capeandcowllogs | There's no place like home...

Entry tags:

There's no place like home...

WHO: Madelyne Pryor

medea_recast and open to those that could feel this.
WHERE: A small warehouse in the wrong part of town, in other words, the perfect location for a demonic safe-house.
WHEN: Sunday night.
WARNINGS: NPC transfiguration, and villains making plans?
SUMMARY: Maddie's taking a break from her Alaskan vacation to make herself a new home as outlined HERE. She might go shopping for curtains, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
FORMAT: TL;DR Para to start, then I'll match all taggers?

Power. She could feel it coursing through her veins, giving her life, setting her on fire. But it came slowly. To sink her claws into this one building, it had taken her nearly a full day. An equal time was dedicated to twisting the soul of the poor man that had stumbled in on her as she began. Twenty-four hours and counting. Without Limbo to draw on, everything took longer... but as the magic continued to build under her skin she began to laugh. Despite everything, the power was still there and here it was hers. No demons to be beholden to, no deals to honor, just her and the power. To build, to destroy, whatever she wanted.

So tonight she bent the world, just a little. With a final cry, she released the power within her, feeling it spread out into the building she'd claimed like life's blood through veins. She felt the floor shudder beneath her and settle. The walls began to change, pulsating with life of their own, almost organic as they darkened and twisted. Air through the vents sounded like breathing, and the creaking of supports and timber were like old bones, just beginning to move again. It became hers, and extension of self and will that none could enter without her permission, a home that was truly hers and reflected the darker nature of what passed for her carbon-copy of a soul.

With a smile she slowly turned to face what was left of the intruder laying on the floor behind her. She knelt beside him as he quivered in fear, running a finger down his nose, over his face and down to his chest. Pressing her palm to his heart, she released the remainder of the power she'd built. His features melted into something more primal, something out of nightmare and darkness. Hands twisted into claws, skin turned to leathery scales and wings stretched out from his back. He shuddered, the last scream of his humanity ripping from his throat before he hung his head, shaking.

Drained, she staggered back, barely able to stand on her own feet. As if summoned, a chair appeared behind her, perfectly placed for her to sink into as a ragged voice spoke from the floor. Her newly-made servant looked up at her even as he pressed himself downward in a show of submission. Mistress are you well?

She smiled, closing her eyes. "Just tired my pet, I need a slight break before I go back to Alaska." There were images to be maintained after all, she couldn't remain in the city much longer.

Still, minutes passed and she opened her eyes, a thought occurring to her. "Perhaps I should go outside for a bit, get some air." She needed to check the outside of the warehouse. The spell had been done with the intention to keep the exterior looking the same, but it wouldn't hurt to confirm it with her own eyes. Picking up the hooded coat she'd been wearing upon her arrival she ran a hand over it's length, transforming it into a dark cloak. Should anyone see her outside, it was all they would see.

"Follow." She headed toward the door, her demon pet following and they stepped into the cold city night to begin her inspection.

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Her companion let out a warning growl as Maddie exited the building. Standing nearby was... something inhuman, something that had been drawn in for nothing like that would wander idly by. She took a step back into the shadows of the building, watching, waiting to see what her visitor would do.

Perhaps it would be he to test the protections woven into her building?

He could trace the magic, and perhaps if he were the most patient of creatures, he would have waited, and discovered the woman waiting there. However, Illidan was nothing but brash and impatient.

He could feel and sense the demonic energies around. Unique from the Burning Legion, or he would have immediately teleported somewhere else and begun his preparations to ensure his survival. If there was anything Illidan Stormrage was adept at doing, it was surviving.

He tread towards the building, a tip of his head towards a window to look into it. Horned head swinging that way, and then back to his front, before testing the door.

The door was locked, but poorly. After all, it had to appear abandoned and it wasn't like anyone venturing in would make it back out alive. Maddie chuckled softly, reaching down to rest her hand on her familiar's head.

"If he goes in, we let our home have him, my pet. But if he's smart enough to back off, circle around behind him. I'll want to speak to him."

Yesss, Mistress.

Her pet disappeared into the darkness, preparing to sneak up behind her visitor and Maddie waited.

Illidan could have broken the door, quite easily. It was flimsy, and he was not one do simply let things such as doors bar his way. However, it wasn't the door that gave him pause, it was the magic behind the door that did.

Interesting. He sniffed the air, but it wasn't the scent of the air, tinged with energy that caused him to pause. It was demonic. A kindred soul, perhaps, although he wasn't certain. It was weak, but if there were demons abound, it boded well for him. He turned, and waited for the creature, his arms crossed, and an imperious look on his face. He waited to see what it would be. He doubted it would be anything like the demons he had known or faced back on either Azeroth or Draenor.

He was smarter than she initially guessed, and she stood watching him zeroing in on her pet. With a nod unseen by her guest she urged the familiar into the moonlight where it stood on it's hind legs, reaching the height of an average man. Its wings unfurled and it spoke.

