The Sisterhood lives. (TAG Ravenhex)

[Madelyne Pryor]

If it's one thing I learned being Sebastian Shaw's Black Rook, it was the way business is done.
I've always had the passion, and desires, but I lacked the finesse.
This lifetime, I'm going to put to work the things I've sat back and learned.
The Hellfire Club was originally created in the 1800's, a Gentleman's club catering to the 'needs' of those with tons of money, or power in position.
The Mansion was always full of servants, female serving wenches in scantily clad costumes, Male Security guards.
Sex was only ONE of the things the club provided, but it was also their main source of outside income for the club itself.
I've found a way to turn that same corner stone of business around more to my own liking.
The world is changing, it's time a girl took the reins for awhile.
Before my death, I had stood back, accepting a lesser position, to put things in order.
Though I hadn't counted on Death being the one to wipe my slate clean enough to apply the finishing moves, it works very well to my advantage. I've been able to work underneath everyone's radar for months now.
For as many old money millionaires that were willing to pay Shaw for pretty little waifs in maid costumes, there are just as many repressed business men who pay nice amounts just to be chained to my wall and beaten with a 'psychic whip'. Or a real whip, if they don't swing all that way.
With the money made in such satisfying ways, I secured the Mansion itself. One of Shaw's own cast offs... lost in the paperwork somewhere along the way... legally in one of my aliases now, completely mine.
Shaw's even fit this one out with hidden tunnels, and secret basement things. Technology was one hand he dealt with heavily in securing his inner circle's more... criminal dealings.
Of course, a mansion needs a staff. But I'm not into watching a bunch of little girls in fishnets. My staff is made of men. And what they wear, depends on what mood I am in. No standard 'costumes' in my Hellfire Cult, just good taste.
I've managed to secure most of my own Inner Circle now. I call them the Sisterhood.
Too many little boy clubs... The Hellfire Club, Magneto's 'Brotherhood'... it's time to change the balance.
I have both Mastermind Sisters, and Chimera, and soon I shall have a Japanese Assassin...
All in good time though.
Currently, I have a client.
A rich boy, one of those computer millionaires, that made his fortune by tapping the right buttons on a keyboard.
Poor boy, he works 9-5 in a blue collar shirt, all formal and proper.
Long hard hours at a desk, he has such a HARD time winding down from a day at the office...
First thing's first, that suit has GOT to go. He can afford a replacement.
I reach up and tear the shirt open, my nails grazing his chest in the process, leaving red welts in their wake.
His shiver of pleasure brings a smile to my lips as I break out my Psychic Whip.
The handle is composed of Leather, woven into a beautiful red and black design. But the actual whip itself is composed of Telepathic energy. When it caresses the flesh, it slashes deep enough to leave marks on your mind...
I give him one stern whip across the chest, before pushing him roughly against the stone wall, attaching the manacles to his hands and feet.
It's going to be a fun session indeed.

[Raven Hex]

A man's world, that's what they call it. They're wrong, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not, the balance of power is slipping steadily toward that of woman. And I was determined to push it all the further, and in the end, only one woman would rule above all. Me. My ambitions run deep, eons of planning, waiting for the perfect opportunity to place myself in a position of great power. And now that time had come. "Mistress Raven Hex!" A dozen or so of my goblins surrounded me as I lounged on a sofa made of bone, flipping through the pages of the darkest grimoire ever compiled.

Ages ago, before witches were persecuted for their faith, before anyone had even heard of mutants, two books were created, and protected by my coven. One was a book of light. Filled with spells of peace, prosperity, healing, and life. The other was a book of shadows. A dark path of witchcraft that dealt with necromancy, killing spells, and the darkest of magick. It was the latter book I'd stolen the day of the coven's destruction. The same book that lay before me now, levitated by a misty green substance that was pure magickal energy. My energy. I closed the book and turned to the goblin that spoke. "Yes, Glorp, what is it?" He batted his beady little eyes at me, filled with adoration.

