The Hellfire Club had succeeded in their goal, despite the sloppiness of their assault. Selene knew that the Hellfire Club required training, not just her newfound Hellions, but also the Inner Circle. They had acted individually, not as a team. In the end, it was Selene they had relied upon to retreat. It was pushed from the Black Queen's mind for the moment. She had bigger fish to fry. The Hellfire Club was to take Jean into the catacombs. Her struggling psyche had to be further silenced to allow Jean's darker side to conquer. All of the morals Charles Xavier had installed into Jean's mind had to be wiped clean. All the mental barriers had to be broken. Temporarily, Jean's psyche had been placed under Madelyne Pryor's care during transport, but Selene knew better than to trust the Red Queen with Jean, especially with their past.

Selene walked down the cold drafty stone stairs with a single torch in her hand, walking down into the catacombs which were below the New York subway system and septic system. Selene knew the catacombs all too well, after being imprisoned within the by another powerful sorceress. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Selene made the flames of her torch to grow and blast the perimeter of the catacomb chambers, lighting several torches aligned down the walls. She placed the torch in her hand in a place on the wall and walked into the center of the room.

The Hellfire Club was to take Jean into the catacombs, being controlled and manipulated by Maddie. Together, Selene and Madelyne would make sure every barrier and gate had been breached. "Shall we Madelyne?" Selene spoke to the Jean Grey clone with a rather bitter taste in her mouth. The two had crossed paths in the past, and ended rather sorely. Selene loathed Madelyne and knew it must've been a plot by Sebastian Shaw to level out the balance of power. Selene had gained the upper hand with her Hellions, but Madelyne had become a being of such great power- a threat much different than Jean Grey. Madelyne had learned the dark arts as well as her omega level psychic abilities. Jean Grey's body was to be in front of them on a wooden table, strapped down for any contorting that may occur.

OOC: Guys, I don't actually have permission to set the stage this way (with Jean on the table), so if you object plz, just pm me, and we'll set it up some other way. Madelyne, I assumed you'd be behind me... Also pm me if youd like me to change anything. From here, I figured this thread would end with a brilliant display of power from Jean? lol sound good?)))

Down in the catacombs, the Hellfire Clubs inner circle stood in wait around the psychic set up in the center of the dimly lit room. Why they required this psychic still hadn't been fully explained. It seemed secrets anf half truths were the order of the week in the club. He could see why Selene and Shaw would keep important information from the Hellions, but was he not apart of the inner circle? Was he not currently keeping of the the clubs largest threats at bay simply by existing within their midst's? But it seemed that around here, you needed members backing you to have the power. He'd have to find a recruit. A big one. One that could tip the balance of power. It seemed that Shaw had recently acquired a second powerful psychic for his side. Perhaps this new woman.

His job would be to try to contain her using energy while the psychics released whatever monster was inside of her. He knew this was going to be difficult. He knew others could have done a better job at it. But they didn't have others. Instead, he'd have to do this alone.

"Play nice, Selene. I doubt even Charles Xavier could accomplish this alone. I'm not entirely certain what my contacts had to say about Grey is true, but if it is, she's far too powerful to ignore. She's been classified by Wideawake as a threat on the level of the Silver Surfer. If you and Madelyne can turn her to our ends, she becomes a valuable ally. The Brotherhood and Superior X may have sheer numbers, but cannon fodder is easily found. And I must admit, they occupy my thoughts of late. Without Grey, I am uncertain in our ability to successfully defend our interests. A war is coming, the skirmishes are heating up. Jean Grey might prove be a devastating secret weapon."

On the Astral Plane

Jean finally opened her eyes to find herself on the driveway leading to the mansion. Had she levitated there in her sleep? The nightmare! She flew to the garden, only to find that it was as peaceful as it usually was. Was it all been a dream? She hurried into he mansion, desperate to find the Professor and hopefully answers. But like outside, there was no sound, only silence.

This time however, it didn't resonate with the peace the garden held. Something was wrong. Quietly making her way to her mentor's office, the red head opened the door after a soft knock. "Professor?"

No one.

Next she went upstairs to check Scott's room, Storm's, Warren's and then Logan's. All yielded the same result. She couldn't even sense Betsy for that matter; and where were all of the students? Hesitantly, Jean opened the door to her room, allowing it to close under the influence of her powers as she walked over to an empty bird cage. It felt like it had always been a part of the room, which is why she became worried seeing that the bird was missing, as well as her family.

