Stepping out of the Foundation, Ben took a very deep breath of air and looked up at the sky towards the sun. It was a beautiful day and he raised a hand upwards, reaching towards the bright vibrant light.

"Father, I wish I understood why." Then he closed his eyes, staying there in that odd pose. But he hadn't heard the voice of his celestial progenitor since the Shattering. There was no answer that day either. So reluctantly, he dropped his hand and proceeded to walk towards the park and the madness beyond.

In the park itself, across from the Phoenix Foundation, Ben paused and looked around.

"Xavier?" Benedict hadn't seen him since Prhys returned from Elysium and had no idea how he fared. There'd been so much to do and so little time in which to do it.

Lying down in her stronghold holding her stomach, Madison yelled out.

"Horla, I don't want this anymore. I want just the power, not this!" She groaned in displeasure, "Now Xavier turned on me. Traitor!" Horla stood there, fading slightly, like a hologram flickering.

"I... what to... you," his words were cut off by the flickering. Horla looked out the window. "He... comes... you." Madison stood up slowly.

"Good, wait for him at the edge and escort him up." The lightening illuminated the room. "It's time to show him what he'll never become." Chuckling softly, "Foolish mortal." She left the room to get her lab coat and slip on to hide the bulge.

The previous day's encounter with Madison had been an eye-opener, to say the least. Thinking about Ben, Xavier hoped they could come to some mutual understanding, even if it was Ben telling him to shove off. Xavier took some extra time to clean up so to present a good appearance to Benedict. This action mulled around in the back of his head while he was doing it. What for? Why? Does his opinion really matter? Then it dawned on him as he stared at the reflection in the bathroom mirror; yes, it does matter, to me it matters a great deal. Sighing and shaking his head at himself, Xavier finished dressing. Grabbing the keys to the townhouse on his way out, he closed the front door, looking in the direction of the Foundation. The top of the building wasn't hard to miss and since it was just on the other side of the park, well… it was there for the whole world to see.

The stroll through the park was cheerful on that beautiful morning. Xavier wished he could fully appreciate it, but a dark cloud of dread hung over him, not letting him see beyond the end of his spiritual nose. The brilliant threads of life reverberated there in the park, which was why he enjoyed walking through that area so much.

Was that? Naw, it couldn’t be. Xavier turned around, and there he was, standing there.

"Da… ah, Ben. How are you doing? I was…" Xavier walked over to Ben a bit slowly. "I was just coming to see how you were doing." Ben looked good, tired but good.

"I never got a chance to fully express my apologies for my misconduct. I was way out of line, and control. I’m… I’m also sorry about the loss of your phoenix. I understand he meant a great deal to you." Xavier gazed down at the ground and shoved a stone around with the toe of his shoe, sighing at the lesson of empathy he’d been given.

Horla went down to the third street lamp and waited for Benedict to enter looking like a leper. His flickering subsided for the time being. She must have passed out asleep for if only a brief moment. He stood there brushing himself off and then he saw Xavier going towards his father.

"Oh no." Potential problems arose in his thoughts as he wondered if Oscar told Xavier about what needed to be done in order for the realm to dissipate. He adjusted himself to look presentable for Oscar. While waiting a moment while he could see but not hear them talk, he started flickering again.

"Dammit." Horla began to pace back and forth in the violent electrical storm, lighting touching down quite often. Madison’s horizon realm looked like a wasteland.

"You are forgiven." Ben reached out to him, touching his neck and pulling Xavier towards himself in a deep embrace. "It doesn't matter," he whispered in Xavier’s ear. "You're forgiven. I hope you make wiser decisions based on what you've learned." Then he wrapped an arm around Xavier’s waist.

"Walk with me to her," Ben said in a tone that made it clear the 'her' was Madison.

Burying his face in Ben’s neck, the warm embrace melted even more of that ice block around Xavier’s heart. Reluctantly he pulled away as Ben slipped an arm around his waist leading in the direction of Madison's place. He slid an arm around Ben’s shoulders.

"Thank you... Dad," he whispered. His stomach knotted even tighter as they approached the curb where he knew reality would shift, warping into something twisted and demented.

