming up with something in hours could stand against all that I have put into this masterpiece? Tell me, what do you think Khalid’s reaction will be when he finds out his destination is Alcazar?”
Michael asked smirking.

“I don’t know. This place holds a lot of good and bad memories for the warlock; it might be overwhelming to find it still stands at all. The Ancients were under the impression this place was destroyed with the city during one of the altercations involving a certain dragon having a fit. Dragons can be so temperamental. And the energy that was once here was like a drug to them. When it dried up, they went through a form of withdrawal. It had a certain power over them, and to be reminded of this and the things this dependence made them do, would be painful.” Armaan said.

“Very good. Anything that will cause him discomfort will make me happy. Resurrecting this place was a good idea my friend.”

Michael said smiling.

“I did not resurrect this place. I rebuilt it, stone by stone and restored it to what it was before it was decimated. I don’t think anyone could resurrect the power that once dwelled in this place.” Armaan said lazily eating grapes off a tray.

“Is that so? And what would happen if one did return the power to this place exactly?”
Michael asked.

Armaan looked sharply at Michael. “It is not possible.” He snapped. “But if it could be done, it would again endow the inhabitants with the connection to the energy of the spirit world. A way that you can understand would be… this place was built on a well, and that well was fed from the spirit world. Once the well dried up, the energy stopped flowing, and this place died. I do not know whether someone blocked off the connection from the other side or if it naturally closed.” Armaan said. “But again, it is not possible to restore. The connection between the worlds is lost. Better to forget it ever existed and enjoy the beauty of this place.”

“Yes… the beauty of it. Djinn, do something for me. Is there a way to get rid of someone’s memories for good? So there is no chance of them being resurrected or brought back?”
Michael asked as he inspected the vein like channels running all over the stone. Perhaps this place was alive at one point. Living structures, he had heard of them. But they were an immortal’s bedtime stories, the stuff of legends.

“Yes.” Armaan said raising a brow.

“Do that to Amirah. I want all her memories gone starting from the night before she met Midnight. And remove her psychic ability so she can’t pull them off someone else. I want no trace of her memories left, no way for them to resurrect them. Is that possible?”
Michael asked.

“It is, but why do you make her to suffer so much? She will lose half her life, her memories of her children, of her friends, her family. She will be left with nothing but grief and despair of a life spent in a harem. It isn’t right.” Armaan said.

“I think someone’s grown attached. This isn’t to make her suffer, it’s to help her. You know she has to stay with you until her time is served. Why would you want her to be burdened with thoughts of her family during that time? Would you like her to suffer as she sits alone here with you? This way we both get what we want. Arucan suffers knowing he has lost his precious wife, and Amirah will not suffer being here and all the while missing her family. Don’t think of it like you’re hurting her, you’re saving her my friend.”
Michael said grinning.
“Plus you don’t have a choice in the matter, it is what I wish.”

“What you call saving, is a horrible fate. But I will do as you command… because for now I have no choice in the matter.” Armaan said.

“For now you say? I promise you genie, you will never have another master. No one will pry you from me and in fact they cannot. No one will find the object that you’re bound to.”
Michael said laughing.

“We shall see about that Michael. Nothing is forever and your control over me won’t be either. Someone else will take me from you and once I am free of you, you have my word I will make you pay for what you are doing. Trust me on one thing master, I always keep my word.” Armaan warned.

“Aren’t you cute when your feathers are all ruffled. Hurry along now, I can’t wait to see Arucan’s face when he realizes his wife doesn’t recognize him. His whole happy life up in smoke. What a shame. You know the ancients were wrong to enslave you genie, you’re not the evil creature they assumed you were. Too bad good doesn’t always win. ”
Michael said laughing.

Armaan sighed deeply and left Michael in the throne room. He walked slowly as if to avoid what he was commanded to do. But try as he did, he still ended up in front of the bedroom where Amirah was sleeping soundly. He opened the door and walked over to the girl. “Forgive me, but I have no choice.” Armaan said even though Amirah could not hear him. To truly erase someone’s memories you couldn’t just write over them or repress them, couldn’t even simply erase them. Memories that were left in the mind at all, could be brought back, could be restored. The only permanent way to erase someone’s memories was to remove them from the body and soul completely. The Djinn touched Amirah’s forehead and a stream of light flowed into the Djinn’s hand. He shoved the tiny ball of light in a glass locket and sealed it so no one but Amirah could open it. The necklace sparkled and shone like fractals of light reflecting off diamonds and as he set it down Amirah’s eyes shot open and a look of alarm crossed her face.

“Don’t be afraid… I will not harm you…” Armaan said sitting down on the corner of the bed. “You’re safe now.”

“I’m… not…” Amirah stammered looking around. “No, you’re not in the harem. You will never go back there again.” Armaan said. The Djinn made a sound of surprise when Amirah shot into his arms and clung to him. He froze for a moment unaware of what to do but after a moment he wrapped his arms around her. He looked down when he felt his chest moisten with tears. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.” Armaan said. “I am not afraid, I’m happy. I’m so happy. I feel like this is just another dream.” Amirah said smiling through the short sobs. “Is it real this time?” She asked. “Yes… yes it’s real.” Armaan answered frowning as he held her close to him. He wished it wasn’t.

