Hunting LeFay: All is never well with the Clan DalCais

[Ardan DalCais]

The day did not dawn brightly over the keep of the Clan DalCais, and as the day progressed, it did not seem to get any better. Ardan had gone out in the morning to ride around the lake near the family's home, but he had now taken the horse to the stables and walked inside to find what he had left: Aerfen and Axl pouring over some dusty old tome about demons.

"Will you two give it a rest? You've both been up all night looking at that bloody book," he said as came into the library and saw his sister and his cousin hunched over the desk, looking at every page as if the demons drawn there would spring to life. "I know you had visions again, Aerfen, but you are going to get too upset if you don't take a break."

"Ardan, you have never felt these forces like I have or like Eamonn can now that he's one with the demon," Aerfen replied as she pushed the book away from her, slumped back in a nearby chair and closed her eyes. "I saw Finn, clear as day and ugly as sin with two large horns protruding from his head. I may not exactly be the MacFeorais' favorite cousin, but he is a child. If Morgan did this to him, I will rip out her throat!"

"Look, Ardan, if I bring in Eden's Shadowhunter side of the family, then things may only get worse," Axl replied as he kept thumbing through the book. "Let's find out what happened before I call in any favors with the New York, San Francisco or London factions. I may be Eden's father, but I was never one of their lot. And frankly, I'd rather call in the X-Men before I call old man Starkweather or Dame Ravenscar."

[Aerfen DalCais]

"Rhys called while you were out," Aerfen said to her twin Ardan as she sat with her eyes still closed. She wanted the old burgundy velvet chair to envelope her and carry her away to another time and place, but, sadly, that was not about to happen. "He said Rhiannon had a similar vision, so they plan to pop in from Wales later. Ruarc will come with them, but Alice will stay behind and watch Tessa and baby Rory. Rhiannon is afraid for her daughter, and Alice is still not in the best shape to travel. Joe is delivering a baby, I think."

Ardan nodded as he kept his gaze on Axl. "What about Siobhan and Orla? Can't they come with Eden and avoid all that Shadowhunter bother?"

"Orla was supposed to be going to the meeting of the Mystic Council, but she was recalled," Axl said as he kept his nose in the book. "Lasair is going for Clan DalCais. Heaven help us all!"

"And Siofra for MacFeorais side?" Aefen asked as Axl shook his head. "What?"

"Ian is going. Or Valen," Axl replied. "Siofra was off to see Nicholas Ruskin about Branan's boy Niall. I'm still not sure what was up with the lad, but it was demonic and therefore not bloody good at all. The fact he got among that Askani lot the X-Men hold so dear was a huge issue with Scott Summers and Emma Frost. Then again, a mystic can sneeze, and Emma is suddenly all in a tizzy about it."

[Eiriu]

"And to that we all say Huzzar!" Maeve shouted as a portal opened just outside the study where Aerfen, Ardan and Axl were holding a vigil, for lack of a better term, over a large book. "Thank you for letting us in, Ardan. As you can see, we have a guest amongst us," she said as she motioned to Aleera. Finn was the last to exit the portal, and by now he seemed more jittery and withdrawn than he had before.  "I call dibs to put Le Fay's head on a pike, and I am not joking," Maeve said as she motioned for Erin to come close to her. "This is Erin, the daughter I am very blessed to have. Erin, I know you met Axl before, but these are Aerfen and Ardan DalCais."

"A pleasure to have you all here, even if the circumstances are not to our liking," Ardan, ever the diplomat, said as he bowed slightly to the group.

"Thom, I'm not calling in the Ravenscars unless I have to," Axl said as he walked over. "Aleera, it's been too long. I'll let my business partner Caleb know that you've been gracious enough to assist our family in this matter. Finn, could I please have a look at your horns?"

Maeve looked at Erin and shook her head before crossing to their female cousin who sat in a large burgundy velvet chair. "Aerfen, I'm truly sorry you got dragged into this mess."

"Anything with the blood of Avalon pulls at me, cousins," Aefen said as she got up and extended her hands to Erin. "I'm sorry I look like such a fright.  Thank you for coming here to help your cousin Finn."

