Silent Storm

The very next day, Marie, Vanessa, Jason and Riley are all seated, having breakfast together in their dorm.

A virtual screen suddenly descends from the ceiling.

They all affix their eyes on it as the words ‘BREAKING NEWS’ run across the bottom of the screen.

Co-anchors Rachel Diri, a beautiful blond, and Eric Djon-Djon, a bald, but very handsome dark-skinned man, are presenting the news.

“For those of you now joining us, thank you for tuning into Cape Central News, I’m Rachel Diri.”

“And I’m Eric Djon-Djon. Now we’ve received a video recording from the visionary behind our tube carrier system, Mr. Julian Reed, CEO of Reliance Technologies, confirming what the nation has suspected for some time now.”

“That’s right Eric, Richard Greeves, Prime Minister of Candor, has accepted aid from Mr. Reed and his company, in the form of agricultural research in order to find ways to heel the country’s soil, which has been unable to produce for almost a decade.”

“Incredible stuff Rachel, let’s look at the video taken moments ago from outside the Prime Minister’s Palace.”

A video feed comes on from a screen behind the co-anchors as they turn and face it-----

---The thick bearded Prime Minister Greeves and several other officials, stand atop the palace steps, as he begins to address the crowd. “My people, I know these are difficult times, you’re tired, and you’re hungry. Life in Candor hasn’t been pleasant for some time now and you deserve better. We have lost so many of our brothers and sisters to this famine, crime is at an all-time high, and the support we’ve been getting from our allies has been very beneficial, but it is still not enough. Some of you have fallen into the temptation of patronizing those vile pirates that are flooding our shores with goods acquired through unspeakable means. However, despite all of this, I am reaffirming my position of not accepting any aid from the Alliance of United Nations.”

The crowd becomes agitated and starts to jeer the Prime Minister, who refuses to falter, and speaks over the noise.

“The Alliance is only interested in what they can get from us, any aid from them would come at a price. We as a nation would be expected to form part of their corrupt Union. Those degenerates from the opposition want you to believe I don’t care about the people, but today I’m here to prove everyone wrong. I would like to introduce Mr. Julian Reed, CEO of Reliance Technologies.”

The Prime Minister invites Julian to address the people, who steps up, cleaning his glasses, and begins to speak. “I would like to assure all of you that while my company’s base of operations is within the Allied Zone, I have no love for the Alliance. The Allied Nations refuse to help you because they fear retaliation from the Alliance itself. But my company won’t be bullied into submission. My team of gifted scientists and I have been unofficially studying the soil of this great nation for some time now, and we can confidently say that within two years, your harvest will be more bountiful than it has ever been.”

The crowd erupts into loud cheers. Several persons can be seen wiping away tears of joy.

Reed shakes the Prime Minister’s hand, then steps back to allow him to speak once again.

With an ice-cold delivery, the Prime Minister makes his position abundantly clear. “Now let me issue a stern warning to the Alliance, this agreement is strictly between Candor and Reliance Technologies. Should any Government, Military, or even Supernatural Official from the Alliance step foot on Candorian soil, they will be tried to the fullest extent of our laws.”

-----“Wow, that last part about supernatural officials was definitely a reference to the Silent Storm wasn’t it Rachel.”

“Indeed it was Eric, it’s interesting, because Mr. Reed has also been rumored to be a major private donor to the Silent Storm since the budget cut by the Council. We can only wait and see how the Alliance responds to-----”

Rachel is interrupted by an explosion which blows a hole in the wall and sends her and Eric flying across the room.

Chaos ensues.

Screams can be heard from the studio crew as they scatter.

Debris and smoke everywhere.

A devilish laugh is heard.

Cordelia appears as the smoke clears, accompanied by Ronald, Christian, Silo, and a confused Sasha.

“Cordelia, what are we doing here, you said you would take me home,” says Sasha.

Cordelia ignores her and sits on one of the Co-Anchor chairs and starts spinning deliriously.

“Why do you all look so shocked to see me?” she asks.

She then points to the plump camera man. “You, tubby, are all the cameras still running?”

She gets no response, prompting her to scream violently at the camera man.

The cameraman responds, his voice trembling with fear. “Yes, yes they’re rolling.”

Cordelia calms down instantly and blows a kiss at the cameraman.

“Thank you darling. Now judging from the looks on your faces, you guys are pretty confused. Which means the Silent Storm has been keeping secrets from the public.”

Cordelia sarcastically places her hands to her mouth-----

-----Marie and Vanessa stand with terrified looks on their faces.

Riley and Jason remain seated with their eyes and mouths wide open.

“V, go now!!! I’ll catch up,” says Marie.

The dorm window slides open, and Vanessa jumps out.

She quickly ascends into the clouds, moving through them at great speed, towards the Cape Central News Station.

Loud roars of thunder can be heard as she moves.

“You two stay here, I mean it,” says Marie.

“But mom,” says Riley.

Marie becomes uncharacteristically aggressive in her tone. “I said stay here Riley!”

Riley submits.

Marie flickers through the window and towards the Garden Pond using Accendo.

She rides on the water as it takes her to a connecting lake outside the Academy.

She dives into the lake and begins moving through the water at tremendous speed causing violent waves and ripples---

---“Father bless this child, free her from the clutches of darkness that threaten to perverse her soul, condemning her to a life of sin,” says Father Joseph, as he prays with Victoria on the altar, resting one hand on top of her head.”

Zardon screams out in agony. “Please Vicky, make him stop!”

“Forgive her father, for she knew not what she was doing, free her mind, body and soul.”

Victoria begins to scream now. “Zardon what the hell are you doing?”

“That wasn’t me this time Vicky, something’s happening, I can feel it,” Zardon responds.