What issss your busssinesss here, ssstranger?

Curious. The sight of wings on the beast made the space around his shoulderblades tingle and itch with a need for familiarity. He had spent long years in his form, acquiring his power and resources, and it was all for naught here. Here he was not allowed wings, or even his damned ears.

"Curiosity," he replied to the beast, the flames in his eyes narrowing slightly, and his lip curled upwards in something akin to disgust. "You are not the creator of this."

Maddie looked on, impressed that he could tell the creator from the created. He had talent, that was certain and she slowly began to move into the moonlight.

It issss mine to protect.

She stood firm, the cloak concealing her as she spoke.

"It was mine to create."

His eyes didn't move as much as his entire head did. It didn't swing up in surprise, rather it was a slow ascent, as if meeting someone else beneath his level of ability. Of course, in Illidan's case, all were. Even the Scourge whom he considered a threat were beneath him.

After all, in essence, it was his former masters who created them. Former masters who were now not here, and it was up to him to end them, if only due to pride.

"And what would be the point in creating such a dwelling?"

While her face couldn't be seen from under the dark cloak, the tilt of her head was evident as was the soft chuckle she gave.

"Is the simple fact that I could create it not enough?"

"A show of power then?" he questioned. "Interesting enough of a display, although ones like me prefer things a bit more destructive," he stated simply. "Enchanting buildings only goes so far."

"I asked if it was enough of a reason, I didn't say it was the only one."

She chuckled. "But if you wanted destructive, I'm sure I could have blown something up, instead I made a safe-house, a place I could work in peace."

"And what is your work?" he asked.

He, of course, had destroyed a building on his first night in the city, fallout from the destructive and chilling battle with the Lich King. It had been an assessment of their abilities and potential, and he knew the both of them had gotten more than enough information out of it, information that informed Illidan that he still needed allies.

Powerful ones, and ones that wouldn't be tied to doing the right thing every time such as the Sin'dorei.

"I haven't decided yet, there are so many choices."

Using Alex to get to Scott, perhaps Alex's so-called girlfriend. Perhaps something less direct, she'd heard stories of a school, one that catered to imPorts, and didn't that sound familiar?

"For now, I'm stretching my metaphoric wings, seeing how the power of my home works here."

"Aren't we all?" he asked, a slight smirk crossing his face. "Although to not have something to do here seems the risky gambit."

"I'm working on that. A woman likes to keep her options open."

She moved to the side, walking a lazy circle around her guest.

"And what do you do here? Besides track errant wisps of magic across the city?"

He didn't simply watch her, as she circled, he followed her movements, turning as she moved. The Betrayer did not turn his back on anyone, let alone a cloaked woman with whom he did not know.

"My goals are to tie off loose ends, and then do what I once did," he stated simply. What he once did? Well, acquiring more power and building armies was always appropriate when the Burning Legion could arrive at any moment.

"Tying off loose ends?" She chuckled, "Sounds curious, what loose ends are you trying to deal with?"

"I suppose a diplomatic method of saying it would be that I have old grudges that must be relieved," he explained, a small smile curling up his lips. Oh yes, old grudges indeed.

"Oh, really?" Madelyne considered for a moment. "Perhaps we have something in common after all."

"Do we?" he asked, a brow lifting from behind his blindfold. "Interesting enough, I suppose. I find that those with such power often have things that may be cut short due to our unfortunate arrivals in this strange land."

Or not so unfortunate, in his case. He was quite pleased to be free of the imminent threat that the Burning Legion would be, if they ever stormed his gates.

Well, defeat and suicide were enough to cut her short back home, this place was really more of an extension for her... well from her perspective at any rate. She'd heard other things from the X-Men.

"And yet we carry on as best we can. Making preparations and the like..." She motioned to the building behind her.

"Amassing alliances as well," he mentioned, although that was in his own case. Power was found anywhere, even in a world like this where the astral energies seemed drained, he found that those ported in could surprise him, such as this woman. Although he was loathe to simply trust anyone. The betrayer would not be betrayed again, of that he was certain.

"Alliances can be useful."

Madelyne chuckled, thinking of the deals that could be made here. There was power in this place. Not power she was used to, but power... and those who wielded it. Men who could be tempted, by her or her power, she didn't particularly care so long as her ends are met.

"Did you have anything in mind?"

He tipped his head in curiosity. She had certainly picked up on the insinuation. Intelligent, then. "Perhaps. I have been placed into a world I know little of, and furthermore," he paused, considering the best way to phrase what he meant to say. "I find that there are none of my former allies here, and few that I can depend upon if things become sour."

"I'd imagine very few of us have our usual allies here."

She used an arm to sweep toward the moonlight-drenched city.

"We've all been cast aside to this place, potential enemies and allies alike all around us."

There's no place like home...

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