[Kendra Athonlea]

Kendra was among the last to exit before it snapped shut. She walked over to Axl as he examined Finn's horns. "A-Man, please help Finnaroo here," she said as she hugged her cousin and her brother, using the nicknames of the moment she happened upon for them. Nicknames, from Kendra anyway, changed as often as the weather.

"Good to see you, as always, Kendra," Ardan said as he stopped and looked at everyone in the room. "This reminds me of the old days--both good and bad. I'll go see what I can dig out of the pantry. This might be a long visit."

"Ardan, blood wine is in the cellar," Aerfen piped up as she motioned to her twin. "Aleera, it is fresh. We keep some stocked in case Caleb comes to visit along with Axl."

"So, no one has a clue why Morgan Le Fay did this to Finn?" Kendra asked as Axl shook his head No.

"She feels that she can do whatever she wants, and if the Mystic Council won't punish her, then we stand little chance of doing it ourselves," Ardan said before he exited the room.

"Peach. Just peachy," Kendra muttered as she walked up next to Erin. "I'm not liking this one bit."

 

[Taranus]

"I greatly appreciate that Aerfen thank you very much for the thought." Aleera said with a smile before looking over at AXL. "Indeed it has my dear Axl....Indeed it has."


Erin stayed close to her mother as Maeve introduced her to Aerfen and Ardan. It's a pleasure to meet both of you. There are still so many I need to meet. As for cousin Finn I know he would do the same for me....We all need to stick together." She responded before remembering. "Oh before I forget I have something for you from Aunt Kari."She responded pulling the book out and handing it over before standing back with Kendra. "We will find a way to fix this Kendra."

[Eiriu]

OOC: Aro was the elder vampire Stephanie played. For the moment I am referring to him in posts but am not sure he will reappear as part of my roster.

IC:

Maeve put her arm around Erin as Aerfen took the book and started pouring over it. "Thank you for bringing that over, Erin," she said softly to her daughter before looking at Kendra and back to Aerfen. "Aerfen, Kari thought you might need a boon or two at your disposal in this matter. She did not ask for the book back."

"Erin, you do look just like your mother back when time had not slipped by us so much," Aerfen said with a smile as she clutched the book. "And I will send this back with you to give to your aunt if we don't have need for it. I am hoping we can find other ways to get the information we need. I'd call on Aunt Lasair, but she's been called to the Mystic Council for the yearly meeting. She could scare the pants off anyone, and I think she could shut down that dark shard of Avalon with a cutting word."

"I don't think Erin has gotten to meet Aunt Lasair yet," Maeve said with a grin. "I will set out the family photos when this is done and show you the entire tree, Erin. But for now..." Maeve gulped as she looked back at Finn. "Perhaps those of us who were at that damned party need to see if we remember anything that was off kilter. Aleera, Erin, did either of you chat with Aro? I'm wondering if he might have been involved. No detail is too small at this point."
 

[Taranus]

"Thank you...." She said with a nod as Aerfan reminded her of her resemblance to her mother. She wasn't the first to tell Erin this but the vampiress appreciated it none the less."I would like that very much mother."Erin said with a smile as her attention was then turned to the question Maeve asked following. "I did not however....." Erin started to say but Aleera then finished.

"Forgive me child but I feel I must speak up. Aro has been on my radar for quite some time....He thinks he's crafty but in my world I know everything. He may be a few words which are not good to speak of in company but I know he's not involved with what happened at the Hellfire Club. What has been happening is some things are moving around with the council. New faces taking the place of old and it's something I must pay attention to but for the time being it seems none of the council are involved with what happened.....Which begs the question who is doing this?"

[Axl Daemon]

"After that broohaha with Deirdre and Aro, I'm glad he isn't involved," Axl said as he looked over at Aleera. "I don't want to think how Kari or your father would react if he were, Maeve. Ronan can be a wonderful person, but if someone goes after one of his own, all bets are off."

"Grandpa gets into it for sure," Kendra said as she saw Ardan lugging in some bottles and setting them on a side table. "Queen Aleera, you said players are shifting at the council? Oh, you mean that meeting they have every few years. I've never been to one yet. Sorry if I sounded like a doofus."

"Kendra, you do not sound like a doofus," Maeve said as she put her arm around Erin again and reached out her other hand to Kendra. "No one in this family is."

