Something's Wrong (open)

[cain]

To say that Cain was shocked about her being able to duck at such speed, didn't compare to the sudden feeling of being off the ground. The pain that came next was from his chest, having seen her move faster then him and send him flying across the island. Whether Rose noticed it or not, Bobby and Apocalypse had landed next to her, both lifted by the brotherhood leader's power. Bobby landed on her left, and Apocalypse, transforming once more into Trask, on her right.

"I got ten on Merfonde." Bobby said, even though he knew nobody else would wager.

"I try not to wager a losing bet." Apocalypse said with his own smile.

Cain laid motionless at the edge of the water, his sword now laying where he once stood. He struggled to get up, but with the damage done to his chest, which he now had his hand over, made it difficult. He stood shakily on his feet, looking down at his hand. He began to laugh, softly at first, but it grew louder as he looked up at her.

"Impressive, , I didn't expect this much from a human. This will be more fun then I thought."

He ran at her once more, his hands balled into fists as he charged. He swung towards her face, then brought his right leg up for a kick, aiming for his midsection. Bobby continued to watch the show, but he thought a little about what Cain had said about her being human.

"You know," Bobby stated, "coming from another mutant, that does sound really rude."

[mero]

Merfonde just landed back on her feet as light as a feather, making absolutely no sound. All she did, was smirk. She just waited as she struggled to get back up, it wasn't fun to beat a fallen man. At least she was giving him a fighting chance. If this had been a real bounty, she wouldn't have cared if he'd been holding a baby, nothing would have stopped her from beating him as hard and as fast as she could. You could say she was playing with him.

She didn't pick up his weapon, just kicked it out of her path with a foot. Like she'd use one of his weapons. She could, if she wanted, but where was the fun in that? Not to mention she had enough weapons on her already! And not even Bobby, Apocalypse, or Rose knew exactly how much that was...

"That's because you don't watch us 'humans' much. You thought we would be cowering at your feet from the moment mutants came into existence to the moment the world ended." She smirked still. "I hate to burst your bubble, but us Bounty Hunters have been around a long time, taking down the likes of you without the world ever learning of us."

He was charging once more, and Merfonde let out a sigh. She just leaned back when his fist came towards her face. She threw her hands up just as his arm was extended all the way, grabbing his wrist with one hand while slamming the palm of her other hand into his elbow. Seeing his foot moving for a kick out of the corner of her eyes, she released his arm, latching her two hands onto his lifted foot instead, forcing the strike to a stop right before it made contact. Giving him a wicked grin she back petaled, using her strength to drag him with her and hopefully yank him off his feet... or foot in this case. After which she released him once more, taking a few steps away, moving in a circle with that same predatory look. "I wonder, how are you going to break the news to your worshipper's? That you were defeated by one of the humans that you think are so inferior to you."

[cain]

Cain was more then a little furious when she was able to grab his arm, but that was removed by the severe pain he felt go into his elbow. He thought he heard a , but that thought was taken away as she grabbed his foot and pulled. He felt himself falling, his legs almost in a split as he fell to the ground. He stood up, pain through his arm. He couldn't move it, and as he felt down he realized that she had managed to pop it out of place. He grabbed his elbow and pulled hard, the pop sounding as he gritted his teeth and growled.

"Bounty hunter or not, you will all be extinct when I'm done with you."

He knelt on the ground as the pain of feeling went back into his arm. He placed one hand on the dirt, grabbing a handful of it, yet making sure it was just in anger of what she was saying. He stood up when she said that he was being defeated by a human. He looked to her and growled loudly.

"You won't defeat me!"

He charged at her again, his fist swinging towards her once more, only this time as his fist came towards her face, he let the dirt fly towards her eyes. He hoped that the short distance that was between them would give him the edge, and he used the stance he was in to bring his knee up towards her midsection.

[mero]

"Done with us? How can you possibly think of exterminating the human race when you can't even stop a girl." Sure, Merfonde had just half insulted herself, but she was mostly using her much hated pet peeve of sexism to insult him, and hopefully make him even madder. After all, an blinded by anger opponent was bound to do some pretty stupid things. And when you came across someone far to easily angered, how could she stop herself?

She'd put a few feet of distance between them again, going about in her usual circling as she smiled 'sweetly', or as sweetly as she could. It looked more like she was taunting him. He was kneeling on the ground once more, obviously from having just popped his shoulder back into place. She knew from experience that dislocated shoulders was painful, unlike him though she didn't let her pain show.