Why am I alone...?

You're not.

A small bird, golden in colour, landed on her balcony.

The Hellfire Club had a successful mission to a point in the fact that the X-Woman known as Jean Grey was in there possession. But for a certain fiery haired member she knew they still had a long way to go.

"Shall we Madelyne?"

The Red Queen followed Selene down into the catacombs. To say the two didn't see eye to eye was a understatement! At one point or another the two had tried to kill each other multiple times but with Madelyne this was nothing new. The fact of the matter was she had been asked back into there ranks due to her skills in current matters and whether some liked it or not in the past she had been a valuable asset and now was no different.

"Lead the way dear."

The two made there way down arriving at there captured prize. Maddie felt Selene and others knew full well what she could do if left alone with Jean but at least for the moment the Red Queen contained herself.

Selene walked to the head of the table Jean was strapped to, looking down at the peaceful look on her face. Even without these powers deep within, Jean had been a formidable opponent as an X-Man. "So nice of the two of you to join us," she spoke to Turk and Shaw. She didn't want their support, but she didn't show any unpleasantries to the two of them. She saved all that for Madelyne.

She listened closely to Shaw's words. The aquiring of Jean Grey had been kept a secret even from the Black Queen until the last moment. She knew what Shaw was planning, as he had done so in the past. He was evening out the balance of power in the Hellfire Club. Selene had numbers, but Sebastian planned to have Jean and Madelyne- both incredibly powerful. Even worse, if the Hellfire Club psychics were successful, as they no doubt would be, Jean's full potential would be unleashed.

"Charles Xavier is a fool. Selene is a sorceress of vast power. You need not warn me, Sebastian. I can sense the power within her... Struggling to be free. She wants to be free." Selene smirked. "Free to enjoy the luxuries of Hellfire."

She looked to Jean's clone with unease. She did not trust her, especially with the hostility held for the woman on the table. "Let us begin. We shall synchronize our telepathy together. My magicks will guide us." and with that, Selene's shadows drowned out all light in the catacombs. The torches extinguished as Madelyne and Selene entered Jean's psyche.

On the Astral Plane

It was then that the images Jean was seeing shifted. She was no longer on the balcony at Xavier's school, but instead was dressed in a Victorian style dress, emerald in color, on the balcony overlooking the Hellfire Club's grand ballroom. The ballroom was filled with illusions of people dancing. Selene approached Jean from one side dressed in a long silk dress with a cape consisting of crows feathers which reached all the way down to the hardwood flooring. "It's time to let loose my dear... Trust only your instincts." Selene's crimson lips were still smirking.

((OOC: I wasn't sure whether or not Turk and Shaw were going to post again, but I'll go ahead and post.))

Jean was actually about to pick up the bird with the intention of putting it back into its cage, when the scene changed. Even as it did she remembered seeing the bird fly away, and by the time she returned her eyes to the balcony she was now...

At a ball?

The lady telepath couldn't make sense of what was happening; her already weakened psyche didn't care to. "Look at them dancing down there, not a care in the world..." she mused silently while looking down at the illusions. It was then that the golden bird landed on the balcony before her, causing Jean to smile as she took it into her hands.

When a familiar voice sounded behind her, the bird glowed a bit, but it was Jean who took a few steps away for some reason. Something in her knew that the lady before her was bad news, but she couldn't even remember where she'd seen that face before and as such couldn't associate her with doing anything wrong.

"Who are you? Do I...know you?" Her questions alone conveyed her confusion.

"How is it going with her, ladies? We need her turned as soon as you can. The X-men aren't going to take this lying down, and when they come for her, we'll need her power." For the first time in some months, he felt re-energized. He was looking forward to the coming confrontation. Both with the X-men, and the one that was brewing, slowly, within the Club. Selene couldn't take the addition of Jean Grey and Maddy's reappearance lightly.

After dealing with the X-men, the Club would have to iron out its own divisions before looking at the larger picture. Superior X and the Brotherhood would have to either come to the table, or be dealt with. Grey might well be enough to cancel out Magneto on her own. He pulled out his cell phone, activating all the Club's mercenaries. They were cannon fodder, but if they could handle some of the less powerful X-men, that could go a long way towards evening the odds.

"How is it going with her, ladies? We need her turned as soon as you can. The X-men aren't going to take this lying down, and when they come for her, we'll need her power."


Madelyne and Selene were hard at work on Jean when Sebastian walked in to check on the progress of the two ladies. It was a little irritating. This was not just a simple job. It takes time and precision but Jean had been in very capable hands.

