The Rescue - Part 2

Undisclosed Bunker in Maine

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Characters

Gideon Hastings	Kieran Collins	Bryn Blackwell	Serafine Roche	Christian Knight	Rory Bainbridge
Brooke Bishop	Lizzie Young-Bennett	Siobhan Donovan

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You had best not be hurt, Serafine.

That's the only indication that Bryn gives that he's heard his fiancee.

"All clear. We should move out now." Glancing behind him, he says, "Bainbridge, there are not any werewolves to subdue. Are you coming with us, or staying up here to keep an eye on the witches?" Several of them are staying behind to keep the barrier down after all.

The sorcerer doesn't lead the way, not yet. He waits for a response, and then leads his group toward the entrance. He notes the lack of bodies, but doesn't comment on it. All he does is raise his brow.

"As long as they have not been alerted, they will not be expecting us. Chances are that the magical barrier is not the only magical resistance that we will come up against. Let me scout ahead this time. Any alarm spells will be detected that way. Gideon, I would like if you were up front with me. You can take out any physical dangers while I deal with the magical ones."

~*~

With the group moving inside the facility, Rory doubts that there is much he can do. He's been trained to defend himself and others, but this isn't the moment he needs to worry about that sort of training. There are enough people going in that he can remain outside.
"I'll stay with the witches," Rory says with a nod in their direction. "That way I'll be on point when you start bringing the kidnap victims out."

~*~

Serafine wonders if it is the bond or that the she knows her fiance that fills in the blanks for the question he doesn't ask. She steps out of the shadows, pulling her curls up into another messy ponytail. It's dark enough that the full extent of her part in the tussling isn't readily apparent; even so, she can already feel the cuts and scapes, and muscle and bone aches healing back up. She merely served as Kieran's backup, but that didn't mean she wouldn't catch some collateral damage.
I didn't think that the more sensitive among us needed to see the carnage.

~*~

Despite all odds, Gideon manages to look quite professionally held together. This, despite the deep, dark coloring on his hand that goes up to his elbow, or the splatter stains on his shirt and his face, or even the ring of red around his lips. His shirt is torn around the right shoulder, and untucked on the left hand side, with a button missing. His immaculate hair is mussed, with no small amount of blood and matter in it. Which he discovers as he rakes his somewhat clean hand through and flicks it off to the side.
"Very well, we should continue. According to our source, there will be two guards right inside the door. Possibly magical ones. I am able to take out one quickly, if you will handle the other?"

~*~

The sight of the four vampires makes Christian balk and halt for a few seconds. He knew what they were moving forward to do, but seeing them covered as they are makes him take pause. He's glad that it's night and dark, because knowing that they're covered in blood is different from seeing the red stains on them.
"Remember Siobhan," Christian murmurs to himself and steels his nerves. He gives himself a mental shake and prepares to draw in the magic he'll need. He won't draw on it fully yet, however, because he knows it can be felt and Bryn needs to make the first move.

~*~

Thank you. I do not know if the young Knight boy would be able to handle it without losing all the food he has had in the last twenty-four hours.
Bryn did figure that it would have been Serafine or Gideon that did away with the bodies. While the latter doesn't retain much humanity, he does happen to have the forbearance of mind to know that the youngest among them couldn't handle it.
"I can do that easily enough. Christian, stick by me. If there is a magical alarm, I will need you to take care of it, while I handle the secondary guard."
Bryn leans in toward the young man and whispers, "If how they look is bothering you, cast an illusion spell so that you do not see it."
With that having been said, he nods toward the compound and casts an open spell on the door. Two additional sorcerers and Ria pull up the rear behind Bryn and Christian, so that there are enough magic users to handle anyone that may come through the corridor after they dispatch the two right inside.
It is easy work to deal with the first one while Gideon moves to the other side. A quick binding spell, and then a plunge of a needle. It'll stop the woman's magic from working for a good twenty-four hours. Something courtesy of Tempest Biotech. That being done, he removes her weaponry and hands it over to Christian.
What happens after he moves forward isn't any of his concern at the moment.

~*~

The other inside the door is Hecanthenos. Gideon can feel and smell the taint of the twisted magic. It's darker and deadlier than what Hecanthenos typically practice, and this one even has the scent of one who's been feeding well recently. Magic and fellow vampires. The worse sort.
Gideon grasps the vampire by the throat, smashing him against the wall as his hand plunges into his chest. "Mother sends her regards." A quick twist and jerk and the heart is removed from the chest.
The backlash of magic is like having a brief flicker of flame wash over him, but Gideon is old and prepared. The dying vampire stares wide eyed before dissolving into dust, the heart in Gideon's hand exploding into flame and then ash seconds after.
Gideon dusts off his hand, rolls his shoulders and follows after Bryn.

~*~

Though they are still outside, hearing Gideon's words make Kieran exchange a look with his Child. It is a reminder that Gideon answers only to the Night Council, with Mother being the name given to the Queen of Vampires. That Gideon identified his actions as a sanctioned execution means that the vampires who've joined sides here have truly been branded as outcasts and criminals, where death is the last recourse.

~*~

Christian stays close to Ria, stepping lightly into the corridor. He draws in magic, in case he needs it, looking ahead at Bryn to lead the way. He'd say that he's uncomfortable with vampires behind him, but given the cold way that the one called Gideon operates, he thinks it's better that they're on his side.

~*~

With the witch taken care of, Bryn watches the interplay between Gideon and the vampire curiously. It does lend a bit as to what the old vampire is doing here, and would be doing here even if he had not placed the call.
"Dust does make for easier clean up," the sorcerer says quietly.
"Christian, the alarms. The death of that Hecanthenos will have raised some magical ones. Shut them down if possible."
Beat.
"Ria, stay with him. Gideon and I will move forward."
Ria begins to cast the spell as soon as Bryn asks Christian to do it. If only because charmed alarms are one of her specialties. A nod is given to the sorcerer, and she reaches out to pull Christian to the side so that the sorcerers and vampires can take up behind the other two.
Grasping her walkie-talkie, she presses the button and says, "Bainbridge, right? We have a bound witch that Bryn hit with something in a syringe. You might want to send someone to physically bind her or chain her. Gag her too, so she can't cast any verbal magic. The Coven can deal with her, but we need to get her out of here so that she doesn't run for help."