"Dad," Xavier leaned his head towards Ben in confidence. "I've been to her place already. Yesterday. There are no positive threads of creation running through this realm of hers. I'm totally powerless in there. It's all her twisted little world."

"Its all right. In the end, we'll both be all right," Ben promised his son and then with his head held high, Xavier at his side, he crossed the threshold into Madison's playground where her madness reigned supreme.

Horla impatiently stood near the curb as he flickered. What could be keeping them? Looking over his shoulder to the stronghold he could see Madison's silhouette in the window.

She stood there letting out a long exhale. "C'mon... the games are about to begin." The spawn inside of her took its sweet time moving, making sure she felt every inch of it.

"Knock it off." She hauled off and hit her stomach to quiet the thing. Flicking in that baron wasteland of humanity, Horla gazed over at the man as he entered the realm, appearing like a leper.

"...Must... Benedict. She's... expecting..." Horla nodded to Oscar. "Oscar...'vier." Turning, flickering wildly, Horla seemed more and more like a hologram fading. He walked with Oscar by his side.

"She... going... die?" Oscar looked at him shrugging slightly.

"If they know how or what to do. Who will give the fatal blow is entirely up in the air."

Reaching the building, Horla took them up to Madison. Leaning against the wall Madison covered the stomach with her coat.

"I see you came back little brother. Shame your word is as good as his." She pointed over to Benedict. Two new ones sigil on her forehead had appeared and with them her power had increased. Lightening touched down by the window illuminating her face, sunken, exhausted, over all drained.

"So father, you've come to play?" She chuckled looking at his state. "Funny, I remember saying you had a God complex, and here I stand before you, a God. Something you tried to achieve and never could accomplish. How does that feel you weak, pathetic man? Maybe next time you'll think twice about which child to throw aside." She remained propped up against the wall unmoving.

"Horla, take her into the Lab with Xavier." Madison pointed at Oscar. Horla nodded and led them to the back. Madison pushed herself off the wall, waddling over to her father.

Leaning forward right into his ear she whispered, "Time to wake up now."

"No, Maddi, I didn't come to fight you. I came because Da ..." Xavier felt himself and Oscar being ushered to the laboratory in the back. Worry and fear for his father suddenly grabbed a hold of him. He had come too far and gone through too much now to lose this man.

Dad?

I love you, Xavier. Turning to Madison, Ben’s expression was very calm, practically serene.

"I never tried to be a God, daughter. I didn't have to. I was Chosen by the Sun itself, birthed in an age before the first age of man. Born of the sun, spirit sheathed in flesh. Your Ascension offers nothing in comparison. If you try to Awaken me... the effects will shock or disappoint you. Why don't we, oh I don't know, play chess?"

"A game of Chess? Later. HORLA!" Flickering on his return back down the hall Madison’s avatar stood before them. "Do it Horla." Madison took a step back. Horla looked at the leper and reached his hand into Ben's mind.

"This will hurt," Horla groaned out not wanting to do this. Sending an electrical charge into Ben’s brain, Horla kick started the awakening. "Your avatar will appear next to you soon." Leaning against the wall Madison watched her father with a smirk.

"Play my game now." There was a glittering beside Benedict as his avatar appeared. "And bow down before your God." She dropped her lab coat in anticipation, revealing her swollen stomach. "COME AND PLAY MY GAME!" She shouted out in Finch's voice glaring at the Benedict she was told so much about. Horla backed off not wanting to be a part of this but unable to disobey.

"Mistress, this has gone too far."

"Go back and watch the other two. NOW!"

Ben went down upon his knees as she called forth from the Summer Lands his exiled avatar and there was a surge of brilliant light. Still bent submissively on the ground in front of her, he went limp like a rag doll.

Rushing around the laboratory, Xavier quickly took mental stock of the ingredients and devices that Madison had available in the rear laboratory.

"Come on, Oscar. Help! We need to find something, anything we can put together to stop her." He looked beseechingly over at Oscar, eyes glaring. "She'll kill him if we don't." Oscar began to search and make suggestions for what could be used to stop Madison. In moments a "bomb" of sorts begin to take shape.

