Don't Call It A Warning... This Is A War
Aug 11, 2023 20:41:31 GMT -5
Atara Raven and Jim Caedus like this
Post by Lycana on Aug 11, 2023 20:41:31 GMT -5
Silently the shadow of death crept closer to the playing children.
Head held low, the lithe figure stealthily moved through the forest, nearly invisible in the dense vegetation. Sleek muscles shift under the deep black, velvety coat, placing each paw precisely, not a single rustle of leaves betraying her. Her tongue slides out, caressing gleaming fangs as she breaks the tree line, stepping into the dappled sunlight, crouched and ready to spring. Four wide pairs of eyes turn to stare, as motion is caught in their peripherals.
“PUPPY!” The littlest, a cherub faced blond of six screeches, launching into a run.
“That’s not a puppy Violet!” the next oldest, a girl of eight yells, but Violet continues her headlong rush towards the wolf...
… who drops all pretenses of mean and drops, rolling over, belly exposed as the feathery tail thumps a beat on the ground.
“It’s Lycana!” a boy of nine gives chase, the brunette following hard at his heels, and they all dogpile on top of the werewolf. The oldest, an eleven-year-old with jaded eyes watches from the swing she is perched on, one leg swinging idly. She doesn’t join in the rousing game of chase and tag that ensues, choosing to remain sedately aloof, only cracking a smile when the wolf romps over and gives her a shoulder nudge. Ly grabs the tire in her teeth, scampering in a circle and letting go so that it spun rapidly, the child’s hair flying out wildly around her head, causing a true giggle.
“Kids! Lunch!”
The call comes from the front porch of the farmhouse set back in the clearing, a woman standing there, her age indeterminable, the creases on her face the only thing giving testament to the number of years she had walked the earth, at odds with the strength of body she exuded.
The four kids obey, disappearing inside to the instruction of “Wash up.”, gentle smiles bestowed on each one as they pass by. Sharp green eyes turn to the wolf as she hastens past. “And you... go change and dress in the spare room.”
Within minutes, all six are in the cozy kitchen, the kids devouring sandwiches as Lycana, now human form and clad in a demure dress, pours lemonade for each of them. As she settles the pitcher back in the fridge, she catches the eye of the older woman, who inclines her head. Lycana follows into the adjoining living room where they could talk without little ears to overhear.
“How are they Aislinn?”
A frown deepens the lines in the brow of the witch who had provided safety to Lycana in the past, and now, the displaced children from the meth house she and Jim Caedus had rescued.
“Violet seems happier away from her mother. Doesn’t even ask for her. Skyler and Riley, they’ve told me that a man came, gave their parents bags and then took them away. Traded. Traded for drugs. Can you imagine?”
Lycana shakes her head, heart sinking at what these sweet urchins had endured. “And Piper?”
“She is very closed off Ly. From bits and pieces, I was able to put together that her father owed a debt, and the collector came calling and it wasn’t pretty. They both ended up dead, and they took her along with them... preteen, pretty girl... One can only surmise why.”
Ly feels hot bile shoot up her throat. Yeah. She could. And it made her want to rage out and kill those responsible... other than the ones she already had. Reminded her way too much of her own bloodied past.
“Girl blames herself. It’s going to take a lot of time and patience. In the meantime, I’m looking for any family they might have that would be suitable.”
“Good...” Her eyes drift back towards the kitchen.
“Do you think you’re putting yourself in danger again? Being in the public eye? You know he’s never going to give up.”
She knew.
January 2022
“HELP!”
The text from her recently found brother Archie had come right at the same time as her match with Corey Smith in XWF. Little did she know it would be the last match of her career at that point. She had responded to no answer.
It had taken time, but she had pinpointed the cell location. And she had gone. Gone to the abandoned farm in the middle of nowhere. “Archie?”
“Dear stepsister, I knew you’d come.”
Lycana tries to ignore her heart hammering near out of her chest with fear as she steps into the open, facing where the voice of her nightmares had emitted from.
“Look at you, risking your own life again.”
“For those I love." She can't tame the quiver in her voice.
“Foolish.”
“Where is he?”
“Right here.”
A shadow detaches from the others, revealing what looked like her younger brother, but the voice coming out, was all wrong to her ears. Others might be fooled... but not her. “Not deceived I see. Ah, you were always an observant little shit Tavora... Precious Archie is safe. For now. But you know how close I got to take his phone. I wanted to play with you first.”
Before her eyes he transforms, a massive skeletal form with an unholy green glow in the eye sockets, the eternal sadistic grin in place.
Eadon.
The Lich.
Her stepbrother.
Murderer of her family.
“No? Not a fan? How about this?”
A shimmer. A young strawberry blond with innocent eyes. Reika.
Lycana feels a chill scramble up her spine.
“Hmm... still not right. Ah, I’ve got it.”
A waver, then Jim Caedus stands before her. She starts to tremble. “No...”