~*~

"It does, doesn't it?" Gideon responds with a faint smirk. He flexes his hand that held the heart. "Stupid young one. Barely two centuries. Waste of power. Daft fools." Which is quite a bit of communication from Gideon regarding his feelings on the matter.

~*~

Christian joins in with Ria after a few moments of being distracted. He'll be embarrassed, and probably angry with himself for it later. Right now, they need to make sure no magical alarms get set off.

~*~

"I'll take care of it," Rory radios back. He has a bag with him, filled with zip ties, duck tape and gags. It's what it was brought along for. He grabs the bag, slings it over his shoulder and heads toward the fray.

~*~

Kieran follows on the heels of the sorcerers. He doesn't look back to know that his Child is following close behind him, something of a shadow who has his back. Once they're inside and Bryn and Gideon have moved ahead, he turns to Sera.
"Stay close to the witches." It's not a request, and the look in his eyes is firm. "When it's clear enough for you to come in, we'll let you know." With that, Kieran turns and brings up the rear of the sorcerers. There's not time for explanation, and Sera will be pissed, but she won't argue. The fact is, Gideon was sent here as an executioner and even Kieran could feel the power coming from the dead Hecanthenos. He can't focus on saving Brooke if part of him is distracted with worrying about Sera, and he suspects that Bryn won't disagree with Kieran's order.

~*~

Green eyes go wide when Sera is ordered to stand back like a child, but Kieran is right. She won't argue. Not when he's shifted into full dominant role; it's not in her nature to do it. The dominant part of her might chafe a little, but in the end, Sera gives a nod of her head. "I understand Kieran." In a way, she does; he'll be worried about her, and right now he needs to be focused on Brooke.

~*~

"I presume you have the corridors memorized?" This asked of Gideon as he scours the area. He knows that no alarms will go off now, unless they trip a physical one. That being said, he's got spells at the ready to handle those.
Firing up his own radio, he says, "Bainbridge, bring one of the remaining sorcerers with you. The vampires have taken care of things in the woods, but that does not mean something else may not be lurking." While he wants Rory to take care of that witch, he'd rather keep his people safe.
There's not really time to argue with Kieran's order even if he disagreed with it; which he doesn't.
Opening a door with his shoulder he curses. "We need to find a control room and shut off any physical alarms." He nods to two of the Reynards and lets them go find it.

~*~

Ria isn't far behind; not really. Once she's positive the magical alarms are taken care of, she nudges Christian forward. "When we're out of the main fray, try your location spell again. The barrier is down and you should get the direction your sister is in."

~*~

"Enough of it, yes," Gideon answers. He allows Bryn to move through the door first, but the vampire is ready for anything. "There should be an elevator and stairs going down. I daresay the elevator will get some attention, although it might make a worthy distraction while we go down the stairs." If timed right, it could work out well in their favor.

~*~

Sera brings up the rear, ostensibly protecting the two witches. She's also using her vampiric senses to keep an eye for anything or anyone that might manage to slip up behind them. It's unlikely, but better safe than sorry.

~*~

"Then I shall take the elevator. You can hear it as it moves downward, and your lot are fast enough to reach the bottom at the same time I do." Bryn isn't being brave, he's being practical. It makes sense that he's the one in the elevator, with Gideon, Kieran, and the sorcerers coming down the stairs.
"Serafine, you, Ria, and Christian can come down the elevator after we clear the next floor."
Beat.
"Gideon, I do presume that you know whom it is you are looking to capture? Which leaves everyone but prisoners free to dispose of if need be."
Moving toward the elevator, he spots a red light flashing down the next corridor. He curses again, but then watches as it suddenly goes dark. The sorcerers have obviously stopped the alarms, but they did manage to trip one somewhere.

~*~

"I am aware of the significant individuals to be apprehended, though it may not be easy." Gideon looks somberly between Bryn and Kieran. "There is a werewolf, named Cruz. It has been requested that he is taken alive if at all possible, although it was made clear by both the local packs and the pack the next state over that if he is killed, they will not be remiss. The most important facet is to keep at least one alive for questioning if our efforts with our werewolf friend topside shall fail."
Gideon does mention the dark fae. Aalina and Peter have the magic to capture her, if it is possible. It may be like capturing smoke, but if they set eyes on her and Gideon can confirm the involvement of dark fae, it's possible the fae will be more helpful and realize how deep and far this has gone.
Gideon waits at the top of the stairs until Bryn enters the elevator. They will have to deal with whatever comes their way as far as guards.

~*~

It doesn't take long for the elevator to begin its descent once Bryn steps inside of it. There is only one button to press, which ostensibly either lowers or raises the elevator depending upon which floor it happens to be stopped on.
He only hopes that they will not have to traverse multiple levels before they find the women. He would like to get them out of here before the real fighting breaks out.

~*~

Kieran recalls the plans of the facility and knows that there is a second way up that is not joined to the entry that they came in. It's smart planning given that this is a bunker, and he considers it to their advantage. They know where the counter attack will come from and they only need to be ready for it.
He hits the bottom of the stairs quickly, and a stench of scents immediately assault him. The copper tang of blood, both fresh and old, sweat and hormones, fear and bodily fluids. Though he's been primed for attack, Kieran immediately shifts into vampiric face, fangs bared. In the distance, he can hear feet pounding on stairs and the shouts of voices mingled with growls.
"Fuck," Kieran curses, long strides carrying him away from the stairs and into the center of the hall which is flanked on both sides by cages. That's not what causes him to swear, however. The hall, while not narrow, is also not wide enough and a fight in the middle of this will be problematic.