“Amirah’s bloodline…”
Michael mumbled walking down the halls. He made his way to the library and began sorting through texts and manuscripts. A living palace… Amirah was tied to this place somehow, her bloodline had something to do with the magic here and Michael could feel he was on the brink to breaking through the veil of secrecy that surrounded this place. Amirah was the key, he knew that much. Now he just needed to know how to use her to unlock the door.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Aubrey awoke to Selene and for a second he thought that he had been dreaming. But it wasn’t a dream and he quickly realized that Selene was still pregnant and through some cosmic joke, he didn’t remember. His eyes were trained on her stomach as she spoke and he could only nod because words were just not coming. Selene was pregnant, he had gotten her pregnant, she was going to have his baby, babies actually, he was going to have a family. It made him feel like the room was spinning. “I…” He started but the rest of the words died in his throat. “I’m sorry Selene…” He said finally.

“I have to tell you something, and I want you to hear me out. A lot has happened… and we’ve been to some dark places. I feel like sometimes in our relationship it’s been one sided on both our parts and I know I’m just as much at fault for it as you are. We’ve not had the healthiest relationship in a lot of regards. I actually wanted to tell you this for a while because I know we’ve both had moments when we weren’t happy. We may not always be the best for each other but I know that I love you. I know that no matter what has made us sad, or has caused conflict, or has made our hearts break, that we can work through it. Because it’s always been you Selene, and not because you’re my princess and I’m your prince. Not because we’re the perfect couple and we were meant to be. But because there’s something there that’s been tempering inside. Getting stronger and pushing me towards you. It’s like my mind has at times left you, and it feels like my body has too but my heart, now that never left you.

I had a long time to think about this, and I have. Maybe in the beginning we weren’t put together exactly how we should have been. Maybe we had to break so that we could pick up the pieces and put them together correctly, in a better way. Maybe it was Garrett’s death but I feel broken, my heart feels broken. And in there is also this strong desire to put it back together but I want to do that with you. It won’t be easy, and I know there’s a lot we have to work through but I want to work through it with you. I want to pick up the pieces and build something better, something stronger. I know we will be the better for it, our children will be happier for it. We owe it to ourselves to try, to say that we… we gave it everything we had. I want to be happy Selene, and I want to be happy with you. I want you to be happy and to be happy with me. And most of all, I want our children to be happy, and to be happy with us, together, as a family. I know I’ve been a bit of a prick about what happened to Garrett and probably a boat load of other stuff, but do you think that could ever work? Do you think we could ever get there?” He asked looking at Selene. “I’m sorry if I just dropped all this on you, and if I have said it already I really apologize. I don’t remember saying it and the last thing I remember was wanting to talk to you about all this and have this conversation but then Will came over and wanted us to go somewhere, and then it just gets fuzzy. I guess I just needed to get it out.”


He placed a hand gently on her belly. “I’ve always loved you Selene, maybe not in the right way, maybe sometimes in a love hate kind of way, but I have always loved you. Now, now I can feel deep in my bones that I want to love you in the right way. A whole lot doesn’t make sense to me right now, but that does. You do and these babies do. I know this is right, I can feel it. Everything happens for a reason.” Aubrey said looking up to Selene and smiling. “And god you have never looked more beautiful than you do right now. I love you Selene.”

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A club is a club is a club, whether it was filled with immortals or humans, usually both. The familiarity of it made Hunter think that maybe he partied too much. On second thought, he certainly partied too much, but that was Hunter and that was the way he liked it.

This part of the mission would be easy. Get drunk or act drunk in a club and get kidnapped. It actually wasn’t something new. Jace and him had been kidnapped plenty of times from clubs thanks to Jace’s parentage. Someone with a grudge against his father, someone trying to use him to kill his mother. Hunter was usually along for the ride and even Claire had gotten caught up in it a few times. It was bound to happen when you were attached to the hip of a person that had a target the size of Seattle on his back. And Hunter thought his family had issues.

“Alright time to get intentionally kidnapped this time. Aren’t our jobs fun?”
Hunter whispered to Jace before they walked into the club. The two entered the club and went to the bar to get a drink. Jace was scanning the club subtly and Hunter took a moment to flirt with the bartender because lets face it, something was fishy about a ‘drunk’ kid not hitting on the bartender in an inappropriate manner.

On the back of his mind though as they were approached by the two warlocks was Claire. He took just a brief second to hope she would stay safe. “Aren’t you a quiet one.” One of the warlocks said as the boys were lead outside.

“I’ve had a little too much to drink.”
Hunter stammered out shaking his head.

He didn’t get to say anything else though because before he could finish the girl had latched herself onto him, kissing him wildly. Hunter grabbed hold of the girl and pinned her against the brick wall, causing the girl to utter a squeal of delight. “It’s a shame, because we could have sooo much fun gingy.” The girl whispered. Hunter felt a prick in his neck and after a moment he felt drowsy and his body felt heavy. After a couple moments he dropped to the ground unconscious. Now it was time for the real mission to begin.