The Red Queen kept concentrating on Jean but very quickly responded. {"My dear Sebastian it is coming along and rather quickly but if you remember with anything you get what you pay for.She is almost ready though."} She responded telepathically and went back to her duties. What few would know however is the more Pryor was near Jean the more her own gifts were opening up to there full potential.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, my child. At least, not any longer." Selene attempted to ease the remnants of Jean as she took a few friendly steps forward. She offered her hand as a friendly greeting gesture.

"You are to be free. A being such as yourself doesn't deserve to be caged. It deserves to run free with no cares in the world. To live for the pure pleasures of life.... The pleasures that Hellfire represents... The flames inch closer, wanting to consume you... Embrace it! Charles Xavier was afraid of you! Afraid that he would not be able to control you like he does all of his students! He treated your psyche like some infection to be fought off... Do not be afraid of the true you, Jean Grey. This is DESTINY! You were meant for Hellfire!" Selene's words were manipulative. Despite her lacking telepathic power in comparison to Jean and Madelyne, Selene's mind worked in mysterious ways, playing on the feelings and insecurities of others.

In the Corporal World:

Selene stirred, turning her body. She felt incoming presences... "Prepare the Hellions and Mercenaries, my King. It is starting." she spoke with the same absence in her eyes. She was still very much so engaged on the Astral Plane, tempting the darkness within Jean's soul.

Turk moved to stand next to Shaw, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the two psychics at work. He knew that Maddie was the real power inside of Jeans head, but Selene was leading the charge on the astral front. Jean of course, was unresponsive on the physical plane. This was the inner circle busy at work. Shaw had called out the mercenaries, he had to wonder what kind of heat the X-Men were packing. If this went well however, the status quot would begin to change dramatically.

"Are you sure they're going to be able to contain her? If that thing comes out swinging, what's plan B?"

Tide wasin his bed resting and thinking about the phone call that he had recieved about the attack on the Black Complex and how he had to leave soon to assume his position as stand in CEO of the Blacksmith Corporation when he felt his queen call to him. He quickly searched the Manison for the water sources and found a rather large group in the basement. Tide quickly jumped from the bed and dressed and head to the basement.

A few minutes later Tide lightly jogged down the stairs and instantly found his queen.He walked over ignoring his king and the other queen as he stood by his queen. He would wait here until she gave him a direct order."My queen I am here what is that you need?" he still did not know how he felt the danger that was fast approaching and how he knew his queen was going to be in trouble. Tide would have to speak to his queen about this later but for now there was other things going on that would need his attention.

On the Astral Plane

All Jean heard were pure words, remaining oblivious to the ill intention behind them. It was almost like she needed to believe that everything was as it seemed for her own sanity, so she did. The bird in her hands had its eyes closed as Selene approached, and its calmness inspired the same reaction in Jean.

Then the woman started speaking...

With every word it was like a mental wave of attack, bringing with it a memory of some sort. Or rather, it was removing the barriers that masked the said memories from even their owner. "Caged..." Her voiced echoed around them and green eyes narrowed as the memory of the Professor firing a psionic blast to knock her unconscious resurfaced. Of course nothing of their conversation prior to that moment came, but that wasn't Selene's doing. Someone or something was aiding the conversion process.

"Xavier...betrayed...me." Words laced with venom escaped her lips as she lowered her eyes to the bird that was still calmly seated in her hands, before they closed. Even then Selene's words did not fall on deaf ears. Reaching out a hand to take the woman's still extended hand, her grip was firm. "Xavier was afraid because he couldn't tame me; what makes you think Hellfire can?"

The bird's eyes snapped open suddenly, as did Jean's, but this time they were illuminated by a faint fiery aura.

OOC: Not in posting order... I know... but again, I feel I should go ahead since Selene was vocally addressed and most of this is on the Astral Plane anyway. plus, the sooner this is wrapped up, the sooner we can dominate the world MUAHAHAA

On the Corporal Plane:
Selene remained motionless even though Tide had spoken a question to her. With there powerful telepaths in the room, their powers linked through the Astral Plane, no one's thoughts were safe. Selene's mind had ignored the sense of hearing because of the concentration, but she mentally heard all that was going on, including the question. {Tide, find Blacklight and Kyro and survey the mansion. I expect the X-Men shall be appearing quite soon. I ant constant surveillance of any breaches on Hellfire property and meet any force with whatever is necessary. Mercenaries have been called in. Shaw's technology has made them formidable for many mutants, so take advantage.} It was only a message in Tide's mind.