~*~

Gideon is thinking the same as Kieran, as his face shifts easily to his natural state. He quickly takes in the configuration of the hall, ignoring for a moment the frightened, tired, or injured faces and bodies in the cell.
"You and one of the sorcerers need to back up Blackwell," Gideon orders Kieran. His gaze lands on Reynard's men, "The other of you needs to get these cells open and begin getting these prisoners free. The fight will be in front of us, not behind us where you are." As for the cells further along the hall? Gideon only hopes that those they are engaging with do not decide to use the prisoners as fodder.

~*~

Christian can hear the alarm go off. It's not particular loud as it is a low, repetitive buzzing. He tenses, and then looks around, ready to surge forward into the elevator. He notices for the first time that the ring on his finger, Siobhan's ring, is getting warm. It's not part of the spell he did, but it could part of what Peter did.
Looking anxiously back the way they came, he then glances down at the ring and twists it a bit. "I think … it's playing hot and cold with me."

~*~

"Whoa." Sera places a hand on Christian's shoulder when she senses the tension in him, that desperate, heroic urge he's probably feeling to push forward and rescue his sister. She's tried to avoid contact with him, but this is required. "We have to wait for the all clear."
Following his gaze, she looks behind them. "We have that entrance covered. We took out the ground forces and we have two more sorcerers and witches holding that area. Anything gets through, we're in a perfect position to corner them and hold them off." Pick them off is more likely, but Sera doesn't say that.

~*~

"Ria, Christian, aid the sorcerers in freeing the prisoners. Bear in mind that Brooke and Siobhan may not be on this floor at all, but that does not mean we leave anyone behind." Bryn rolls his shoulders back, sparing a quick glance at Serafine.
Princess, if you do find Brooke and Siobhan before the fighting is finished, get them, and yourself out of here. Watch over Christian, and help Rory with the other prisoners please. From what I can tell, there are plenty of cells on this floor but I cannot focus on how many of them are full.
After that little message to the vampiress, he rolls his sleeves up and turns to Kieran.
"How many can you hear coming," he says, running to catch up with the vampire.

~*~

"Good. Keep focused on the ring, and what the sorcerers taught you." Ria winks at him. "I won't tell the Coven that you were dabbling in sorcerer magic, and you don't let the rest of the Bishop's know what I'm about to do."
Seating herself on the floor, she focuses her magic into the center of it. A scrying hole opens up that allows them to see down below. Taking note of the vampires that are down there, she casts rather strong protection magic upon them and Bryn.
"We can watch from up here. Once they move forward a little more, or get the fighting out of the corridor, then we will go down."

~*~

"Half a dozen at least." Kieran glances to Gideon for confirmation and then back to Bryn. "Doubt that it's their main force. If it were me, I'd send a small contigent just to see what I was up against. They're probably not expecting a full assault." Which is good because this isn't a full assault. Not the way it could have been.

~*~

"No, but we will behave as though it is," Gideon says. He doesn't know if Bryn and the sorcerers will hear his words, but he knows Kieran will. "As long as we keep their first troops from reporting back, we have the advantage."
He glances around to see that the sorcerer is opening the cells. He wasn't certain if the human would stubbornly resist being given orders by a vampire. Perhaps not all of Reynard's men are as dumb as they look. Or maybe they truly do blindly follow orders.

~*~

I will, Serafine agrees. She does understand the importance of getting the prisoners to safety, and there's no way to tell what has happened to them or to what they've been exposed. The sorcerers and vampires will be engaging in battle, probably in front of the prisoners, and that will leave them shaken. Having someone non-threatening may help matters, and if she has to, she will glamour them to get them out of harm's way.
"Where do you think your sister is, Christian?"
Where is Brooke, is the question she doesn't pose to the young man. He can't answer it, and she doesn't want Ria to fret. All things in good time.

~*~

Christian is about to respond that he doesn't know, but bites the reply back at the last moment. He focuses on the ring and then points his hand. "Downstairs. That direction." It's past where their group is assembling in the hall, down the corridor and through another door.

~*~

"Half a dozen? Not bad…" Bryn steels his face, allowing the darker part of his sorcery to bleed through. "We are as good as a full assault, and beyond you vampires, the rest of us are equipped with weaponry along with our magic."
The sorcerer turns his body toward Kieran a little. Then without warning, he stalks toward the sounds of footsteps coming in their direction. It won't look like a full assault if it's just him appearing in the way, and with a flick of his wrist everyone else is illusioned to look like the regular corridor. He knows that Kieran can catch up to him rather quickly once it's needed.
The first creature he comes across is a woman. Dressed in a simple pair of jeans, and a denim jacket she snerks. "So a sorcerer managed to get this far all on his own?"
Bryn thanks his stars that she's not smart enough to look through the illusion. He also doesn't say a word to her. He waits for her to get a step closer, then casts the aneurysm spell on her. "One more step, and I will continue until the vessels in your brain burst."

~*~

Kieran quickly figures out what Bryn did when the woman looks right past all of them. He doesn't know if the sorcerers and Gideon can see him at all, but he holds up a hand for them to hold positions, just in case. The element of surprise will only work once, and Kieran isn't going to give away the game so quickly.

~*~

Siobhan has been sleeping fitfully, on and off, since they brought her to a cell. Not her cell, just another cell. Alone, isolated. Her ankle hasn't been healed, though it's been splinted. Probably to stop her from running again. She's been promised a meeting with 'the boss,' and she's been too delirious with pain and sickness to really care all that much.
The witch has given up calling for Brooke or Lizzie, and her throat is sore from it, so she simply curls onto her blankets and sleeps when her body allows. She starts from another night terror, pain shooting up her leg, and looks around feverishly.
"Christian …" The dancer doesn't know why she suddenly whispers her brother's name, why she feels as though she could feel him looking over her shoulder.
It's just her mind playing tricks on her.

~*~

"Your name." Bryn keeps the spell up, not relenting to allow the woman to speak.
"Astrid."
"Well then, Astrid, I would like it very much if you got on your radio and called the others off. If you give any indication of alarm, I will take care of you. You see, you happened to threaten and take someone whom I care about deeply, and I have no qualms in killing you."
Astrid's eyes widen, and she nods. Despite the pain she's feeling, she radios to call everyone else off. There's doubt on her face as to whether or not they've believed her.
"Thank you," Bryn replies. Then he glances back at Kieran and nods, right before he quadruples the force of the spell. He watches the vein in her head pulse a few times before she goes completely still.
"Five to go. I have no idea if they believed her radio call, and I could not risk her calling them in once we were through."