“I feel it too, a ridiculous source of dark energy.”

“This energy signature, it feels unnervingly familiar,” says Zardon.

“Something tells me we have to go.”

“Vicky what are you talking about?” asks Father Joseph.

“Sorry padre, we’ll be back before you know it,” says Victoria as she speeds out of the Cathedral---

-----“They should be here any minute so let’s speed this up,” says Cordelia.

She snaps her fingers at Ronald, who shoves Sasha towards her.

Cordelia grabs Sasha’s hand and forces her into the seat next to her.

“Cordelia what’s happening?” asks Silo.

Cordelia ignores him and begins to speak into the camera. “Several weeks ago, we snagged this little cutie from the incompetent clutches of the Silent Storm,” she says.

“Ronald what the hell is this?” asks Silo.

Cordelia then places a hand on Sasha’s head and smiles. “Say hi to your mommy darling.”

Sasha slaps away Cordelia’s hand.

“As you can see, she doesn’t play well with others, which is why, being the lovely soul that I am, I’ve decided to hand the little darling back over to the SSA and her mother,” says Cordelia, as she gives herself a round of applause.

Vanessa suddenly bursts through the roof and strikes Cordelia sending her through the large screen behind the Co-Anchor chairs.

She hurries Sasha and the Co-Anchors to move to safety.

Ronald speeds over to Vanessa and delivers a kick which she blocks and counters, knocking him to the ground.

A confused Silo hesitates but eventually fires an energy blast which she smacks away with ease.

Christian attempts to charge Vanessa but she zaps him before he gains any momentum.

Cordelia gets up and dusts herself off.

Her face is slightly bloodied, but it quickly heals.

She points to the hole in the wall she had initially created upon her unannounced arrival.

“There’s literally a hole right there darling, did you really have to come crashing through the roof? I swear, the SSA use to be so discreet in the old days, what a shame.”

Vanessa turns to the cameraman. “You, cut the broadcast, now!”

“Cut the broadcast and I’ll cut your throat,” says Cordelia with a terrifying smile.

The cameraman is clearly confused and does nothing.

“That’s a good boy, I promise you’ll be the last to die when this is all over.”

Ronald and Christian get back on their feet.

“Whatever your plan is Cordelia, we’re gonna stop it,” warns Vanessa.

“We?” asks Cordelia.

Vanessa smiles.

Cordelia senses something approaching and steps back.

A large gush of water comes crashing through the hole in the wall and slams into the three boys, sending them flying against the wall at the other end, knocking them unconscious.

Marie emerges through the opening in the wall.

“The Deadly Dyad,” says a laughing Cordelia. “We meet again. The last time I saw you two was when you killed Dorian.”

Cordelia chuckles. “But did you really?”

“Cordelia, let these people go, your quarrel is with us,” Marie pleads.

Cordelia stares at Marie and Vanessa with a dark and intimidating expression. “My quarrel is with the entire world!” she exclaims.

She then raises her hands, summoning a dark Rune Circle, with a Star at the center.

She stretches her arms toward Marie and Vanessa, who are suddenly pinned to the wall by a great force, rendering them unable to move.

She then stretches an arm in Sasha’s direction and pulls her towards her.

Cordelia makes Sasha face the camera. “You should have played nice like the other kids you little bitch.”

Marie and Vanessa struggle, but to no avail.

“Cordelia please, don’t do this,” begs Marie.

Cordelia stares directly into the camera. “This is a message from Dorian Marx.”

“I’m gonna kill you, I swear to Gaia, I’m gonna kill you!” exclaims Vanessa.

“The Silent Storm are helpless, no one can protect you, and your kids will never be safe,” Cordelia continues.

She then turns Sasha to face her.

Marie and Vanessa scream as tears build in their eyes.

A sharp blade extends from an accessory on Cordelia’s wrist and she impales Sasha through the heart.

Sasha grabs Cordelia’s hair.

Cordelia removes the blade from her chest, and she falls to the ground.

“Just like I promised, your mother can have you back now,” she says, licking the blood from her blade and laughing. “Time to take out the rest of the trash,” she continues.

Marie’s body starts to flicker as she slowly begins to break free from Cordelia’s hold.

This surprises Cordelia, and she becomes visibly worried. “Looks like I’ll have to kill you another day,” she says.

Marie breaks free and falls to her knees.

Cordelia kicks Sasha’s almost lifeless body towards Marie and Vanessa.

Vanessa also breaks free.

Cordelia rushes over to the three unconscious boys and places her hand on them.

Marie flickers toward them.

Cordelia laughs and places another hand on the floor and disappears with the three boys leaving behind the Crossroads Rune scorched on the ground where she was, which disappears after a few seconds.

Vanessa holds Sasha in her arms as she takes her last breath.

Marie and Vanessa notice strands of Cordelia’s hair in Sasha’s hand.

Marie lets out a painful screech.

Vanessa’s eyes course with streaks of electricity---

---Victoria watches on from a safe distance using the Eye Rune.

“I’m surprised you didn’t intervene Vicky,” says Zardon.

“I’m still not entirely sure what the hell is going on, we need to assess the situation.”

“Cordelia, I never thought I’d see her again, she’s even more deranged than we’ve been told,” says Zardon.

“It seems she’s kidnapping Altere, but why?” asks Victoria.

“Who knows,” Zardon responds.

“Do you think you can trace her energy signature to ascertain her location?”

“Her Aether has been tainted to such an extent, it’s signature has become similar to our own; tracking her will be easy, but she’ll have to release another significant amount of dark energy.”

“Ok, well when she does we’ll be ready.”

Victoria places a hand on the ground and summons the Crossroads Rune and disappears.