Shaw Industries directly fueled the Hellfire Club with infinite technology, as if the mansion had come from the future. They housed enough technology to look into peoples homes with satellites, not only the outside world. They had time machines, though it was still experimental. Many of the concepts were dangerous, but the weaponry that it offered were impressive.

On the Astral Plane:
Selene was well aware of the games of manipulation. The Phoenix within Jean would not allow itself to become weakened as it had by Xavier's might. And whereas some would make a fatal mistake with the question on the table, Selene was much wiser. She was an expert at mind games, without the use of telepathy. She was thankful for her telepathic powers being linked with Madelyne's own. Being a clone of Jean, Madelyne was also a powerhouse, though her abilities developed slower than Jean's.

"Yes, my dear... Charles Xavier, the man the X-Men think so highly of, betrayed you because he thought you were dangerous... corrupt even. A liability he didn't want to deal with... So he tamed you. The Hellfire Club does not wish to tame a being of your power... Power such as yours deserves to flourish! It desires to be free, with no limitations! Such power is what we stand for... Power limited by nothing- no laws or morality to hinder you. Join us... and see that your wildest fantasys come true." Each second on the Astral Plane, she could see Madelyne's vast telepathic abilities at work, smearing away any blockades, releasing the fire inside. It was visually known in the eyes- often described as the gateway to ones soul. And Selene could see Jean's soul was darkening. Each word spoken had increased in the intensity of hatred and evil.

"Wrap yourself in Hellfire... Let us intensify the flames within... Stand by our side as our newly crowned White Queen, and together, we shall seek Charles Xavier's slow painful demise. With your power, he cannot challenge you and you would surely win a battle to the death... But there are so many things more painful than death!" Selene played on any feelings she saw in Jean, encouraging violence and destruction. With the Hellfire Club, as White Queen, she could seek out revenge, taking from him anything close to his heart. She hoped the offer to be even more tempting.

On the astral plane, Jean's grip on Selene's hand remained firm. Her eyes still glowed as she spoke, and her gaze remained set on those of the Black Queen's. It was almost as though she was searching her eyes for the truth, which was an easy feat for the telepath; though upon finding it, what she knew to be true remained the same. She can't be trusted.

The thought came from deep within Jean, from the part of her that was quickly fading away. That thought or rather, warning, came from Jean Grey and was directed to her more dominant persona. The grip on Selene's hand was finally released as the red head turned to take in the dancing illusions again. Though this time there was the hint of a smirk on her lips and sure enough the happy scene once depicted below shifted into a darker scene as a sea of flames engulfed the dancers. The bird attempted to fly down into the flames, but was stopped by a telekinetic hold on its body. Jean's.

As the fiery aura that covered her eyes faded, a confused Jean fell to her knees before looking back at Selene. Before anything could be said however, the Professor's image appeared before them causing her to reach out to him. His response was what felt like a psionic blast, even if it was all in her mind, causing her to lose consciousness.

The X-Men turned their backs on you...Your mentor betrayed us...Your family and friends, loves...

They're...all gone...

Those thoughts were Jean's silent surrender as before Selene, the once small bird, seemed to merge with the flames from below, thus growing tremendously. Hovering above the balcony, it looked down at the Black Queen and the unconscious Jean. When it's cry sounded it threatened to bring Selene's illusion crumbling as its power surged through the astral plane, which meant that any psychic in the vicinity would probably be able to sense it.


In the Corporal World
Jean's body started to levitate off the table in the center of the room, as her bonds effectively disintegrated. But like on the astral plane, her eyes remained closed. The calm before the storm.

The Red Queen had her attention focused not on just reality but in the psychic realm the astral plane. She could feel how close Jean really was to giving into her true nature and with a sickening smile of satisfaction Maddie stood to the left of Selene in the Black Queens illusion which threatened to tear itself apart from the power of the darker side of Jean.

If anything she was there as Selene's back up. The Black Queen was powerful but in the realm of Jean's mind who better to be there watching over the Black Queen then the spitting image of the woman in front of her.

----------------------------
In The Corporal World.

Madelyne used her powers to keep Jeans now levitating body from going any further. This was the flight or fail moment and the former Goblin Queen had quite a lot invested in this and more then anyone wanted to make sure it was successful. She put a shield around the women to keep outside influences out. She knew that the X-Men were close and the window for success was closing fast.