"She still inhabits a mortal form, Xavier. That is her weakness." She placed a hand on his shoulder as he chanted while combining ingredients. "Add these words," she spoke softly in his ear. Xavier opened his mind, allowing her words to flow through him and out his mouth as they worked feverishly.

Madison looked at the heap before her. "I said to bow before your God, but this is close enough." She kicked him with her foot. "Horla, I think we killed him." Laughing, she gave Ben a good swift kick to his shoulder, "GET UP YOU WEAK FOOL!"

"Horla, we killed him with a mere flick of the wrist. Finch has given us the undeniable power that is God." She looked down at Benedict, "You got that? I AM YOUR GOD!" Her face morphed slightly resembling the demon that owned her and lived in her.

"No. I am His God." The avatar revealed itself in its full resplendent glory and faced Madison, towering as large as a skyscraper. She seemed rather unimpressed at the avatar. This was her world. She could change the rules at whim. With a snap of her wrists she bound the Avatar to the wall.

"Well then I'm your God. Horla, go into the Lab, and stop them from building their silly little bomb." She sneered at Benedict. "You're pathetic!"

The avatar became human-sized and was bound against the wall. It resembled a much younger Benedict, the way he appeared before the Shattering.

"You are my God," it responded to Madison in a listless tone, completely hers to abuse or break... or kill.

"Much better!" Madison walked around Benedict. "Now, wake him up. He's useless during a chess game like this." She glared at the avatar that also held some resemblance to herself. "NOW!" She looked down at Benedict.

"If your avatar is this weak, you're going to be just as weak." She giggled with anticipation as she unbound the Avatar.

"Beyond the Initiated lie the Masters; beyond the Masters lie the Oracles; beyond the Oracles lie the Incarna," Benedict’s avatar spoke softly to Madison. In her mind she could see him there, a mage, and her perpetual plaything in a world of her own making. Benedict simply felt the touch of his father upon his brow and Ben’s terrestrial form being absorbed by His own light.

"And the game begins." Madison watched the scene play out before her just as she had expected.

Xavier glanced over at Oscar, his eyes wide with fear.

"Something's happened to Dad. He, he's..."

"I know. Just finish. One last word." She whispered in his ear just as Horla entered the room. Their eyes met his flickering form at the same time, and Xavier casually reached up to wave his fingers in the air, wrapping the thread of time around them and bring it down to attach it to the bomb. Smiling at Horla, Xavier and Oscar moved around the table, each on either side, to place themselves between him and the bomb. Just then the device began to smoke and time slowed down for everyone but Ben, Oscar, and Xavier.

Three realities, all in conflict, the consensual paradigm came slamming down hard. It sounded like shattering glass as the will of gods, as Ascensions, collided. Then suddenly a terrible umbral storm began to form over Salem, a seventh maelstrom was being born.

Xavier grabbed Oscar by the hand and rushed out of the laboratory, past Horla, giving him a pat on the shoulder as they passed.

"Sorry, old boy. Better luck next time." Horla was moving far too slowly to react to their departure.

Hurrying out into the living area, Xavier suddenly stopped short and pulled back a little. His arm rose automatically to shield his eyes from the near blinding glare that was being emitted from Ben's form and his avatar. As his eyes adjust to the light the arm lowered, and he quickly walked to Ben's side.

Dad, are you all right?

Benedict ignored Madison. The effects of slowed time had caught her as well.

No, I'm not all right. Not all right at all. But this isn't the time or place to address the matter. Ben divided himself into two, leaving behind a perfect homo-cumulus version of himself for Madison to torture, torment and love; a worshipper, a follower, whatever she wanted to do to 'Ben'. It was only fair, after all. But Ben took his real original self with Xavier and flew like a bat out of hell from her little horizon realm before the Maelstrom struck.

Oblivious to the slowing of time Madison went to the lab sink and turned on the water. Inspecting her head in the mirror, she dropped her head shaking it in disgust with herself. "Why do I keep coming back to him? What is it about him that makes me do this?" She sighed heavily as she leaned against the sink. "At least father 'll be happy to hear there will be no more labs for me."