“Anyone you’re close to... I can become.”
“NO!”
“You’re right. I’ll just kill you now...”
Still looking like Jim, a blast of green energy shoots from his hand, slamming into the ground and peppering her with chunks of earth and rocks as she dives to safety.
“..... then kill our little brother and any of your friends in my way!”
She rolls as another explodes, so close her clothes are singed, debris burying itself under her skin. She leaps behind a tractor and waits, tense, knowing he was approaching. A risk. She gropes for her thigh holster, and the bottle inside, fingers closing over it, biding her time as he draws near, then she pops up, splashing it into his face. The liquid hisses as it steams and he bellows, clawing his face, rearing backwards.
Lycana took her chance and bolted, his laughter and threats echoing behind her.
“Go ahead and run bitch... I’ll find you!”
And so, she had gotten Archie and Reika to safe houses and fled.
Run away from her life, everything and everyone she loved. Staying one step ahead. Trying to find a way to end her exile.
For over a year.
Until Nova and Jim appeared and dragged her back.
Lycana shakes her head, breaking free of the flashback as Aislinn speaks. “I’ll keep the kids and Archie safe... but I’m worried about you.”
“It’s been over a year and a half... I have to start living instead of just surviving. I can handle whatever life throws at me. I’ll figure out how to end this once and for all. I’ll be okay.”
As she said it... she knew she was tempting fate with those words.
Back At Jim’s California abode, hours later...
POOF!
That was such a convenient way to travel really, she was happy she had learned how.
Lycana goes to take a step and realizes that she is nose to chest with Jim. She tilts her head back to look up at him, and smiles. He leans down to brush a kiss on her cheek before gently setting his hands on her shoulders and moving her slightly, hand going to the doorknob. “Where are you going?”
He glances back. “I got sum’thin I gotta take care of. I’ll see ya in New York. Call Nova t’come an’ keep ya company.” He starts to leave, then pauses. “Y’got a package t’day. See y’later Ly Ly.”
The door closes behind him as Ly makes her way to the nondescript box on the side table. A frown creases her brow as she turns it over. No return label.
Weird.
With expertise, she swiftly tears the tape off, and opens in, leaning over it to peer in.
Her already porcelain hued skin whitens even more, her hand slapping across her mouth as a low whimpering moan emerges. Flashes tear hrough her mind, another package from the past just like this one... and its contents... nearly forgotten until now. She dashes towards the door, flinging it open to see the tail end of Jimmy’s car disappearing around a corner.
Alone.
She creeps back over to the box, starting to shake so violently her teeth chatter.
It was happening again.
In the box sat a human ear, edge bloodied. A left one.
Baphomet’s.
She had no doubts... the message to her was loud and clear.
Her hands trembling so hard she nearly drops her phone, Ly jabs in a number, the words exploding before the person on the other end even says hello, her voice cracking.
“Nova, he’s alive. And he knows.”
_________________________________________________
“Ah Jenny.
Jenny Jenny Jenny.
We both knew it would come down to this one day.
Just you.
And me.
The day you don’t have anyone to hide behind in that ring.
Maybe you got an inkling of what you’re in for, realizing that it was me who pinned your shoulders to the mat a few weeks ago, not Jim.
You know, the one you accused me of needing, and then in the next breath accused him of needing me, you flip-flopping fuckwad. The one whose sidecar I’m riding in because I’m accustomed to it? Still using him as a crutch?
Except... War Games and that tag match against you? Those are the only times Caedus and I have ever worked together.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve proven both your stupidity and ineptitude repeatedly. Each time I think you’ve hit the lowest you can go... you open your mouth and prove that I’ve given you far too much credit. At this point, I’m firmly convinced your IQ is in the negatives, despite the attempts at cleverness you desperately try to pepper your promos with.
Real cute comment about me having an X chromosome... Let me let you in on something...
I have TWO.
And so do you.
Idiot.
Between that and your repeated jabs at my appearance, you just prove that you never change.
No matter how many times Jenny Myst changes her own appearance... Pink Perfection as the Queen. Slapping on a smokey eye and calling herself edgier, Xtreme. Going all black lipstick and fishnets, proclaiming to be Your Highness of Violence-
-certainly seems like you're trying to be yours truly by the way... and failing...
Inside, she just remains stagnant.
Boring.
Predictable.
All you ever hear is the same old poor me story, how she had to break chains and make her own way. The hard life she had growing up. Trying to reassure everyone, including herself, that she has pulled herself away from the shadow of Chris Chaos, all while invoking his name as often as possible...like she didn’t just slither her way back up his asshole in OCW, hoping he would shit her out into meaningfulness.
Same claims. Same lies.
Same ol’ Jenny in different packaging.
Easily forgettable.
Hell, even your tag team partner called you a random after you blew it. Didn’t even mention you by name. Shit... she probably didn’t even remember it.
That must have stung, huh?