~*~

"Then we should hope for the best and prepare for the worse," Gideon says. He knows it sounds trite and cliche, but he doubts it will be that easy. He doubts they will make it out with the prisoners without attracting more attention.

~*~

Kieran tilts his head and gives Bryn a look. "We have at least two more coming."
The vampire steps up to the woman's body and frowns. "She's one of the ones that took Brooke." He does recall that from Lady. He steps over the body without a second glance down and steps to the inside of the doorway. It leaves him in position to take out the first body that comes through. Bryn will have to handle the second.

~*~

From upstairs, through Ria's spell, Sera can see that the cells are open, but none of the prisoners are making a break for it. Either they can't or are too terrified, or simply can't believe this is happening. The sorcerer barks at one group, and the tone of his voice probably only makes them cringe more.
"Dammit," Serafine curses. "The prisoners are too afraid to leave their cells and I don't think Reynard's men know the meaning of the words 'gentle coaxing.' "

~*~

"…Christian …"
The young man jerks his head up and looks around. He swears he just heard his sister's voice. Almost like she's whispering in his ear. The ring warms a bit more and he peers, unwittingly, in the direction of her cell.

~*~

"That is why she is dead," Bryn replies simply. He could have let her live; brought her to justice up on the surface. He could have, but the Coven would have wanted to handle it, and they wouldn't do it in a way that satisfied Kieran. Which is why the sorcerer brought her to justice as befitting the Blackwell family. Torture, then death. Even if it wasn't as prolonged as punishment that his father would seek out.
He's about to move forward when he feels the magic coming from in front of him.
"Bloody hell. Hecanthenos." The magic feels unnatural, and he can feel the attempt to block his own. Rather than wasting time casting, he pulls weapon from its holster and aims it. Without thinking about it, he fires the gun at the vampire and watches as the wooden and silver bullet goes flying toward him.

~*~

"Focus on the ring," Ria tells Christian. She looks at the vampire and nods toward the stairs. "He's distracted, and I don't want to take him downstairs until the fighting is done if I can help it. But if you tell us it is safe we can come down and aid with the prisoners." She snorts a little. "You honestly think a sorcerer knows how to handle a frightened person without scaring them further?"

~*~

Kieran stays out of the way of the dangerous bullet. He waits until the vampire is hit and staggers back before reaching out and and tossing the other against the wall. The vampire explodes in a cloud of dust, giving credit to some rather good aim by Bryn. The next body, that of a werewolf by the scent of it, is on them.
Kieran grabs the wolf, twisting it around and slamming the body to the ground. The creature is stunned, long enough for Kieran to grab the neck and twist.
"I think that might have been too noisy."

~*~

Sera gives a nod to Ria. "I'm going down to get them moving. I'll herd them toward the stairs." Maybe she'll show the sorcerers a thing or two about how to be kind and gentle, as well.
She's to the stairs before Ria has a chance to answer and gives the sorcerer who turns to her with a spell at ready, a lift of her brow. Then she's moving past the man to closest cell. A girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen is holding a shivering boy of about ten. Her arms are protectively wrapped around him. It takes a good bit of will power for Sera to not assume her vampiric face. Only because it angers her enough that she wishes to deliver a little hurt of her own.
"Come on," Sera holds out her hand to them, a little of glamour and mesmiraztion worked into her voice. "We're from the Priory and we're getting you out of here."

~*~

"I heard … I swore I heard Siobhan," Christian tells the pair of women. He blinks when Sera practically disappears from view, and then shakes his head to clear it. He closes his eyes and focuses on the ring again.

~*~

"Likely, but it was either that or allow the vampire to draw my blood out via magic, and I quite intend on returning to Serafine when this is all over." Bryn knows that it was foolish, but his life or the vampire's? He's going to choose his own.
"That was likely to bring others. Gideon we need more at the front lines, if you and yours wish to come join the fray."
He can back them up with magic, but that doesn't mean it's going to be any help against a Hecanthenos.

~*~

The girl edges back from Sera at first, trying to pull the little boy deeper into the cell. The words though are a little comforting, and she slowly nods. Drawing the little boy behind her, she follows Sera.

~*~

"I am going to assume that is the magic the sorcerer used. My niece can create charms that are similar, but your blood is likely drawn to the same magic." Ria sets her hand on Christian's shoulder and quietly says, "A little more patience. We can help those that come up the stairs and lead them to the psychic Bryn brought with him."

~*~

"You're not hearing argument with your logic," Kieran tells the sorcerer. "I happen to prefer you alive, too." The alarm is silent now, probably a single signal that ran through it's chain before the sorcerers got to it. It doesn't mean that reinforcements won't be coming.

"Three more incoming. Cover me." Kieran starts forward, never for a moment doubting that Bryn will have his back.

~*~

Gideon and Aalina arrive with the quickness and stealth that vampires are known for. Bryn will likely feel the magic swirling around the Hecanthenos vampire, who at a nod from Gideon swiftly presses forward to join Kieran.

"A better match for Hecanthenos, I would think," Gideon comments with a flick of his gaze toward Aalina. "Peter, be ready."

~*~

"Not a problem." The sorcerer is drawing his own dark magic, ready to loose it when required.

~*~

Sera steps away from the cell when the boy and girl are close. The girl must be a witch, possibly an unknown or undiscovered if her Coven hasn't been looking for her. The boy, beneath all the dirt and grime, is a werewolf. Likely not yet had his first change, though his instincts are intact if the way he cringes and growls just a bit as they pass Sera is any indication.

The vampiress doesn't do anything to alarm them further. "Go on up the stairs sweethearts. There are people waiting to get you to safety."