Grabbing Ben around the waist with one arm and a hand going under his elbow for support, Xavier and Oscar rushed out of Madison’s little realm. Just as they stepped through the barrier, Xavier glanced over at Oscar and smiled to her. She weakly returned the smile and waved. He ushered Ben over to a park bench where his father could sit for a moment to regain his composure.

"I'm sorry, Dad. It's all I could think of. Shit! I hate fucking with time!"

"You are very good at it," Ben told him and took a long, slow breath, feeling a particular prickling as his avatar shifted within him and they started to become One. "We're moving the Foundation." Then he took Xavier's head and leaned into him, kissing him deeply, fingers weaving through his hair. It was a very unfather-like kiss.

"Not good enough," Xavier replied as his gaze shifted from the ground up to Ben. Ben’s kiss caught him off guard. It was... strange, but not like he hadn't been kissed by men before. It was just that...

Slowly his hands raised and slid up Ben’s sides, to his shoulders, finally coming to rest around his neck and jaw. Holding him firmly, Xavier returned the kiss, desiring more. But just as Xavier surrendered, Ben pulled away and started walking straight towards the Foundation, expecting him to follow.

"We need to find Louis."

Lowering his head and shaking it slowly back and forth, Xavier chuckled to himself, and then got up to follow Ben.

"Whatever you say there... Ben." Somehow, Xavier thought to himself, I'm going to regret whatever it is Madison has done to Dad. I should’ve never promised her I wouldn't be the one to kill her.

The large glass double doors at the main entrance to the Phoenix Foundation burst open as a gush of torrid winds blew through the foyer, sending papers and other loose objects swirling through the air. The female receptionist gaped in shock and the man behind her dressed in military attire slowly rose, his hat blown from his head by the winds. A figure strode into the foyer, surrounded by a halo of golden flames, dressed in black from head to floor. His mandarin-style outer garment was void of any openings except for two wide slits on each side, revealing black leather boot-pants. Each step he took echoed through the foyer belying determination of purpose as he made his way to the left and pressed the elevator button. The security officer started to rush towards the man, pistol drawn from its holster, ready at arms length.

"Stop right there. You have no business here. Leave peaceably, or I will have to take action," he shouted in false bravado over his rush of fear.

The man glanced over at the officer, his eyes blazing a deep fiery red. The gun immediately began to glow orange with searing heat causing the officer to drop it, shake his hands and dance around in pain. When the elevator door opened the man slid inside and pressed the button for the third floor. Door shut and concealed from prying eyes he turned around and placed his hot hands against the cool metal of the elevator's back wall. As the elevator came to a halt, a small panel in the wall opened allowing passage onto a dark secret catwalk. The heels of the man's boots clicked against the metal catwalk flooring. The flaming halo had gone leaving just his seeming human form.

A small group of people stood beside a large three-story tall sphere of primal quintessential energy. One of the men in the group instantly turned around as the dark figure entered the chamber. A quizzical look became evident on his youthful yet timeworn face as he took a few steps toward the approaching figure. The four other men and the three women all turned to observe what commanded their companion's attention.

Horus, I wasn't expecting you to enter. Your appearance, it's been altered.

The dark figure walked down the suspended stairwell and across the room to join the group.

Yes, it would seem this is my true human form. The other was tainted by the creature's own pattern. Horus nodded to the men, and then with a charming smile, turned his attention to the women.

"Destiny, it is very pleasant to see you again."

They returned his smile with a slight nod, their voices sounding in harmonious chorus. "It is very pleasant to see you well and among us again, Horus. We trust that your time home was restful."

"Yes. And enlightening." His smile faded as his gaze fell back to his brother. "Thoth…"

The younger man glanced around the group and returned his attention to Horus. "We know. We've been discussing the ramifications of the maelstrom's appearance. Should we keep the Foundation here, should we transfer it, and if so where? Do we even have time for a transference?"

Everyone's attention shifted in unison as one of the other men, about fifty years of age, spoke up. "We don't have the time. I say we transfer the orb chamber, and alert everyone else to take whatever means they can to meet us at the new location."