Hit you right in the soft spot. Your terror of being obscure. You panic the moment you think you might be forgotten. The voracious need for the spotlight no matter what the circumstances, the frenzied compulsion to have all the attention centered on you, the crying out to be something... anything to someone...
Something other than an annoyance. A pest. An undesirable that causes eyerolls among the crowd.
Except you're not.
You’re all of those things and more. You alienate and invoke cringe from your peers. And as far as the fans are concerned... the only accolades you hold are the Queen of Concessions and Basic Bitch of Bathroom Breaks.
And yet you blathered on, sticking your nose where it wasn't wanted. Being as loud and cocky as you could, trolling anywhere you could manage, and generally being the obnoxious cunt you can’t help but be, ‘pick me’ oozing from every pore in your body...
Until you lost to me.
It’s actually been pretty quiet since then.
Holy shit...
I think I might have broken Jenny Myst.
But not nearly enough.
You know Jen, it almost annoyed me to see your name across from mine, the idea of being dragged down into the same swamp of subpar you reign over... but then... I realized why I was put there...
Everyone wants to see me to massacre you.
Everyone wants to see your blood spilled.
To see me break your body.
That, Jenny, is something I can absolutely get behind... Hurting people with whatever I can get my hands on is one of my specialties after all. I wasn’t given the nickname the Dark Vixen of Violence for nothing. I got excited to give the people what they wanted, looking forward to finally getting my hands on you, No Holds Barred...
And then... then you went and did something so incredibly asinine...
The attack on Nova.
There is no quicker way to light a fire under my ass, than to mess with those I care about.
I’ve done a lot of damage to those who step in the ring with me Jenny. I’ve used everything from chains to blowtorches. I’ve fractured necks. I’ve given then Metamorphosis from a roller coaster onto concrete. I’ve suplexed someone off an electrified cage through the top of a car. I’ve lit people on fire and walked away.
And that’s nothing compared to what I want to do to you.
What I WILL do to you.
I want you to think on that Jenny... Think of what I’m going to come up with to absolutely destroy you when we get in that ring. If I’m willing to go that far with people who did nothing to me, what do you think that means for you?
It doesn’t even matter if that wasn’t you... which, given your cowardice, attacking someone already injured from behind seems right up your alley, so it's not a stretch. We all know damn well you wouldn’t come for me head on.
I’m pretty fucking pissed off, and someone has to pay... and you’re the one unlucky enough to be lined up next in my crosshairs blondie.
But hey, at least you’ll get something you’ve always wanted...
All eyes on you while you’re having a match!
And everyone else will get what they want...
… watching Jenny Myst’s blood splatter all over the mat while getting her ass handed to her.
It’s a win win really.
You should really be thanking me for putting you into this spotlight so soon, because otherwise, nobody really gives a single shit about you. You claim to be the one to have made the XWF... which would explain why you’re calling it boring. That sure as hell fits. Because that’s what you are Jenny.
Bland as fuck.
What did you think you were going to accomplish coming here? That you would suddenly evolve into superstardom? That you’d leap right into the fray and somehow end up with the top strap? Something that you couldn’t accomplish in how many years over there? Eight? Shit... when was the last time you even were given a chance for it?
Do you know why?
Because you’re not worth jack shit Jenny... and you’re already starting in the WGWF the way you’re going to go on.
Failure and a win over Milk Mason which... c’mon now.
I left there facing the best of the best consistently... and now I’m back in the ring here with a team victory in War Games and a tag victory to my name so far.
And that’s just the start.
I fully intend to make my way up the ladder here, on my own accord just like I always have.
As for you, you’ll keep on making the same mistakes in and out of the ring. Being the same name dropping validation whore you’ve always been, using others to get eyes on you, because you simply don’t have what it takes to do it yourself.
Chaos.
Atara.
Jim.
You dig your claws into their stardom, clinging like a bloated tick, hoping a shred will peel off and fall upon you, making you anything more than the mediocre mewling moron you are, even for the briefest of moments.
‘A bitch gotta do something...’ Your own words, ones that sum you up completely.
It’s been years and you just can’t seem to let it go... harkening back to how you think I wasn’t pushed in the Left Hand like Geri was... firstly, who gives a single fuck about them anymore? Two... I was second in command of that shitshow, you fuckwit. I’m the one who ended it after Baph was shot. You’re welcome!
From not knowing your colors to not knowing basic facts... You are oblivious to the world around you. It has cost you time and again, and yet you stubbornly cling to your blinders.
How can anyone take you seriously?
But I will... I’ll pay you a compliment that you sure as fuck don’t deserve and at least take this match seriously.
Deadly serious.
No holds barred.
I’m going to make every blow that you’ve ever received seem like foreplay come Summer Madness. I’m coming to hurt you, as much as I possibly can. That is my main goal walking into Madison Square Garden.
Quite simply put...
I’m going to end you Jenny.”