She waits until they start on the stairs then moves to the cell next door. Another wolf, by the scent of him, and unhealthy. It's no wonder he's not tried to leave. His shirt is soaked with blood where it's not matted with sweat. His age is undetermined due to his pallor and injuries, but Sera would guess late teens or early twenties.

"He can't move on his own." Sera flags the one sorcerer tending the cells and left behind as the rear guard. "You'll have to carry him."

The sorcerer gives her a look of disdain.

"This is what you signed up for," Sera growls.

"I signed up to get the Bishop witch."

The vampiress stalks slowly toward him, in her full predatory skin. Her face has not shifted, but there's a threat and menace to her movements, and the sorcerer takes an involuntary step backward. "Bryn said no one is left behind. That means no one. You will use that damn radio, get one of your friends down here, make a litter and get this young man out of here."

People often think of a vampire's glamour as a magical elixir of happiness. It releases euphoria or molds one to the will of the vampire in a very glad state. The thing people don't realize is the same mesmerization and hypnotic gaze can be used to instill fear and trepidation. Which can be seen by how quickly the sorcerer steps back again and puts in a call for aid.

Sera turns to the next cell with a smug shake of her head. Reynard sorcerers are so cocky that they're not even protected against glamour.

~*~

"Right, we'll get them out," Christian agrees. It's a brief distraction while the way is cleared for him to get to his sister. As if on cue, the first pair comes up the stairs, freezing at the sight of Christian and Ria.

"It's okay," Christian tells them. "We're going help you."

~*~

As Kieran moves, Bryn moves. He not only provides physical backup for Kieran, he provides a magical cover as well. Keeping their sounds and scents masked until the first of the three approaches. He drops the spell on them as he casts a gag spell on the arrival. Which means the man cannot immediately call for help. It won't stop the other two from heading in their direction. It will, however, keep it from becoming three on two until Gideon arrives.
A smirk appears on Bryn's face, and he nods. "Likely. Hecanthenos are extremely quick, and know how to counter-spell anything a witch or sorcerer can send in their direction. Hence the gun."
They're both aware that Bryn knew that already. He simply hadn't been expecting to run into a Hecanthenos so early on.

~*~

Ria glances at the children, then kneels down toward the youngest one. "Don't worry, darlings, I'm a good witch, so is my friend here. If you're injured at all, let us know? I can fix you up, and there will be other witches just outside this door to help you."

The young woman is about to protest, but she pulls the boy with her. "They did something to him. They were looking for something inside. Something with magic." Lifting up his shirt, she shows Ria the hand-sized wound. "Can you fix that? I tried, but magic didn't work here."

~*~

"Of course." Especially since Kieran just broke the man's hand. Bryn can't tell which family the sorcerer is from, which irritates him. He's either an unknown, or an extremely distant relative. He knows most of the big players, and the fact that this man isn't one supports his theory that whomever has organized this has a lot of contacts, or favors to pull in.

He treats the sorcerer the same way he did the witch earlier. Only this time, it's not an aneurysm that he causes, but a spleen rupture.

"I am only going to ask once," he says calmly. "Where are Brooke Bishop, and Siobhan Donovan?"

"I don't know," the sorcerer spits.

"Wrong answer," Bryn says. Twisting his hand up, he lifts the man magically and throws him against an open cell door. The man hits his back on it and crumbles t the ground unconscious.

That's when Bryn turns his attention back to Kieran to ensure that no one gets the upper hand on him.

~*~

Frowning, Ria gives the vampiress a quick nod.

"I don't know what type of magic caused the wound," she tells the young woman, "But I can try my best." Touching the boy's abdomen, she focuses on healing it. The wound, on the outside, closes easily enough. It'll enable the boy to move a little better, but she knows it's not fully healed. "Outside, you'll find a van. Take him there, and give your names to the young man there. If you've got family to contact, he'll take care of that, and he'll see to it that you're given food, and taken to a hospital if you need it."

~*~

Clearing out the first section is not exactly easy, but Kieran knows that it could have been harder. He suspects those in charge are just beginning to realize what they're up against and haven't sent the truly big guns for them yet. The sorcerers have disabled the cameras and video feeds as they've found them, but they still haven't found Brooke or the Donovan girl.

~*~

"The next section is another holding area filled with cells," Gideon recalls from the maps. "More room to move, so they will not be boxed in as easily. Also, I think we can all bet money on the fact that they know we're here."

~*~

It really isn't easy work. It's hard to tell what will be coming at them, and the amalgamation of witches, sorcerers, vampires, and wolves working together makes Bryn think that it's some sort of twisted Priory.

A spot of blood shows on the side of his shirt where someone managed to injure him. He's not too worried about it beyond thinking that it was one of Serafine's favorites.

"Just bear in mind that there are fae here somewhere, and they will not be on our side." Hecanthenos may be tough for the magic users, but the fae? Especially the dark fae? They'll be difficult for everyone.

~*~

Ria continues to help those who come up, or are brought up the stairs. Minor healing spells. Things that will bind their injuries, or at least lessen the pain until they can be looked at professionally. Both she and Christian could heal them fully, but she's trying to conserve their energy as much as possible.

Looking down through the scrying hole, she nods. "The first area is clear, and I believe all of the captives there have been released. We will keep an eye on them, but we will lag behind a little. They'll know we're here now, and they'll be sending more people." With that, she moves toward the elevator and motions for Christian and Sera to join her.

~*~

It's when he enters the next corridor that Kieran catches it. Beneath all the other scents, it's clear to him: Brooke. A scent that is distinctively hers and hers alone. It takes all of his restraint to not charge forward and find her. The hand at his side clenches into a fist, and he bares his fangs, taking two strides foward before stopping.
"She's here," Kieran growls.

~*~

"We knew she was here," Bryn reminds him quietly. "Can you fight, or do you need to go?" It's an honest question. He's positive that Kieran can stay and fight, but he knows the draw he has to Serafine, and he knows that it must be similar for the vampire and Brooke.
"If you do head forward, be careful. Serafine will never forgive me if something happens to you." There's only so much Bryn can do to cover the vampire.
Casting a locator spell for anyone that wishes them harm, the sorcerer winces.
"On second thought, hang back a moment. There are ten hostiles up ahead. Congregating between two cells."