An older man peered over at his fellow mage; agitation resulting from the situation had heightened his opinion. "That could cause only chaos and confusion. We do not know or understand the exact force behind this devastating appearance. It could very well have been created by the darkness itself, in which case, our panic and confusion would only feed its growth. We must proceed more judicially," Master Rotheimer offered.

Thoth glanced back at Horus, searching out any clues his older brother might hold concerning this new and threatening mystery. Horus inhaled deeply, letting the air out slowly as he spoke.

"I have been watching the activity surrounding the Foundation. Ever since the creation of a Horizon Realm on the other side of the park, Darkness has increased its hold. But as to whether or not it is the single source for this new manifestation, I don't know. I observed Uriel entering that realm not long ago, accompanied by one of his offspring." His head tilted as he glanced at each person, and then finally stopped, locking onto his brother's gaze.

Without breaking the connection Louis replied solemnly. "Uriel did leave word that he was going out to visit someone. He has been visiting many of his family members, so I didn't think much of it at the time." His eyes widened.

"He hasn't the power anymore, Horus."

"No. Mercifully he doesn't," Horus responded coldly.

"None of this solves the matter at hand. What do we do regarding the safety of the orb," Maximilian, the fifty-some year old mage inquired.

The elevator opened and Benedict stepped out, walking down the stairwell to approach the brothers. His aura swirled with psychotic intensity, but showed no sign of having been corrupted by Darkness. Rather, it indicated the hand of a wrathful god, the violence of the sun. Madison had driven Ben’s avatar insane, and his consciousness now constantly weaved between sanity and madness.

"We need to leave Salem, today. The Foundation can't stop what's about to happen. Louis, we have to watch the gathering storm from afar," Ben answered.

All eyes widen, fixing on Uriel at his approach and a momentary silence fell heavy in the room from the impact of his words and the obvious shift in his aura. Louis stammered a bit at first, unaccustomed to being at a loss for words.

"Uriel, where do you suggest we take the Foundation, and to what degree? How quickly? It will take twenty-four hours for the quorum to complete the transference and the mental suggestions both here and at our destination. Do we have that amount of time?" His voice filled with great concern.

"I will buy you that time." Ben inhaled slowly. "The Great Beast already hunted his way through New York City, looking for Shintzadi and finding no trace. If we were to slide into the back door there, we should be able to establish a fortress and watch Salem from afar. I underestimated the situation here. There are others acting now. We'll help them as we can." He glanced at Horus to see if he was in agreement.

Who has done this to you? WHY? I must know! Horus' thoughts raged in righteous indignation over the tampering with his friend.

My daughter Madison declared herself to be my... 'God' and forced me to bow to her. Ben's fury matched his own. She undid all your work and healing in Elysium. Worse, she forced me to break a sacred oath made when I was a small child. I want her destroyed.

Eyes smoldering with controlled anger, Horus' gaze shifted from Uriel to the group. Hissing out a reply that almost sounded like Taijin, the muscles in his jaw clinched making to nearly impossible to speak clearly. "Yes, New York. We will help."

I shall personally see to her ... education. Horus reached up and placed one hand over Ben's heart, and the other hand upon his forehead to stabilize his emotional and mental states.

Since you have been awakened, I feel it only fair to impart to you my mission here. I am to be your... guide, in ensuring your duty. If anything or anyone should interfere with your duty, I am to kill them. Do I make myself plain to you, ... Benedict? Anyone.

I love thee, firebird, Ben assured Horus as he moved away. It was a deeper love. His touches helped tremendously and Ben felt much more relaxed. He patted Louis on the shoulder. One thing that had changed for the better was Ben’s hatred of all things vampire. He could accept Louis, and Isidor and others like them with a little more grace.

"I will go do everything necessary to keep this knot in the skein at bay. Its not Destiny's fault."

Xavier. Ben mentally summoned his son as he exited the Foundation, walking off to go sit on a park bench and keep watch.

Louis quickly turned his attention back to the group. "Well, we are going to New York. Destiny, any thoughts or small insights that you might like to impart before we begin the transference?"