"Well, I must have been to let Morgan Le Fay get the drop on me," Finn said as Axl wiped a small swab around one of Finn's horns. "Ouch!"

Axl frowned as he walked toward Aleera with the swab. "I know you can pick up a lot of scents the rest of us can't, but there is one I am smelling--or think I am--that I would like your opinion on. I swear I am smelling...it can't be. Corpse flower? The one that stinks like garbage. Are you aware of any herbal concoctions that could have been used in a ritual? I know that isn't a huge worry of the vampiric races. But it smells perverted somehow. Someone might be toying with magic who really has no clue, and that is terrifying."

OOC: info on the Corpse Flower is here

  

[aleera]

"Well Axl simply what is going on is a few of the council are getting to the point where they are wanting to step down and live a retirement of sorts so there are some trying to move their choices to take over into position and that potentially is not a good thing. I have however moved my own choices into position....Politics they bore me sometimes." Aleera responded as the attention was put back on Finn.

"It does indeed smell off Axl and whoever has the ability to do such a thing is one to be of concern indeed."

[The Sleuth]

"Oh dear word!" Rhys shouted as he stepped from a portal and into the hallway outside the study. He saw Aleera and Axl chatting, and he could see Finn just behind them with huge horns on the top of his head. "I'm glad Mother isn't with us. She'd lose her mind seeing this," he said to his siblings Ruarc and Rhiannon and to Joe Blackwood. "Good thing you decided to come with us, Joe. Tessa will be fine with Alice and Rory. And Kelsey should be stopping by later today."

Rhys pushed in the doors and walked over to Aleera. He gave a slight bow even though he was not a vampire. He knew the value of diplomacy.

"I'm sorry we were delayed. Baby Rory was being a bit twitchy today, so Rhiannon and Joe wanted to give Alice some elixirs before we left. He's fine, but he might have colic. Or he's teething."

"Aleera, a pleasure," Ruarc said as he pushed past his brother and gently kissed the vampire queen's hand. "And I swore I heard you talking corpse flower, dear cousin Eamonn. I mean Axl. I brought one home a few years back. Used it to hide a very valuable item for one Keillia von Doom. But the plant died. At least I think it did. And she is an X-Man, so I doubt she'd be the one mucking about with magic."

"So, you're theorizing that someone who is not a magic wielder might be dabbling in the craft? Interesting, but I do hope you are both wrong," Rhys said as he moved more to the center of the room. "And this must be Erin. I'm your cousin Rhys, and these are my siblings Ruarc and Rhiannon.  That is Rhiannon's husband and my best friend Joe Blackwood. Sorry we were not able to meet you sooner." 

[Kendra Athonlea]

"Finnster, we will get this fixed, even if we all have to go see Melkir and beg him to let us use some of those old magic spells in that big book in his office," Kendra said as she hugged her brother. "We are not going to let anything..."

"It already did!" Finn protested as he watched Aleera, Axl, Ruarc and Rhys chatting. He got so upset that fire formed on the tips of his fingers.

"Dude, baby steps. Walk it back," Kendra said as she looked back over at Aleera and her cousins. "If you need me to run anywhere to get things, I will," she added as she turned to look back at Finn and noticed something odd outside. "Erin, somebody is out there, and I don't think it's family. Want to go with me and investigate?" 

[aleera]

"Ah Rhys it's a pleasure."Aleera responded as he showed his respect to her. "As for the lateness it's fine...We've all been trying to figure out how best to proceed anyway......." She said as she the noticed Finn's outburst.

"Finn we will get this fixed please keep yourself calm....I know holding the darkness is off can be difficult. I've been a milenium learning to control myself. My past is out there for everyone to see but it's taught me patience and control......We will get this fixed."

Erin looked over at Kendra and said something telepathically to her. {"I will give Aleera all the respect in the world for how she acts......I know she is a queen and all but I remember some of the elders not being so kind when it comes to those not of their own kind."} She said before continuing out aloud. "I think that would be a good idea Kendra."She responded with a smile.

[Kendra Athonlea]

"Thank you, Aleera, for helping Finn out," Kendra said as she bowed to the vampire queen. "He can be a bit impatient, so any help you can give him will be a huge benefit. Erin, let's go see what's going on out there..."