She then telepathically contacted her benefactor in the Black King {"We are almost done just give us a little more time."}

Selene loved the changed the Phoenix created in the Astral PLane. The fiery red head had a dark side that matched Selene's. The psychic turmoil evicted Selene from the Astral form as the Phoenix prepared to take permanent control of Jean Grey's body as a host.

Selene was disoriented after the eviction. It wasn't directly from Phoenix,but the sheer power behind it. Its call erupted through the minds of the psychics. Selene stepped back as she spoke to the Red Queen. "Madelyne, steady her." But Jean's body was already rising from the restraints on the corporal world.

The catacombs were not empty. Sebastian Shaw, Tide, and Turk Blue had gone upstairs into the mansion as SHIELD approached. Tide was sent to lead the Hellions in their battle. The room was quiet. They were below the basement of the mansion, placing a great deal of space between them and the battle that was ensuing above. It was calm in the room. The three women that occupied it were perhaps three of the most powerful beings on Earth, each with untapped potential.

It was then that Selene heard a nearby disturbance. The room rumbled a bit. At first, she thought it was the Phoenix's doing, but upon psychic probe, she sensed the psychic static of a psychic inhibitor. She pursed her lips in anger. They had to finish things before the walls of the catacombs were breached. They had to put the barriers up to keep Jean's psyche from taking over again, and they would need to be very powerful barriers.

"Madelyne, Time is precious now. Let us hope the Phoenix inside her can rid itself of Jean's psyche!" Selene then extended her hand, using her mysticism to feel the wall which closed the catacombs off to the sewers of New York, just below 5th Avenue.

OoC: Hope no one minds if I interject at this point

BiC:

White Fox crept along the corridors of Hellfire Clubs catacombs. The enhanced sensors in his battle armor registered life signs. three, maybe more. He hid in the darkness. From what he could pick up, there were two women in the central chamber around a third one on a stone slab. They were doing something to her he couldn't quite see. He knew he had to move fast to get this done while they were both busy with her. With a quick thought and a boom, he shot forward at incredible speeds, drawing a katana for a slash - as they moved from the astral plane back to the physical.

OOC: It's been 7 days... Jean can be skipped for now. *knows shes been busy lately* And anymore SHIELD plan on comin thru?...

OOC: I have been Selene, nonetheless, my apologies for the hold up.

IC:

On the Astral Plane
Even with Selene's mental eviction, an unconscious Jean Grey remained on the balcony under the watchful eye of the now large golden bird. Sounding another piercing cry, the red head finally groaned where she was on the floor, and sure enough her eyes slowly opened. Immediately she remembered the 'Professor' attacking her, courtesy of Phoenix, which instinctively caused her to quickly scan the area for any sign of her mentor. Seeing none her eyes went back to the bird and all of the fire surrounding it and as she stood, there was no fear.

I don't understand...Why don't I fear you?


The entire conversation happened in silence as their eyes locked on each others, then with a slight smirk forming on her lips she jumped off the balcony and the bird's wings closed around her.


In the Corporal World
Jean's levitating body righted itself so that she was now hovering upright, and sure enough fiery eyes were revealed when they opened. At first her gaze was on Selene and Madelyne, but just as quickly it shifted to the Shield agent now attempting to attack and an invisible barrier went up. It was all she did because the agent wasn't her primary concern at the moment.

"The Professor's here..."

Her eyes narrowed saying that and closing her eyes to sense his exact location she allowed the barrier to fall, assuming the Black and Red Queen could take care of themselves. This wasn't her fight.

"Charles, I think we need to talk."

It was a simple telepathic message, but both of them knew the danger behind her words.

OOC: Bump again...? lol Maddie? White Fox? Agent November and the rest of the SHIELD team?...

As the man sped towards them blade extended, Selene used her magics to cause travel. She'd felt the disturbances throughout the catacombs walls- the intrusion of the Agent. Madelyne and Jean Grey had to be left to focus, so quickly, Selene thrust them through a magical vortex, which would lead them to the upper levels.

Selene had felt the disturbances, even heard them as the commotion rocked the entire foundation of the aged mansion. It was time to end he madness and have the X-Men and SHIELD admit defeat.

OOC: Hope you don't mind this... I posted on the other thread first, so you can post coming out of that cloud of smoke/dust as Selene did?... Just trying to end these threads swiftly because they're dying a miserable death lol