7 years ago I'd wandered into fey territory to bathe. To be lost to the sight of moral men & women. It was in this land that I met my goblins. Because of certain....assets I possess, they dubbed me their queen. Since that day I have ruled over many tribes of goblin-kind. Strangely, all of them a smaller variety, but nonetheless vicious and cunning. Especially when it came to serving their queen. Here I was royalty. Here, I was already what I'd sought to become in my youth. Reigning sovereign. "We've found her, Mistress, the other Goblin Queen." I sat up and leaned forward, clasping Glorp under the chin as I met his gaze, a wicked smile gracing my lips. "Really? Is it so? Then it is true."

Rumors had circulated of another calling herself Goblin Queen. Whether or not she earned the title, and was worthy of such, I had yet to decide. "Take me to her." I stood, not bothering with more clothing. I was decent enough. I did, however, adorn my spikes. Two twin spokes of shining metal slipped easily over my nipples. A black g-string covered my modesty, and thigh-high black boots equipped with smaller versions of the same spikes that covered my breasts ran down the smooth, leather lines. Even the heel of the boots was steel spiked. All the better to impale you with, my dear.

The goblins rallied and lead me near the head of the entourage, as we set out to meet this false Goblin Queen. That she had yet to confront me and try to win over my goblins was strange to me. For it was exactly what I planned to do to her. However, even the best laid plans may fail. My plans, on the contrary, never fail. My mind and my eyes are both fully opened, and with a bit of improvisation, the best laid plan can easily be turned into an even better plan.

We set forth through the world of man, the world that was mine to rule, the world that I detested so, and toward the false Goblin Queen. We emerged near a mansion of grand proportions, the stink of goblin in the air. It was not my goblin's scent on the wind, but another breed. They smelled of a far away world, and yet we saw none of them. Perhaps it was my killer looks that gained me entry to the vast mansion, the false Goblin Queen's home. A dark power stirred in my breast, leaving a trail that was simple to follow. "Keep guard. I go to face the false queen." I waved a hand toward my goblin horde and moved with an evil grace down the manor's long hallways.

It did not take me long to find her. Dressed in a black latex dominatrix's get up, something quite likely to be found within my own closet, the red-haired false queen was torturing a man. Now this was a woman after my own black little heart. If we played our cards in precisely the right way, we could take over the seat of the world without batting an eyelash. Perhaps, instead of dethroning her now, I could work along side her. And together we could bring the world of men to their knees. Only then would I dispatch of her. The sharp clack of my heels on the stone floor signalled my entrance. "And I find her dressed to the teeth, proving that women are indeed the stronger sex by humiliating an already broken man. But where, oh where are they? Where are your goblins, fellow Queen?"

[Madelyne Pryor]

The man writhes under another crack of the whip, as it touches his flesh, I feel it sink into his mind as well, the intense direct pain bringing him to a blissful high.
Of course, I want to hear him scream.
Whipping him harder, and quicker, I work up the vocals I so enjoy, the chamber filling with his cries of pain.
I must admit I'm a bit shocked when a woman enters my domain casually.
How did she even know we were here?
Part of working under everyone's radar, I've even shielded myself from Telepathic scans, and I have Sebastian's own technology keeping us off any mechanical radar...
As far as anyone should know, this building doesn't have a basement...
I stop whipping my client, giving her my full attention as she speaks, enjoying my show, as well as mentioning the Goblins, saying she's a fellow 'Queen'.
Very interesting.
I turn my body to her, the whip still down at my side, a look of curiosity on my face,

My Goblins are in their own realm, waiting on my need to call.
Are you suggestion there are more Queens?
You, are a Goblin Queen as well?
Well, of course Limbo can't be the only dimension with them... why hadn't I thought of it before!

I look her over again, wondering where she could have come from.
If there are other goblins, it would be possible to have some yet untapped resources to consider going after in my plans.

