Mother of All Darkness
Author's note: Well that took some effort, writing Illyana and Anita conversing is difficult as both are just so private and not open to sharing. And of course interactions between the pair are rather… uncomfortable. Which was my writing intent for the prior two chapters.
This ended up being way more chapters for just 'a single night' then I planned.
Part 28a: Partings
We stepped onto the busy sidewalk and started walking in the direction of the circus, which was about a mile away as the car drives. Again there was that circle of privacy as the crowd just got out of our way. Behind us I heard people were suddenly exclaiming about how lucky they were to find Dave's empty as people began to flow back into the bar.
The song Separate Ways, Worlds apart, by Journey was playing from a car waiting at a stop light.
Here we stand
Worlds apart
Hearts broken in two, two, two
Sleepless nights
Losing ground
I'm reaching for you, you, you
Feelin' that it's gone
Can't change your mind
If we can't go on
To survive the tide
Love divides
Someday love will find you
Break those chains that bind you
One night will remind you
How we touched
And went our separate ways
…
…
Again another one of those songs that just was more then a little too direct. I gave her a what the hell look and she just shrugged and claimed she wasn't doing it so… more wild magic just cuing in on her, or (gulp) us.
…
…
Troubled times
Caught between confusions and pain, pain, pain
Distant eyes
Promises we made were in vain
In vain, vain
…
…
I was feeling… weird. Nothing physical, just… weird. Like I had been on a date that had gone sour or… not sour? And I was upset that it had not gone sour? I know, that makes no sense, and no I wasn't trying to be 'female' like some women I know. I just couldn't put words to what I was feeling. She seemed equally subdued so just the two of us slowly walking towards the distant circus in a conversational void. At one point I was able to briefly see the head of one of the three giant fanged clowns that decorates the roof of the warehouse.
"I've got to go." Was her sudden statement. She turned to leave, but glanced back at me. "I really really hope I don't kill all of you."
With that she leapt into the air as a burst of wind blew my hair about. Meaning I got to watch her morph into a dragon and take to the skies with mightily beats of her wings to gain altitude. The wind swirled around me, and everybody else, but only I apparently saw the dragon. Then… she vanished in a flash of light.
Before tonight I'd have taken that as a threat, but… it wasn't, I could feel it on the link. She felt… sad. Sad and scared about what the future might be.
Which left me feeling like I'd somehow kicked a puppy.
Which makes no sense because … well… hell lord right? But... lots of complex and contradictory feelings. Not sure if that was feedback from her or just general confusion on my part. Which of course just left me in a grey mood (not an uncommon state of affairs for me) about little miss blonde hotness from hell.
Crap, this kind of feels like when I was conflicted about Jean-Claude… denying the attractions I felt towards him. Attraction that just got more difficult on dealing with after I stopped thinking of him a monster. And I was concerned that I wasn't thinking of her as a monster anymore; that whole slippery slope thing once a monster stops being a monster; without my usual concern about sex as that had already happened with her, which prompted a memory about said sex involving…
Sigh…
I continued walking to the circus (now less then a mile away) as I mused upon what had happen this night. If this was a film I'd be alone, on some deserted street, in the rain or something with a mournful classical soundtrack, say Wagner's Siegfieds Funereal Music, that's what they used in the film Excalibur whenever something really significant happened.
Instead… lots of people, noise, more then a few drunks at this late hour, and a convertible driving off with some woman in the back cheering while the song Maniac by Michael Sembello bellowed forth from the vehicle.
…
…
It can cut you like a knife if the fight becomes the fire
On the wire between will and what will be
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac at the show,
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know)
She's a maniac, maniac at the show
…
…
Thankfully the car drove off leaving me with the… the delicious smell of cinnamon crêpes as I walked past a specialty food truck (yes I got in line and got one, the smell was that good). One of the Lukoi werewolves was in line as well and he paid for my crêpe as a sign of respect. I may no longer be the Lukoi's Lupa, but I still was the pack's Bolverk (doer of evil deeds, the one who meets out punishments that the Ulfric does not feel comfortable doing). To date I've actually never done any Bolverk duties, but Richard's threat was clear to all by appointing me Bolverk.
I mused as I walked and enjoyed my treat.
She's female and… well... rather more guys then girls so frankly that makes her a plus on the keeping the guys happy index; assuming that sex was on offer and I said it was okay for her to have sex with my guys. Which made me slightly chuckle as sex appeared to always be on offer for us so the cynic within me was rather convinced that the whole issue of sex was not going to go away.
Talk about a busy night: Damian now being a master class vampire, and having a female werelion as his animal to call. I'd bet that Damian and Kelly were already in bed.
Bartolome and Valentina aged from their child vampire forms to adult hood.