~*~

"Now is not the time to behave rashly, Collins," Gideon reminds the vampire. He has long suspected the attachment and involvement that Kieran has to the Bishop woman. He doesn't comment because it doesn't concern him one way or another.
"Ten, you say?" Gideon glances back, and figures the odds.
"We'll go through. Prove a distraction and perhaps take a few out in our search for the ones we want."

~*~

The vampiress steps into the elevator last. It means she will be the first one out, and that's perfectly acceptable. The corridor is clear, but just in case there is spill back or some other way around, she will be the first line of defense.
The ride down is insufferably slow, and she breathes a sigh of relief when the elevator stops and the doors open again.

~*~

"Ten that the spell is picking up. I cannot promise that there is precisely ten, there may be more that are hidden with fae magic." Bryn rubs his clean hand over his face and tilts his head back for a second.
"Vampires to the front, then sorcerers. Once Kieran has Brooke and Siobhan, we can forge on and find anyone else that gets in the way."
Beat.
"Rescue the remaining survivors. Call in the Maine chapter of the Priory for help." The only reason he doesn't have them here now is that he wants to be the one to write up the Priory report so that he can comment on the necessity of the casualties.
"No one," he says, looking over his shoulder, "Is to use the weapons until our three vampires are clear of the fray, do I make myself clear? If one of them is injured, I will hold you accountable."

~*~

Gideon is not certain that Collins can be trusted to extract both the Bishop and Donovan women. No doubt, his feelings and emotions are compromised. While it's a good attitude for a fight, provided it is tempered, it makes for a poor rescue. He does wish that Serafine was at their side. While she has concern for Brooke Bishop, she would be able to rescue the other hybrid while Kieran tends to his mate. As it is, they shall have to make due with what they have.
"Peter follow closely. It will be dangerous in the thick of things, but we may well have to rely on Aalina's magic. In that case, you will need to cover Collins." What Gideon doesn't say, but knows Peter will understand, is that he is charing the sorcerer with getting Siobhan Donovan free of the fray.

~*~

There are nods all around at Bryn's direct order. The sorcerer looks forward again, and looks forward. Stepping back, he allows Gideon and Aalina to get in front of him. A general protection spell is cast on them, and then he draws runes over each of them to protect against wood and silver.
"The three of you should be safe enough from their weapons, as well as any of ours that may go stray."

~*~

Once they're down on the floor, Ria moves to those that have been dispatched, and frowns. There are a lot more dead than she would have liked, but she's not the one calling the shots. Each cell is double, and triple checked to ensure they removed everyone that is alive.

~*~

With the younger woman in Sera's capable and more concerned hands, Kieran turns toward the exit with Brooke in his arms. He cradles her close to his chest, holding her gently and yet protectively. He's not going to put her down until he has to and even then there might be a fight.

~*~

"She's unconscious," the vampire tells Ria gruffly. "Can you heal her?" He's willing to trust Brooke's aunt more than the unknown witches upstairs and outside at the moment.

~*~

Sera winces at Lizzie's words. "Lean on me if you need to then. Or … Christian, do you think you can stabilize her enough with magic, at least so that she can walk without doing herself more damage?" She doesn't want to distract Ria if she's preoccupied with Brooke.

She would offer to carry the young woman, but she doesn't want to take the time to reveal that she's a vampire as well. The girl is wary of Kieran, even if he was being helpful. He's not exactly looking safe at the moment.

When she hears Bryn's words, she nods her head slightly. I will. She wants to ask why, but can tell that now isn't the time. "Kieran, why don't we get Brooke out of here first? Upstairs and out of the bunker is much better for her."

She turns to Ria and Christian, "I think that Bryn is going to need your help."

~*~

"Yeah, I can do that." It's not healing the broken bones, which Christian wouldn't be at all comfortable doing. He can, however, create an air cast around the young woman. It'll be slightly more comfortable than a real cast, but she will feel the confinement.

It takes him only a few moments and he looks worriedly at Lizzie, "Is that ok? It's not too much?"

Gut instinct tells him that it has something to do with his sister. Serafine hasn't said a word, but she's got fairly good hearing and - he can feel Siobhan through the ring. He can tell she's close and she's hurting.

"Siobhan …" Christian turns on his heel and takes off toward Bryn.

~*~

Bryn immediately shoots his arm out to keep Christian from getting too far ahead of him. "Werewolf," he tells the young Knight witch. He can see that the man obviously is intent on taking Siobhan, and he takes a deep breath.
"Everything those sorcerers taught you? Use it." Then he takes off in a run, tossing a binding spell at the werewolf. It may cause Siobhan to be dropped, but it's a risk he's willing to take. She'll still be alive.

~*~

A quick scan has Ria frowning. "Broken wrist. I can help it along, but she'll need a cast." Running her hand down lower, the frown deepens. "Have Rory set it when you get her up there." A quick healing spell is cast upon her niece. "That should help it heal more swiftly, if he splints it she should be alright in a day or two. She's low on fluids, and they've done something inside of her that I can't quite figure out."
Beat.
"You'll be fine, Babs. I'll be up to see you again in a bit." Then she heads off to help Bryn.

~*~

"Thanks," Lizzie says to Christian, with a bit of a blush. She's heard her grandmother and aunt say things about him, but she thinks he's just as good a spellcaster as any of them. "Your sister was alright last time I saw her, but she took off in a different direction than me. The doctor had Cruz take her somewhere else."
Now that she's not in so much pain, she can walk toward the stairs. Slowly, but it doesn't hurt to move or breath as much now.

~*~

Kieran frowns down at Brooke in his arms. It's enough of a gesture, his worry showing through, that his vampire falls completely and his human facade returns. He doesn't like the sound of the last part, and if there were more people to kill, he'd happily set off to do it now.
His concern over it doesn't bleed through to his words, however. Lifting Brooke up a bit, Kieran kisses her softly on the forehead. "Hear that, mo tine? You'll be just fine."
He waits to make sure Sera is with him, and the young woman with her, before heading up the stairs. He's not a total ass, and knows that Brooke will be concerned about the other girl whenever she wakes up.