{{If it's Morgan Le Fay, I am going to yank her through the mail slot and make her help Finn}} Kendra said to Erin as they made their way outside. "Frankly, this thing with Finn is making me freak out. Maybe I'm seeing things, Erin..."

As the cousins stood outside, Kendra looked around and then back to Erin. "OK, I don't think I'm crazy.  Well, not crazier than usual. Maybe the thing cloaked?"

Before she could say another word, Kendra was launched into the air, and soon the Wraithborn was standing in front of Erin.

[Wraithborn]

"I came for that little snot nosed kid," the Wraithborn snarled as she looked at Erin. "My mistress wants to make sure he's...ready," she said as she licked her lips. "He should be good and gestated by now. He's going to make an excellent offering to the older gods so her daughter can take her rightful place as queen of the night!"

Kendra had landed up against a tree nearby, and she started to groan as the Wraithborn kept taunting Erin. "So, where is he? Don't make me use the horny jokes, please."

[Taranus]

Erin looked over to make sure Kendra wasn't too badly hurt. Seeing she was recovering quickly she turned her attention back to the Wraithborn knowing exactly who she was. "You! I'm surprised you are still breathing after your encounter with a certain red head with a big birdie!" She taunted back.

"You will not take him from us and if you want to try I will rip your throat out and shove it up yer arse!"

[Wraithborn]

"Your family and redheads! You are all so pissy because nobody loves you!" the Wraithborn shrieked as she pulled her swords and continued to watch Erin. "And I can smell the vampire stink all over you. I'm surprised the other redhead with the birdie didn't toast your sorry hide. Then again...she stunk of vampire, too!"

The Wraithborn lunged at Erin, trying to compensate for her foe's vampiric abilities with demonic ones of her own. "You go for my throat, you undead freak! You should be burning to ash in this daylight. Guess Ireland doesn't get enough sun to toast you too well!" Steel clashed as The Wraithborn's blades connected, and sparks flew in the faces of both women.   

{{He is here, mistress!}} The Wraithborn said in a telepathic link to Morgan Le Fay. {{But I need to fight off a vampiric freakshow first!}}

[Taranus]

"Oh she's more then you could ever comprehend. I just wish she had toasted you when you two met the last time." She said with a sly smile.

"But that doesn't mean we can't have our own little fun!" She added before charging at Wraithborn as her swords connected with Erin across the face but it healed instantly. "Oh you don't need those silly things to face me now do ye? Or are you too scared to fight like a warrior?" She said appearing in a blur behind her landing a blow to the side of the Wraithborn.

"As for why I'm not a pile of ash.......Well very few of us are capable of such things.....How unlucky for you."

[Wraithborn]

The Wraithborn wiped blood from her face as she looked at Erin and snarled. A good, old fashioned beating was what this one seemed to like, and The Wraithborn was more than happy to shift her focus and her tactics. "Too bad. I'd really like to see your bones bleached by the sun or your ashes just blow away in the wind!"

As the Wraithborn stowed her swords, she glanced around to see if the other freak was going to jump back into the fight, but she seemed to be having problems. "Your cousin seems to be a little out of whack there, vampie. Poor little misunderstood mutant freaks!"

"Erin, rip her head off!" Kendra yelled as she finally got back to her feet, but her demonic wings had popped and appeared to be broken. "I'm gonna be fine."

"Little batty there can't fly? Boo hoo, cry me a freaking river!" The Wraithborn yelled as she took a flying leap at Taranus and tried to connect her boots with the X-Man's sternum. "Let's see how long we can keep this up, Irish!"

[Taranus]

"Oh I think we can keep this up for quite a while!" Erin responded with just as much venom in her voice as her opponent. The Wraithborn's boot connected with her sternum but as it did the Redheaded vampiress took advantage and used her opponents own momentum against her grabbing onto her leg and throwing her full force into the path of a nearby tree.

{"Kendra hold back...Ill deal with this demonic bitch!"}Erin then said telepathically to her cousin. She then focused back on the Wraithborn.

"Oh that looks like it hurt? Want me to kiss it all better?"She said sarcastically before laying another strike to the Wraithborn.