Two… no three battles in one night, with that bitch from Ireland toasted… that felt good. And of course Mommy dearest, and the zombies with the zombie T-Rex; gods she found that fun, which is so wrong.
The chance for healing for Aster… shit I haven't even thanked her for that… But I'd bet Asher did on that private conversation they'd had; which left me wondering what had been said that had annoyed her. This again just reminding me that I'm thinking of her as human rather then monster, and I'd bet that the guys were thinking the same.
Jean-Claude and Aster now being supposedly daywalkers, I suppose dawn will show if that was true; not that I doubted her on that. That is, if any of the vampires were willing to give direct sunlight a go; I kind of suspected that the morning would just be a test that they would stay awake.
The whole issue of her being able to command the zombies I raised, and I hers. Never before had I seen any animator be able to control zombies raised by another animator. That has lots of implications but no conclusions. And likely nobody I could ask about it as the witches were defiantly off limits for such conversational topics.
That's when I walked past a Sushi Karaoke bar and heard some atrocious Karaoke being belted out by the werelione Haven (I recognized his voice). By the amount of slurring he was massively drunk and he was in the middle of singing Love is a battle field to the cheers of the restaurant crowd.
…
…
Both of us knowing
Love is a battlefield
You're begging me to go
Then making me stay
Why do you hurt me so bad
It would help me to know
Do I stand in your way
Or am I the best thing you've had
Believe me
Believe me
I can't tell you why
But I'm trapped by your love
And I'm chained to your side
…
…
And yet another song filled with implied meanings… or maybe just an appropriate song for Haven as the two of us were at a relationship impasse.
Which got me thinking about what had happened to the Lions, Hyenas, and a now fried Irish bitch of a vampire. A correction, a punishment, and a killing. And how she had behaved with the other groups in the meat and greet. Each act a lesson to any who observed.
Wolves demonstrated the intent of not disturbing the existing order, that she was subordinate in the pack to the existing pack hierarchy. Likewise the Leopards, as well as showing no threat to any Pard member.
Rats showed she could be respectful and did not feel the need to throw her weight around.
Lions demonstrated that public disrespect had consequences. And showed that she could take over the Pride anytime she wanted with that Japanese werelion of hers.
Hyenas showed just how unpleasant those consequences could be. To both the members and to Narcissus. And that she didn't have to do it herself.
And that Irish bitch Morvoren, demonstrated just what happened when you attacked her… or us. A demonstration to all vampires, although I'm rather sure that the word will spread the various were communities as weres and vampires have lots of crosstalk.
That song was still bugging me. Who was chained to who? She appears to be much more emotionally vested then any of us. Made me wonder about…
That's when I heard a vehicle honking off to me left. I turned and there was a scruffy looking lavender Suzuki Samurai two door convertible pulling up to me with the top down. Being driven by an enormous bald black man smoking a stubby cigar.
"Hiya cuteling, Boss babe said to give you a lift."
It was the transformed demon S'ym.
Part 28b: S'ym, a brief summation for those who don't know
S'ym:
S'ym is the most physically potent native demon of the demonic realm called Limbo, serving the ruler of Limbo if the ruler allows it. The main muscle as it were. Super strength and near invulnerable. He is stronger than Colossus (Illyana's brother) and easily snapped one of Wolverine's claws in half. 7'5 in his demonic form, red eyes, purple skin, 1500 pounds. Cunning, but rather not the smartest bulb (a 3 on a scale of 0 to 10 on the intelligence scale), and he so loves to speak in the third person (check Wikipedia for the answer as to why).
S'ym served Belasco, the ruler of Limbo who kidnapped Illyana when she was six. At the age of thirteen Illyana successfully rebelled against Belasco and defeated him in both physical and magical combat. During that fight Illyana eviscerated S'ym with her soul sword; which he barely survived (see the original Storm and Illyana Magik limited series).
Of particular note is that S'ym killed one of the original X-Men when Illyana was first trapped in Limbo, her beloved brother. In addition, whenever Belasco needed Illyana punished, S'ym was the one to usually do it. To quote Illyana after she slices S'ym up (and thinks that she'd killed him). "S'ym was a walking nightmare who haunted my life from the moment of my arrival in Limbo, the murderer of my beloved Peter… but also, more importantly, because as he falls, Belasco's face shows an emotion I've never seen before: FEAR."
Later, Illyana defeats S'ym at the home of the X-Men, to save his life S'ym swear his allegiance to Illyana only to later rebel against Illyana in an attempt to rule Limbo. That rebellion ended in some very bad writing that killed off the original Illyana character (In the horrible Inferno storyline).