~*~

"You're walking better already," Sera notes to Lizzie as they start off again. She's glad to hear that Brooke will be all right, according to her aunt. The woman has no reason to sugarcoat it for Kieran and Sera. Until Kieran's little display just now, she probably had no idea that Brooke had a more intimate relationship with her Maker than just casual friends and business acquaintances.
"I'm sure someone can wrap you properly when we're upstairs and outside. Probably give you something for the pain, too." She's talking to keep the girl grounded and calm and distracted from what's around them.

~*~

The thanks surprises Christian. He's gotten used to not being taken too seriously when it comes to spells and magic. He gives her a nod. "You're welcome… they'll, um, take care of you." Referring to Sera and Kieran. Christian still isn't one hundred percent sure about them because they are vampires, but so far, they've also been helpful.
When he sees his sister being dragged along, it's all he can do to not cry out to her. He almost wants to push past Bryn, but self-preservation keeps him rooted to the spot. The man wouldn't stop him without good reason, and he can't help Shiv he's injured or dead.
He nods his head and then draws up one of the spells the sorcerers taught him. It's not witch magic, or anything he's really used to doing, but he lets the magic fly, focusing it on the man trying to escape with his sister.

~*~

Siobhan tries to struggle against Cruz, but it's pretty useless. Her leg is useless and struggling only makes her put too much weight on it and hurts her. The fight hasn't gone out of her, even in her half drugged state, and when he goes to grab her by the neck, Siobhan dips her head and bites him.
"Fucking bitch! I'll teach you for that!" Cruz glares down at the witch, grabbing her by the back of her head, and raising his hand to smack her. Siobhan is braced for it, but it never falls. Instead the werewolf stiffens, immobile. His grip on her loosens and he goes flying back a few paces as though shoved particularly hard, wheezing for breath as he lies there.

~*~

Unfortunately, the floor is soaked with blood, and lithe and balanced though she may be, Siobhan's body ran out of steam long ago. She gives it a good try to stay upright when she feels her good foot slipping at the momentum, but only succeeds in slowing her fall by scrambling at the wall as she goes down. She lands hard on her backside and whimpers again, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

~*~

Brooke stirs a little, curling her body against Kieran's. As though his nearness is what she needs. There's no opening of her eyes, or any indication that she's aware of what's going on, but she does murmur his name.
Her sleepy voice also says, "Okay."

~*~

Smirking just a little as Christian lets the magic fly, he waits to see what happens. Bryn nods, and then moves forward. "You see," he says to the werewolf, with a bit of agitation in his voice, "When you take someone I care about, someone whom I consider a rather close, personal friend, I would have every intention of killing you. The only reason you are currently still alive is that someone with a temperament far worse than mine wishes to extract information from you." Twisting his wrist, he squeezes his hand together until the werewolf's heart begins to slow a little.
"For every wrong you have done to one of these women, I will visit upon you two-fold. For every time you have taken things just a little too far? I will ensure that you are dealt with in a similar manner."
Another syringe is taken from his pocket, and he jabs it into the man's jugular. "For the moment though, you will not be able to turn for the next week. Any attempt to do so will cause you immeasurable pain."
Beat.
"Good work, Christian. Please come and tend to your sister."

~*~

Lizzie grins a little, and nods. "I can. I hope they can. I hope this doesn't hurt me when I go back to school in the fall." It'd really suck not to be able to dance. Especially if they make her do any auditions.
"Someone can call my mom though? I don't even know where I am. I was at school, then I was here."

~*~

"Oh, I'm sure they can. There are some very talented witches up there." Sera gives the girl a gentle smile and continues to lead her up the stairs.
"The Maine Priory group has been contacted. They'll have phones and help you get into contact with whomever you need," Sera tells Lizzie. As they reach the top of the stairs, she sees Rory and begins leading Lizzie that way.

~*~

Rory has gone from monitoring the situation to being the liasion between the witches, sorcerers and the newly arrived Maine branch of the Priory while the rescue has been going on. When Collins emerges with Bishop in his arms, he immediately excuses himself and heads over to the vampire. He knows that this was the top priority, and that the woman is a friend of Bryn's as well.
"They've just gotten here," Rory indicates the filtering trickle of Priory people with medic vans and first aid kits. "If she's injured, they'll see to her."

~*~

Kieran peers at the young man and shakes his head. "Her wrist is broken. You splint it." He's not going to relinquish Brooke to anyone, not yet. She might still need to go to the hospital - he won't dare feed her his blood when he doesn't know what was done to her - and he'll go with her if that's required. But he's not giving her up yet.

~*~

"Our other quarry escaped us," Gideon arrives smoothly, quietly. He pauses and stares down at Cruz. "You captured this one. That is a very good thing."
Gideon squats and looks the werewolf squarely in the eyes. "Cruz. Or should I say, Alexandro Criscuolo. Yes, I do know whom you are, and the crimes you are wanted for. You do not hide yourself as well as you think and I do not think your employer will be willing to rescue or defend you."
The werewolf growls, but Gideon pays him little mind. "Peter, Aalina, see that he is … properly secured for transportation."
Taking the few remaining strides, Gideon stops before Bryn. "There are others. Their cells have been opened, but I do not believe that many, if any of them are able to move on their own. Then there are those whom I believe were the private … pets of that one."