When he charged once more, she sighed. "This again?" None the less she prepared herself for whatever he threw at her.... and when she meant threw, she meant quite literally! Smirking a little, she actually didn't stop the dirt, maybe to let him feel motivated, like he'd gotten an advantage. Of course her eyes stung when the dirt flew into them, forcing her to shut them, but he'd forgotten one thing, or... He hadn't known it to begin with. She was a bounty hunter. She was trained to fight no matter what happened. She didn't have to rely on her eyes.

Hearing the motions, she launched a defense, throwing a hand down to whack his knee, she force it to change directions and completely miss her. In that same movement her other hand came around in a half circle before snapping out to stab at his chest. Those familiar in martial arts just might recognize the motion as not just any martial art, it was one of the Chinese Kung Fu styles, Snake.

[cain]

He was sure he had the advantage when the dirt flew into her eyes. He had blinded her completely, but what he didn't count on was her sense of hearing. At least he didn't count on it when her hand struck his chest. He stumbled backwards, realizing he hadn't gained the upper hand at all, just made things slightly more complicated for her.

"I will stop you, you pathetic, worthless human."

He then decided to remove anything on him that made even the slightest noise. First his coat, then his boots, leaving his feet bare. With the ocean churning around them, it would drown out the sound of his feet hitting the stone surface, at least he hoped it would. He walked over and picked up his sword.

"You're blind , and your hearing can help you only so much."

He decided it was time to toy with her a little, moving fast around her, closing in only an inch to let her feel him then disappearing from her reach. He appeared behind her, giving a small chuckle in hopes that she would turn around and think he was behind her. He then would move to the front of her and move to strike her hard in the stomach.

[mero]

Merfonde just took a few steps back after she punched him, reaching up to rub one of her eyes and try to get rid of the dirt that had built up in them. The way she acted, it was almost like she wasn't even concerned about being technically blind and leaving Cain to his own devices.

He had a good idea, removing his long coat and shoes that echoed on the stone. The sound of the ocean was loud enough to make it difficult to zone in on small sounds, so she couldn't rely on trying to follow his footsteps. "That's true, hearing can only take a person so far." She was smirking, still not the least bit worried. She'd heard him lift his sword, that wasn't a sound you could cover, metal against stone.

Cain was trying to make it hard to pinpoint where he was, moving quickly around her, moving in before fading out once more, like a ghost. Merfonde stopped rubbing her eyes. He was chuckling behind her, trying to make her guess at his location, but until she knew exactly where he was with out a doubt, she wasn't moving from this spot. "But what hearing can't tell you, your other senses can."

Right when she felt his attack, right when he touched her, she leaned back, hands snapping forward to latch onto his wrist again, still smirking. "Touch for instance. I can know exactly where you are, the moment you attack." In Merfonde's own way, she was a monster, to react so quickly to an attack. It was almost inhuman, but her skills only came from year after year of endless drilling. Tightening her grip on his wrist she heaved, to send him clean off his feet and flying through the air.

[cain]

Again his plan was taken off guard when she grabbed his hand. How could she have known what he was going to do simply by touch? He growled when she grabbed his wrist. When he felt himself being thrown into the air again, he was prepared this time. As he flew up over her, he brought his knee out in an attempt to strike her face, whether it was in the nose or the forehead, he didn't care at that moment.

He landed on the other side of her, steadying himself on the rocks as he did. He looked at the entrance, still blocked by the black force that Rose had created. He growled and drew his sword, gripping it as if he was about to throw it. He brought it up and aimed it at Merfonde's back.

"You really think you're cleaver with all your moves. Let's see how one human stands against an entire army."

He brought his arm back, aiming hard towards Merfonde. It was at the last moment he changed tactics and threw it at Rose. The sword came within a foot of the young , then stopped. If any were to look, Apocalypse had his eyes on the sword.

"How dare you interfere, traitor!" Cain yelled at the brotherhood leader.

"My apologies. Allow me to return it for another try then." Apocalypse said back.

Apocalypse grinned and looked back to Cain, the sword turning in the mutants directions. It only took a second for Cain to see what was going on, but it was a second too late. The sword sunk deep into his side all the way to the hilt, coming out the other end of him streaked with .

[mero]

The knee to the nose was a little unexpected, but feeling the fabric of his pants in that split second made her throw her head back to render his attack useless. She rubbed her eyes a little more, finally dislodging the dirt and blinking them open. "Well, that was entertaining." She meant the fighting blind. Of course the fight wasn't over yet. The most entertaining part for her though was the whole matter of not being forced to use any of her equipment. At all.

She turned back to face him, running her fingers through her ponytail as he spoke about her being clever and an army. She just shrugged. "An army of powerless mutants. What a threat. If you hadn't noticed though, those three up there still have their powers, so what makes you think a bunch of your goons will be much of a threat?"