[Raven Hex]

The man she's so expertly torturing hangs gasping, his screams spent. "Such lovely music they make in their throws." I take my eyes from the specimen as she turns to face me. Curiosity lines her face as she studies me, no doubt wondering how I breeched her domain with such ease. One goblin knows another, do they not? Just as surely as I'd have known she was another Goblin Queen had I met her anywhere else. Like calls to like. She spoke with an air of regality, a cultured learning that shown in how she carried her form.

"Their own realm. Of course. They must come from another realm, as they do not serve me." I raised my hand, palm up and conjured a green pentagram which floated there. Throwing my palm back the way I'd come, I sent the pentagram flying. A signal to my goblins to join me. Within moments of my calling, a horde of goblins clamored as they spilled into the chamber. "These are but some of my goblins. Before rumor of you circulated, I was the only Goblin Queen in this world. It seems that is no longer the case." At least she was worthy, as loathe as I was to admit it. Goblins are not always the smartest creatures, but I could see why she'd been chosen by this alien breed from another realm.

"Limbo, you say? Interesting...." Limbo surely must lie on the outskirts of Hades, I'd heard of such places from other mythologies, and yet, having never visited such a place, I could neither confirm or deny it's existence. "You shall have to show me such a realm someday." A few of the braver goblins in my regime lumbered toward this other Queen, grasping bits of her clothing and smelling her hair. One brave, warted soul reached for her whip. "I'd stay your hand, Klex. Lest you lose it." He looked back to me with shock in his eyes, one hand frozen a mere centimeter from the tip of her whip. I threw back my head and laughed as Klex ran to me, cowering behind my boot heel. I gathered up Klex and set him between my breasts, where he snuggled happily.

I outstretched my arms, stepping forward through my throngs. "And here we are, at an impasse. Two Queens, each of their own right, ruling two breeds of the same race. Both intent on destroying man, humiliating those who think they hold real power." I stalked closer to her victim. "But these puny weaklings have no idea what true power is. Should they see it's face, they'd fall to the ground, laying dead in the midst of their own excrement. But you and I, we seek to harness such power. To use it fully, to weild it as we were meant to. What business do you run here, fellow Queen? Perhaps, together, the world can be ours faster than with us each working toward our own ends. Two women of power, joined in ruling over a world that's turned far too long under the hand of man. What say you?"

[Madelyne Pryor]

The way she mentions her goblins, makes it sound as if they are from this mundane realm... not a separate realm such as Limbo.
She mentions Limbo, curios to visit, and it brings a smile to my face.

Some day, everyone will see Limbo...

The more I see of her, the more interesting she becomes, drawing a green pentagram in the air, summoning plenty of Goblins to her side.
Poor guys wouldn't last a day a Limbo... They are kind of cute!
All the Goblins I know are hideous in comparison... Sym himself stands taller than I do...
One reaches for my whip, and she warns him away just in time.
An extension of my Telepathic power, formed as a weapon, the result of someone else merely touching it would be very unfortunate.
She starts talking as a business woman, cutting bluntly to the core of the scene she walked in on, admitting an interest in working together.
With her own goblins minding her, and not so curiously running amok, I feel there is room enough to bring S'ym here.
S'ym was originally one of Belasco's most powerful demons.
Back when my life fell apart, when I found out I was nothing but a copy, a brood-mare... S'ym offered me power.
Power that I could use to get back at The X-Men. Back at Scott.
Everything would have gone on perfectly too, if little miss Jean Grey didn't come back to life and TAKE everything of mine...
With Illyana back on Limbo's throne, S'ym would be the one more appropriate to call.
I send out a Telepathic call, And a portal opens before us.
A brief glimpse of Limbo can be seen, still just as dismal as Belasco himself kept it.
Limbo changes to it's ruler... I thought Illyana would have personalized it by now.
S'ym comes through, the portal closing behind him as he bows to one knee before me.
I like Ravenhex's style, she seems very potent, and just perfect for the Sisterhood.
The Hellfire Club always had it's "white queen' and it's 'black queen' ruling at eachother's sides. Having another Queen in the Cult would be rather fitting.