Destiny only smiled faintly. The grandmother shook her head. "No. Do as Uriel suggested, ... or not. The final decision is for you and Horus."

Louis looked to his older brother quizzically, however Horus' attention seemed to be elsewhere. "Horus?"

Horus snapped back when his name is spoken, eyes blazing. "You have my answer," he forced out and then turned, leaving the chamber and the final word to Thoth.

Inhaling deeply, his gaze falling to the floor after watching his brother depart, Louis spoke up. Strain crept into the tone of his voice. "We leave for New York." Rapidly striding away from the group to ascend the stairs, he talked the whole time.

"Get started. The quorum needs to beginning within the hour." He stopped briefly at the top of the stairs to look down at the group, momentarily pointing to one of the magi and then withdrew his hand.

"Maximilian, you know what needs be done. As Uriel suggested... the back door."

Max raised his hands, palms up, in questioning protest. "Louis, that way may take longer than the twenty-four hours. It shall be more difficult."

Louis leaned on the railing. "Yes, but it shall be safer. We must avoid the attention of the Beast at all costs. You can do it. You are quite capable." He gave Maximilian a knowing smile.

"I have watched you. I would trust you to transfer an unborn child through time itself." His smile faded. "We don't have anymore time for debate." Pushing himself off the railing, Louis left the chamber.

The past forty-eight hours had been interesting to say the least. Xavier was enjoying the opportunity to just sit in the park and feed the pigeons like some old fart without a care in the world. Although, at that moment, he had a great deal to care about: an insane sister, a slightly whacked out father, and who knew how many demons on his trail because of the one bound to a rock in a cave outside of town. He considered it a good day… for him.

Dad? Ben, here in the park. Just minding the birds. Xavier chuckled to himself.

Come sit with me. We need to discuss a few things, Xavier. Ben took a deep, slow breath and continue to relax.

Tossing the remainder of the breadcrumbs on the ground for the birds and squirrels to fight over, Xavier got up and made his way to the Foundation side of the park, settling down next to Ben. His father seemed very different since their bout with Madison; much more like the Benedict Sinclair of infamy. But if asked Xavier knew he’d have to confess that he felt much more comfortable around Ben now then he did before, almost as if they had become kindred spirits. Xavier mused, Not likely. He wasn't an Orphan, in more ways than one.

"I have created a Realm of my own. Like Madison's. But far, far away from Salem." Ben leaned back on the bench. "The nagah have all been taken there; it will serve as a preserve for them. I also took Gypsy for the time being. There are others I intend to collect. But you, what am I to do with you?" Reaching over, he ran his fingers through the back of Xavier’s hair. "Lock you in my bedroom in the Foundation, keep you out of trouble?" There was something almost sinister in his tone, though it was intended to be playful banter. Xavier leaned toward him, closing his eyes, and started purring under Ben’s touch.

"Sure... locked in bedroom... purr-fect." Xavier opened his eyes and lazily look at him.

"What exactly is going on, Ben. What's with all the brouhaha, hum? Couldn't I be of some help?" He reached out into the air to wrap an unattached thread of light blue around his finger, and touched him with it, letting it attach itself to him.

"What is going on is a very long story and you are helping." Ben smiled slyly. "However, I don't believe that you've severed all of your ties with Madison, so forgive me if I don't completely..." He ran his fingers along Xavier’s jaw "trust you. But she is going down. I've studied the pattern. Your dear sister has helped awaken the darkness in Salem. We're leaving. I'm taking you with me, either to New York or my Realm off the continent. Far away from Madison."

Turning his head slightly, Xavier softly licked Ben’s hand and kissed the tips of his fingers as they ran down the jaw line. He snickered, no longer hiding anything from Ben like he had in the past. Xavier’s head rested against Ben’s hand as he closed his eyes again.

"I have no loyalties to Madison. When she decided to take up with Finch, that's when I washed my hands of her. She's the plague as far as I'm concerned." He sat back to look at Ben with a sorrowful frown. "I... I didn't kill her when I had the chance only because I promised her that if she died, I wasn't going to be the one who did it. No more than I could kill you." A smile played wistfully at the corners of his mouth and then settled into a sly expression. "Not like I haven't offed people,... I just seem to have trouble doing it to family."