She was more then prepared for his attack, just not his changing tactics at the last moment and deciding to take out Rose was a better option. Did he not just hear a word she just said? She sighed, taking a few steps back. "You're a bore." The discussion between Cain and Apocalypse was in one ear and out the other, only when Cain was struck with his own weapon did she pay attention once more, taking several steps towards him, smirking. "Isn't that the same sort of injury you gave one of your captives?"

[cain]

The pain was excruciating, and as he worked to pull the sword from his side, he could hear every word she said. When she mentioned that the other mutants had their powers, he just didn't understand. How could they have their powers but not him? It had to be some sort of counter agent that she gave them. It wasn't until she mentioned his captive did he remember something.

"Ah yes...Ian. By now he's probably either ..." he looked up at Merfonde, "or wishing he was."

He chuckled, then started to laugh about the idea. He couldn't believe he had forgotten all that had happened. The gas, the explosions, the sensors being destroyed. The whole island knew what was going on by now. No doubt Shadow discovered that they were planning a rescue and was making sure that there wasn't anything to rescue at all. Anything alive that is.

"Ian and Crystal." he laughed again, "You should see them now. I always enjoy seeing them, shriveled up and cowering in their cells. He's not so y now, the brat, I hear him begging each day for , to not be getting what he's so well deserved." another laugh, "and "poor Crystal" her screams are like wine."

He stood up, coming from both his side and his back. He knew that he was going to lose the fight now, but he couldn't help but wonder how much time he had given the Nightmares. No doubt both Ian and Crystal were so close to that just one more push and they would be no more.

"You may be a great fighter, but you're still a fool. Do you really think having no powers limits what the Nightmares can do? As Shadow so elegantly put it, they're not the Nightmares for nothing."

[mero]

Merfonde just folded her arms as she listened to Cain's rant. None of it really concerned her, since she'd never met either of them and was only hear because Rose had asked her to come. Rose on the other hand looked pale. It wasn't exactly a secret that the two would have been tortured, and yet Rose still felt that sting from his words.

"You have a good point. But you might be forgetting one tiny little detail." She approached him again, giving him one mighty shove to send him sprawling on the ground once more. Again, she was right by his side as he lay there, reaching down to grab the sword that was sticking out of his side. Pulling it out a few inches, slowly, very slowly to make the pain worse, she held it straight up for a moment, before slamming it down into the wound once more, forcing it's unbreakable blade to imbed itself deep into the stone, pinning him to the ground like a butterfly to the wall.

She stared down at him with a dark look. "There's one very pissed girl up there, and no one inside this place will stand a chance against her." She smiled darkly. "Especially considering none of them even know she's alive." After all, Rose had been called the most powerful Nightshade in existence. If Shadow had the capability to destroy cities, why couldn't Rose destroy this place?

[cain]

The blade was half way out when he felt her push him to the ground. He was too weak to move, and gritted his teeth and growled as she pulled the sword out of him slowly. He was about to get up when his sword was driven hard into him, pinning him down into the island. He gave a small yell as he looked up at her.

"It doesn't matter whether she's mad or not. They're ."

He laughed as he tried to pull out the sword, but with as deep as it was into the earth it was hard to pull out. He chuckled and looked up at Rose, not caring that she looked upset, just the look of horror and the paled skin made it worth while. He then looked to Merfonde and chuckled once more.

"You may have beaten me this time, but it's too late. You failed in your mission, too busy worrying about taking me down. As I said, by the time you reach the dungeons, the only thing you will find is bodies. You're trip was just a waist."

"Rose..." Bobby spoke softly, his voice shaking a bit, "He's...kidding right? They're ok aren't they?"

[mero]

Merfonde's dark stare never left the now pinned Cain, as if deciding what to do with him now. Her thoughts were cut off by the whole argument though, and Merfonde sighed, planting her hands on her hips and turned to the three on top of the cave. "You really trust what this piece of trash as to say? It is possible, but Rose, what is the one thing you know about the Nightmares that will never change?"

She paused, turning her attention back to the 'piece of trash' she'd pinned with a look of 'you're not even worth my time'. "You, I don't want another word out of you. If you've forgotten, you're not exactly in a position to be running your mouth." She paused for a moment, her gaze hardening even more as she stared at him and spoke up again. "Rose, what would you like me to do with him? Shall I put him down like the mongrel he is?" She was playing off of Bobby telling her she'd hunted mutants like animals earlier, which probably wasn't helping the situation, but right now it seemed fitting. