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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3168633" data-attributes="member: 3448">As she invoked the infernal power, a small black tendril leading through the wall became visible, and other coven members sprang into action.  “Brita, Princess of the Nails, block this with your iron arms!” cried another diabolist, thrusting her own sigil at the tendril.Dame Brionna began pushing Alistair out of the chamber.  “Your grace, we need to leave.  This is not safe for you.”Alistair did not resist, but reached out and firmly grabbed Kit’s arm, dragging her with them.  For her part, Kit was still largely in shock from the contact with Lady Zenia’s mind so close to death.  Alone of the Council, Mahler remained, quietly edging his way away from the mystic struggle but keeping a close watch on it.Several of the other senior coven members invoked various powerful devils, while Lady Constance continued pouring energy into the young mother.Finally, Mahler saw the tendril reshape itself into a strange image with a double overlay.  At its most basic, the image was of Alphonse Brightspan, but overlaid on his features were both a strange face, half cat and half man, and jutting archaeological features, towers, and buildings.  The human features were completely neutral, but the cat figure’s lips formed words.  “Traitorous b---h, you have failed.  Even when you were taken by force you could not serve me.”  It raised its hands, and a bolt of energy flew at Lady Zenia.  Dame Agatha turned on her heal and dove in front of the bolt, trying to interpose her symbol but missing by inches.  The bolt of energy struck her squarely in the chest, and she collapsed, dead.  Mahler faded even further back into the room, quietly hiding behind laboratory equipment.The cat outline hissed in anger.  Before it could act again, another coven member advanced directly upon it, presenting the symbol of Brita.  “In the name of the Princess of the Seventh Plane, I eject you!”  With another hiss, the cat thing outline faded from the wall.The coven gathered around Dame Agatha’s body and confirmed that she was dead.  Lady Constance looked over at the page.  “Tell the Archduke that Lady Zenia will live.  And tell him that I wish to negotiate the right to offer the passing of our sister to our patrons in our own way.”The page hurried out to where Alistair, Kit, and Dame Brionna were waiting for news.  He prostrated himself.  “Lady Constance wishes to inform you that Lady Zenia will live.”  As everyone began to relax, the page continued, “In exchange for her life, Dame Agatha has perished.”“Is her body intact?  Can we raise her?” asked Alistair.“No, your grace,” said the page.  “Her body was not harmed, but she served Lilith, and her contract will not allow her to be raised.”“And there’s nothing to be done about that?”“Not without negotiating her soul back from Lilith.  She will get another turn of the wheel after her time is done.”“In 10,000 years,” said Dame Brionna flatly.“Yes, m’lady,” said the page.</blockquote>

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