~*~

Christian doesn't need to be told twice. He rushes forward toward his fallen sister, then stops before touching her. He can't tell how bad of shape she's in, though he can see hints of bruising on her arms and around her throat. "Shiv … " Christian reaches a trembling hand towards her.
The dancer blinks and turns her head. She blinks again and peers at her brother. Lifting her hand, Siobhan touches his cheek, "Chris?"
"Yeah, Sissy, it's me." Christian grabs her hand and just holds it a moment. Part of him wants to go and kill every person that did this to her, but the other part of him just wants to get her home and have her safe again. That part wins out and he slowly reaches out to lift her from the floor. She might be solid muscle, but she's not all that heavy. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, Shiv, but I have to get you out of here."
Siobhan does give a faint whimper as she's jostled, but still she leans toward him, practically crawling into his arms. She wraps her arms around him and burrows into him, taking comfort from the familiarity of family. "Take me home, Chris?" The words are slurred, and for the first time in days, Siobhan truly begins to relax. Despite the pain, she feels safe and free.
"Yeah, Shiv, that's the plan."
By the time he's standing and turned to Ria, Siobhan is sleeping the sleep of the hurt and exhausted. "How bad hurt is she?"

~*~

"Fell," Brooke explains, still refusing to open her eyes. "Landed funny." Her wrist is swollen, and she knows that it is. She tried healing it, but whatever they gave her after the girls made a break for it, atop her pain, is keeping her pretty out of it at the moment. She has tiny windows of lucidity, then she feels as though she needs to close her eyes and sleep again.

~*~

"Bloody hell. I captured this one because he was trying to make off with Mrs. Donovan. Which, I presume, means he wanted a 'pet' he could keep with him." Bryn would love nothing more than tearing the werewolf apart. Instead, he smirks down at the wolf before looking back up at Gideon.
"At least promise me that once you have the information you need, you will kill him in a manner that will keep his soul from being recalled to this world, so that he rots in whatever hell he winds up in."
Glancing back down to Cruz, he shakes his head. "If you would be so kind as to extricate this one, in a manner that no one from the Priory will see you. I will want the information, but the fewer people that know you have him, the easier it will be to dispose of him later."
Peter is not his man, but he does look to the sorcerer. "When he is done with Cruz, mind if I borrow Peter to help me with the others, until we can get more people down here?"

~*~

Stepping forward, Ria moves to help Christian. "You'll support her better if she can put her arms around each of us." A small healing spell is done to the young witch, and she frowns. It's the same feeling she got from Brooke.
"They're going to need to fix her fluids, and check her out at the hospital. She may not be able to go home for a few days."
Beat.
"The bottom of her feet are cut up pretty badly, though that should be healed fairly quickly with the spell. She does have a damaged bone that will need to be set properly. They did something similar to her that they did with my niece, but I cannot place it. Some sort of magic that is neither witch, nor sorcerer. It could be fae, but I've never encountered a spell like this before."

~*~

Lizzie tries to hide behind Sera when she spots the man coming their way. "I'm covered in blood," she hisses at the woman. Tucking her messy hair behind her ears, and shifting a little, she nods. "Okay, they'll have phones. I don't even think my mom knows I was gone, you know? I wish I could just make up a story so that she wouldn't worry."
Since her mother didn't want her in New York anyhow.
"He's kind've cute. I hate meeting cute guys looking like such a mess."

~*~

"How old are you?" Sera asks gently. "If you're of legal age, technically they don't need parental permission to treat you at the hospital. It's probably best that your mother does know, but you could enlist The Priory or the Coven to help with that once you've been treated and released. I wouldn't keep it from her entirely however."
The comment about Rory makes Serafine laugh a little. She doesn't know if the girl is somewhat ditzy or if she's in shock, but as long as she's talking and isn't breaking down, it's a good thing. "He is rather handsome, isn't he. And, he's British. Wait until you hear his accent."
Beat.
"Consider this an opportunity. He can meet you like this, then be wowed later when you're all cleaned up and beautiful."

~*~

Rory knows when to pick his battles. He's not going to argue with the protective, possessive vampire. Giving a nod, he says, "I'll grab the first aid bag."
His attention shifts to the vampiress and the young woman hiding partially behind her. "Miss Roche? Did your charge need anything?" When she tells him her needs, Rory turns and heads toward the nearest medic van to grab the supplies.

~*~

"It will be taken care of," Gideon assures Bryn. "There is no faction on this earth that has any need for the likes of him once he's been wrung of all his worth." The wolves have already given him up as dead, not even wanting to taint themselves by meting out justice upon him. Gideon will have no qualms about doing such a thing.
"Yes, of course. Peter, once this task is complete, please avail yourself to Bryn. I believe you will be more helpful than the others as the night wears on." Once all of the captured are free, Gideon thinks that Reynards men will consider their work done, leaving the rest to the witches and The Priory.

~*~

"She's a dancer," Christian says to Ria. "She'll be pissed off about her feet." It sounds like a stupid, simplistic thing to say at a time like this, but it grounds Christian. Better to think of the fiery, emotional young woman that his sister is than the weak, battered girl in his arms.
He allows Ria to assist him in removing Siobhan from the bunker.

~*~

"Thank you, Gideon. I do appreciate all the help you have given, and I think this means that I once more owe you a favor." Bryn glances to Ria and Christian, knowing that it'll take the two of them to get Siobhan out of there. He says nothing for a moment, then offers, "A levitation spell, Ria. She will not have to walk upon her injured leg or foot then, and Christian can maneuver her out of here easily that way if you would like to stay and help me with some of the others."

~*~

"Nineteen," Lizzie replies. "I should call her and tell her what happened anyhow. They kept saying I was 'special' and different from a normal witch. I don't know if they were saying that just to get under my skin but… I guess I should talk to her."
She blinks, and then stares at the man when she hears the accent.
"Broken ribs, I think. Few other cuts and bruises. It hurts when I breathe though so I probably need a medic, but the Knight witch took care of them. Well they're not healed, they're just uhm… well he cushioned them sort've I think."
Beat.
"I don't know how you people can walk in here and not stare down at the dead bodies. They stink…" Lizzie isn't a ditz (most of the time), she really is just in shock and talking to keep herself moving at this point.

~*~

"Sure," the elder witch says, casting the spell for Christian. "Just use her shoulders to guide her up the stairs, or cradle her like you're carrying her and you'll be fine."
Ria would really like to go and keep an eye on her niece around that vampire, but she knows that others are in need of their assistance.
"Let's clear the rest of this place out, because I'd really like to go sit with Brooke at the hospital until her family arrives."