[Wraithborn]

"Kisses from your kind usually mean blood loss, so I think I'll pass!" The Wraithborn yelled at Taranus as she kept an eye on the other mutant sicko who was flexing her busted wings. "You know, it's only a matter of time before your kind--the mutant gene trash and the vampires and the weak humans who love you all so much are rounded up and put out of our misery!" she yelled as she kept flexing her own limbs after connecting with the tree.

"Well, then what are you?" Kendra asked as she finally got one wing to retract. "With those wings, I'd say demon, but you don't smell like a demon. You smell a lot worse."

"Blah blah...you sure can talk!" The Wraithborn shrieked as she pulled throwing knives and sent them flying at Erin. She used her own wings to get back into the fight, diving at Taranus after the knives honed in on their target. The Wraithborn's knives were akin to heat-seeking missiles and could usually make contact with their intended target, but mutant vampires were not always that easy to take down. "A world with no loser X-Men. Sounds perfect to me!"

[Taranus]

"Well see it wouldn't be as perfect because you were still in it."Erin teased as she was able to dodge the first knife but the second connected with her shoulder. She let out a roar of pain before pulling it out and throwing it down at the ground as the wound started to heal instantly.

She spotted a nearby tree and grabbed it out of the ground hurling it at Wraithborn with ease. "You really have a tendency to pick fights with the wrong people." She said running towards Wraithborn as the tree connected. "Finn is family and you will never have him!"

[Wraithborn]

"A tree hugger you are not!" The Wraithborn screamed as she tried to dodged the flying ash or elm or oak or whatever it was, but it hit her and tossed her clear across the wooded area and away from the house.  She slammed into a thicket of trees and sunk to the ground with a thud. "You bitch," she moaned as she tried to get to her feet but could not. {{Thanatos, Hound, I need help!}} she said telepathically to her fellow henchmen, but she had a feeling they would not be showing up any time soon.

[Kendra Athonlea]

"That was fan-damn-tastic, cuz!" Kendra said as she finally retracted both wings and ran to Erin. "You, Rogue and Colossus need to have a contest to see who can swing the hardest! That totally rocked!" It was at times like this that Kendra wished that she had the ability to be a heavy hitter, but the mace she wielded was puny in comparison to anything Erin could likely swing. "Do we go after that flying nightmare, or should we get Finn the hell out of here before she comes back? Ma always said Aerfen has some, well, creatures in the basement that we could let loose, but there are people living in the area who might not be able protect themselves form them or that crazy woman."

Kendra looked between the house and the wooded area where The Wraithborn had landed and shook her head. "I mean, I'd like to send her back to whatever part of Hell she calls home."

[Saeldur Armediel]

A cloud of dust and dirt could be seen in the distance, and soon a man on horseback rode up to the doorway of the DalCais manor house. He pulled his loden green hood from over his head and revealed his long blonde hair and pointed ears. "Kendra? Thank the Goddess you're here!" the elf said as he dismounted and made his way over to the two ladies outside the house. "Pardon my manners. I'm Saeldur Armediel," he said as he bowed to Erin. "I saw this demon overhead on my ride here and prayed you were all safe. What was that damned creature doing here?"

"Being a pain in the tuckus, but Erin knocked it out of here," Kendra said with pride as she patted her cousin on the back. "This is Maeve's daughter. Erin, this is one of Uncle Caedmon's buddies from the Arda. Uncle Caedmon and Saeldur's cousin dated for a bit. Then her dad had a fit and got into their business."

"My Uncle Elrond is, at times, short-sighted," Saeldur said as he smiled at Erin. "It is nice to meet Maeve's daughter at last. Caedmon mentioned you in our last chat. Now, can I be of any assistance with that demon?"   

[Taranus]

Erin put her arm around Kendra hugging her gently. "We may have to do that some time.....But in all seriousness no one messes with my family. I was actually pretty light on her." Erin responded to her cousin as she watched Wraithborn flee. "We should really look at getting Finn to a safer location for sure but it would be a tactical error to go after her now."

The vampiress attention was caught by the plum of dust when  Saeldur rode up and introduced himself. "It's a pleasure  Saeldur. I've heard a little about you as well. As far as that demonic bitch as I was just telling Kendra it would be an error to go after her which would more then likely be a simple distraction." She responded. "Sorry to get worked up but going after Finn was and is a cheap move.....He's going through hell right now."