I say it would be a great benefit, for both of us to pool our resources.

I motion to S'ym, still kneeling before me,

S'ym, take a look at Earth's Goblins for me.
Do you know of other Goblin.... breeds?

While he looks them over, I wave my arm to direct her attention to a wall across the room.
The wall is adorned with any whip, paddle, or chain that a Mistress could want.

Let me show you just what kind of business I am conducting here.

I stand before the chained man, grabbing a handful of his hair, I raise his face to my own.

I'm going to let my new friend here have some fun, don't disappoint her, or you'll just get worse from me when she's done with you.

First of all, scum bags like these are just one branch of our financial marketing.
We can't kill our income, but beating them and accepting their cash for the job is one way we afford such... tempting accommodations.
Just remember, he can't pay if he's dead.

As I step back to watch her work the man over, S'ym seems to know of Earth Goblins. He's spent time in this realm though, so it's not too surprising.
I nod, and let him go back to Limbo, no real use to me right now. I was not able to call an entire horde of demons, as she did, but I have brought what could safely fit in the room with us, and shown her my own tie to the Goblins.
Magic itself is a new realm to me. The mutant powers are more the stuff I'm used to. I've spent more time being a Telepath, than I spent being the Goblin Queen so actively on this Realm.
She seems to be well on top in that specific area.
The previous thought of untapped resources seems to ring true as I watch her do some lovely work.

[Raven Hex]

Not only is she a Mistress of strength and position, she is smart as well. I might as well have brought her to her own doom had she denied me. "Then let us reap these benefits!" My Goblins cheered, apparently pleased with the union. They rushed to her summoned demon, a hulking mass that towered over my smaller minions. Some clambered up onto him, treating him as if he were an amusement. Neither the demon, nor my goblins showed ill will toward one another. Instead, my goblins seemed as curious about the demon as he did them. The portal through which he'd come showed a vast wasteland. I gestured toward it's view. "That, I assume, is this Limbo you speak of?" What good would it do to rule a land where nothing grew, nothing flourished, no life waited to be taken? For now, her reasons of wanting Limbo escaped me, but I fully planned to learn more of this place, now that I'd had the barest glimpse.

I followed her to the wall that held the chained man. All men should be treated as such. Cattle, the lot of them, most not even fit for breeding! I smiled to her, a slight inclination of my head as I looked over the impliments on another wall. No, for this, I would use my own. "It's not common for me to leave my victims alive. But, this once, I will comply." The man's eyes shone with lust as he gazed at me. He watched as my hand traveled down over the swell of my breast, Klex having left his perch to play with the demon, S'ym. As my hand traveled further down my body, caressing it's curves, tickling along the snake-like tattoo I had winding about my torso, he licked his lips. I laughed, plucking the spiked tips from my nipples. She said I couldn't kill him, but she said nothing of maiming. After all, he could live long without his eyes.

The eyes that watched me hungrily, eager for the punishment I could deliver. But I tired of this farse. I wanted his blood pooling on the earth as his soul escaped with his last breath. I trailed the tips of the spikes along his cheeks, down his neck and across his chest. I skirted the red welts left from the other Queen's whip as he writhed and whimpered. Grasping his cheeks roughly, forcing his mouth into a wide, terrified O. "Do not whine like such a filthly coward. It disgusts me! You will only speak, make any noise, when I, Raven Hex, do tell you so! Is that understood?" He nodded, with the help of my hand forcing his head up and down. "Good." Still, his eyes never left my exposed breasts. "Is this what you're looking at so intently? You are fond of them, are you not?" I cupped my breasts, shoving them closer to his panting face. He stuttered, unable to tear his gaze from my chest. "Y....Yy......yes." He nodded of his own accord this time. "Then remember them well, for they are the last thing you'll ever see." With that said, I plunged both of the steel spikes into his eyes, popping the bags of fluid like grapes under my heel. He screamed, long and loud, hanging limp as I withdrew the spikes and placed them back where they belonged. I turned to the other Queen. "I've left him alive. For now."