The House of Cards

The black shadows wrapped around Noelle like a giant hand, immobilizing her. She could kick her feet, barely, but the way Spade held her she was unable to land any good blows. Not even a slight kick to the shin with her new pointy-toed boot. And though the black tendrils didn't cover her face, she couldn't see anything, just one dark corner after another as Spade's teleport spell whipped them from the cracked streets of Boomtown across Paragon. She thought she recognized the industrial canyons of Steel, the Troll-infested underpasses that filled Skyway, the azure waters around the urban island where she lived, but each glimpse was too brief to orient herself.

She and Spade flicked from shadow to shadow, in a manner completely at odds with her own ability to slide across the sky in waves of light like the Aurora, or instantly appear in a place she felt an emotional connection to, like the Baron's castle, or her balcony, or Kid's apartme-- oh damn, Kid. Kid!

Noelle struggled again against the tendrils that bound her, and as Spade paused for a moment in the black shadows of an alley somewhere, she tossed the hair that had fallen in front of her face away, and fixed the Knave of Spades with an icy glare. "You are in deep shit, Spade. Deep. Shit. You have no idea the enemy you just made. Kid is going to kick your ASS!"

The bastard scoffed, and with another muttered incantation brought them deep into a forest grove, then to a dark enclosed space that echoed with water dripping and smelled like rust. "Yes, I'm sure he will sing a great song for us all when he is turned into another one of our mind puppets."

He murmured something again, and the shadows around them changed, grew hot, the walls tight around them. Noelle retorted again, still trying to wiggle free. Even if she only had a finger to move, she could try something, call some form of ice. "Wherever you're taking me, they're going to find me. You can't just grab a member of the Alliance and not be beat down for it, you idiot. Your stupid House of Cards just made a big mistake. Big. Huge."

Spade spoke again, "Ah yes, the Alliance. You mean the group of heroes that failed to save you from a single House of Cards member? The Alliance whose communication network I so easily hacked into? There is nothing you heroes can do to stop us. I doubt they will even be able to find you."

Noelle squirmed, "You haven't a clue what you're up against. The magic, the might, the manpower. Hell, Reese alone could probably send your whole ridiculous organization to the ground. House of Cards indeed."

Spade scoffed at the comment, "Ah yes, the Felon...he certainly had me by the balls back there in Boomtown, didn't he? He does not even have the strength to use his powers when it is necessary to save a comrade. He could have stopped me, but he stood there and let you be taken. Some man."

Noelle didn't respond. The same thought had crossed her mind, but she refused to entertain it. Reese couldn't use his powers. He just couldn't. She didn't know exactly why, just that it was about more than strength.

The shadows grew deeper as they moved again, and finally stopped in a dimly lit hall lined with heavy wooden doors. "Welcome to the Mansion. Magic will not work here, your friends will not be able to locate you. I suggest you cooperate, it will make everything easier for you." Spade nodded as two men approached, and released his grip on Noelle. The two men wore identical outfits of red and black robes. Each had a red "5" tatooed on his forehead. They moved as if controlled by one mind. The only difference between them were small emblems on their garb, a heart on the first, and a diamond on the second. The black tendrils retreated back towards Spade, twirling around him like cats coiled around his feet.

Spade turned towards the Five of Hearts and Diamonds, "Twins, you know where to take her. She remains there until the mistress says otherwise."

Spade then placed two fingers on his head as if he was in pain. The twins glanced at him in concern, but he gestured, saying he was all right. He then looked straight into Noelle's eyes...but the look on his face was different, there was something familar about it that Noelle couldn't place. He then spoke to her mentally so no one else could hear. His voice was strangely familar and weak as if struggling to come out, "Noelle...I'm comin'..."

Fearra then shook his head as if snapping out of a trance and continued to a large door, an evil look returning to his face. The two men grabbed Noelle's arms, their grips hot against her skin. They took away her communicator, and then went to remove her pointy boots, thinking they could be used as weapons. Spade then glared at the twins, saying, "You idiots, hands off the boots. All we need is the communicator."

As Noelle inhaled, ready to make her move, to fight back, she reached for the moisture in the air around her and gasped. Heat. Baking heat. The air around her seemed almost to boil as Spade unlocked the door they stood in front of, and the men pushed her in, locking the door behind her with a clang. Noelle fell to her knees in what seemed a very personal holding cell: dry and hot. Fiery hot. She tried to cool herself down, to draw forth her icy armor, or a swirl of cool air, or a Jack – but after her first attempt evaporated instantly in the searing heat, nothing came to her.

Spade called out from the other side of the door. "Wait here, the Ace of Hearts will see you soon. She is our second-in-command and will decree your fate. Your powers are useless in this room, I suggest you save your strength."

Noelle crawled over to a wall, ignoring the cot in one corner and the toilet in another. She wouldn't need them -- she wouldn't be here that long. They'd find her. She took off her jacket and twisted her hair up off her neck, unable to find the source of the heat, unable to avoid it. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and sent out a silent plea. "Kid. Reese. Anyone. Hurry. Please."

I'm dreamin' again... just another vision from that fuckin' black and red knave. I've grown used to these by now, but this vision is different. I'm not seeing apocalypse or Spade or anything. I'm all by myself, walkin' down a dimly lit hall, not knowin' where I'm going. As I make my way towards what looks like a door, I start feeling... cold. The closer to the door I get, the colder I feel. By the time my hand's reachin' for the knob I'm practically freezing.

I open the door and it's like I just walked into Frostfire's pad again. I look around and see nothing but the floor, which is a solid sheet o' ice stretchin' endlessly in all directions. I approach it slowly so I don't slip, but find I can walk on it just fine without sliding anywhere.

I'm still damn cold but I keep walkin... what the hell is Spade tryin' to tell me this time? I hear a sound... like water drippin'. I look ahead and I see another door. Hanging from the doorway is an icicle slowly melting. Drip... drip... drip... drip... As I make my way towards the entrance to God knows where.

I open the door and a rush of cold wind blows against my mostly covered face. This room is similar to the last one, but there's a big fat difference. There's a large block o' ice sittin' in the center of the room with two torches on either side. I can make out a silhouette in the ice, someone's in there. I approach and slowly raise two of the fingers on my right hand to the ice block. I brush away some of the shavins that are obscurin' the view... I can see a pair of eyes. Just a single pair of eyes... but I would never forget eyes so beautiful. Should've put this together before... some detective I am. In the time it takes me to think all o' that, the two flames grow much bigger and melt all the ice away. All that's left is a puddle. Drip... drip... drip... drip...

I can hear his laughter, the laughter of that leotard wearin' freak. I'm overcome by anger and let out a long, hard shout. I'm not a loud person usually, but I bet that Spade fucker can hear me now. I collapse and my face smacks right into the icy floor beneath me. It cracks like a pane o' glass and I start sinkin' into the watery depths below. Drip... drip... drip... drip...As I start to loose consciousness, I think a single thought... hopin she hears me.

Noelle... I'm comin'...