Fast forward 25+ years (five+ years Marvel time)… Illyana is brought back by Belasco who snuffs him this time and again S'ym swears allegiance to Illyana. Then, in the X-Infernus graphic novel, we see that S'ym is Illyana's right hand man as she leads her demon hordes across Limbo, fighting to find her missing soul sword and soul gems. In that book the daughter of the slain Belasco, Witchfire, has the missing soul gems and takes over Limbo when Illyana briefly departs to recover her soul sword. And… who refuses to yield the Witchfire? S'ym of all people who remains loyal to Illyana. When Illyana returns to Limbo she is upset to find S'ym enchained and tortured (who is unhappy that she is now in her human form as he missed her hooves).
At this point, story wise, Illyana and S'ym appear to have a relationship that involves some actual trust and possible some minor friendship (per Canon I'll point out). Side note, for those who want to know the best Illyana Limbo story before she regains her soul (and after she comes back from her journey) I strongly recommend you read the X-Men Hellbound: 1-3 limited series (collected in the Graphic Novel X-Men Second Coming: Revelations.
Remember that S'ym is currently transformed into a black man.
Part 28c: S'ym
Just… great. Like I don't have enough to deal with.
I dismissed the offer. "I'll find my own way."
A shrug from the man… creature… whatever the hell he was. "Have it your way… S'ym can go back and resume his fun with the Hyenas."
Wrong thing to say. Wrong time to say it. I so wanted an outlet for what I was feeling, or more accurately, an outlet for my anger. So I took him up on his offer in that I got in the car… took his cigar from his mouth and tossed it into the road as I stated.
"Leave the Hyenas alone."
Which earned me smile and a puff of smoke. "S'ym sees why boss likes you. Hyenas were fun… S'ym is enjoying his vacation. Nice that weres are more resilient then humans, more fun to play with."
The car started moving and another comment from S'ym. "Buckle up cuteling. Safety first."
"Don't call me cuteling."
"Okay sweet thing."
"That's a no as well S'ym boy. Strike two… really hope you go for that third swing."
A side stare from him. "Think you're that good?" Noticed no cute label this time so progress.
"Yep."
Silence as he drove the remaining distance to the circus, pulled into the back employee parking lot, and turned off the engine, then he stated.
"S'ym would call you on it, but S'ym not stupid enough to fight Boss Babe's consort."
Consort… improvement, but still irritating as I am so not a consort.
"Strike two and a half demon boy."
"S'ym finds you difficult. S'ym hopes the boys are not this difficult."
"Naaa, I'm the bitchy one."
"S'ym can tell. S'ym hopes you are not such with the Boss. Boss deserves better."
What
An
Absolutely
Unbelievable
Ending
To
The
Night.
Now I'm being lectured on how to treat Illyana by a demon. Like he's trying to pick a fight with me, or like…
That's when it hit me, and I relaxed as I started to laugh, not in mockery but in nervous relief. "Oh Gods… it's the dad talk isn't it? Or maybe the brother talk… not sure. Shards… can this night get any stranger."
A growl from him and I think his eyes glowed. Yeah, he was trying to be intimidating but he wasn't fooling me. "Crap… this matters to you."
His hands gripped the steering wheel, and snapped it off the steering column without even flexing. "S'ym is constrained. S'ym obeys. S'ym suggests you don't give cause to make S'ym angry."
Sigh…
Definite dad/brother grade 'be nice to my daughter/sister or else' talk. I suppose I could get in his face but… here was the one person I have access to who knows her and he obviously wants me to get riled up. Rather then my usual aggression I decide to just talk.
"Why?"
S'ym looked at the steering wheel in his hands, like he wasn't quite sure how it got there, as he replied.
"S'ym… is loyal. She… could have killed S'ym for what he did. For his rebellion. She gave S'ym a chance."
"Is that all?"
"S'ym was there night Belasco brought her back. S'ym saw what was done. Even one such as S'ym… feels…" S'ym wadded up the plastic steering wheel into a ball and smushed it back onto the steering column. "S'ym is not good with feeling. S'ym prefers action."
I can bet. He did say he was her Enforcer.
"You're going to be all kinds of trouble aren't you?"
A smile from him as he cracked his fingers. "S'ym hopes so."
Illyana and I defiantly need to have a little talk about S'ym boy here.
So, demons have machismo as well, but it's late and I'm tired so I decided the best path would be to let the guys try to have a guy moment with him over beer or something. I opened the door and got out of the car. Likewise S'ym. Which prompted me to ask. "Where the heck are you going?"
"S'ym ordered to stay at the circus."
I thought about contravening that order, then decided that was for the best as that would prevent him from having more fun with the Hyenas, or any others.
And that's how the night ended. We went into the catacombs beneath the circus, Richard was still there so the two of us re-acquainted ourselves with each other with some fun sweaty physical exertions, and then went to sleep afterwards.
What a night…