"I will no longer have trouble killing off anyone in the family if they cause me trouble." Ben studied Xavier’s expression and began to probe his mind, pushing himself into Xavier’s psyche.

For all practical purposes, Ben was raping his mind but he made it the most pleasurable experience Xavier had ever undergone. Even talking about Madison brought out the cruelest elements in Ben’s nature. His thumb ran along Xavier’s jaw to his lips.

Acceptance by a father he never knew,… living and dieing alone unloved,… becoming immersed in the threads of the tapestry,… sister being sealed by a demon,… and another demon named Xanthros. These were the images that flashed from Xavier’s thoughts to play in Ben’s mind.

Xavier’s body quivered with pain and pleasure as the visions poured like flood waters through the gates to his mind. He was aware that Ben was there, but was unwilling and more so, unable to do anything about it. When Ben was through, Xavier broke down in tears collapsing against him.

"Please, please, don't... I..." Swallowing hard, he sat up and gazed straight into Ben’s eyes. His own eyes narrowed as he stared at Ben. "I will not hide anything from you any more. All you have to do is ask. Please, let me stay with you." He opened his mouth to suck on the tip of Ben’s thumb and then playfully nip it.

"Gods don't ask." Ben put a hand on the back of his neck and forcefully kissed him. "Then you'll come to Aruba with me. Go pack your belongings. Meet me in the Foundation at sunset. I'll take you there to be part of the collection."

Xavier blinked at him in mild bewilderment. "What good could I possible do you in Aruba? Shits happening here, now, Ben."

"You are right. I'll keep you and Gypsy in New York… at the Foundation. But we're leaving Salem. This has become someone else's battle." Ben stood up and stared at him eyes sliding down Xavier’s frame in evaluation.

"There will still be quite enough for us to do there. But the nagah must be kept safe. There will be sacred beast gods once again. I will make it so."

Xavier stood after Ben and raised a hand to place it on his chest, comforted by the fact that there was a heart beating in there, somewhere. Then his form shifted so that he was staring up at Ben, covered in a coat of short fur sleek and shiny, ... and jet black.

I'm all yours. I have nothing to gather. Xavier purred as he rubbed along Ben’s legs. Off to the side of the park an explosion suddenly occurred where his townhouse once stood, and a fire ensued.

Hum, now I wonder how that could have happened.

Laughing, Ben picked Xavier up and took him into the Foundation, stroking his fur and walking into his suite.

(sometime around 2am…)

Slipping quietly into the twelfth floor chamber, Louis took his empty seat along the outer wall to watch the proceedings. There had been a time when he would have been the master of the quorum, but his tainted soul prevented him from having any direct contact with the orb. He was pleasantly surprised that he was even able to live in its presence.

After alerting the occupants of the Foundation to place themselves in a restful position, he sat silently, watching the conclusion of the ritual. The mages and arch-mages had begun the process seated along the wall, but for the past five and a half-hours they had been standing, moving slowly to the center of the room.

Suddenly a beam of Primal Essence from the orb shot up through the floor, the atmosphere crackling with its power and washing the chamber in a golden glow. Louis smelled the ozone that hung heavy in the air, and the rush from the power coursed through him. The beam reached the apex of the ceiling, curling and rolling in waves of energy. As the ceiling absorbed the energy it too began to cast a golden glow, until finally it could not hold back the assault any longer. Releasing the pure raw primal energy outside, a shell crackling with static electricity formed around the building and the surrounding area. Everything the shell covered slowly faded, and moments later it was replaced by a little family amusement park. The only knowledge that the inhabitants of Salem would have was that the office building that once stood on the pier had been torn down at some point to be replaced by something more conducive to the commercial family atmosphere of the wharf.

The Phoenix Foundation reappeared on a wharf on the West Side of Manhattan Island midpoint between the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, and for all the inhabitants of the Village and Chelsea districts would know when they awoke, the building had been for some time. Why would they have ever noticed it before? They’re New Yorkers, it took a lot for them to notice anything.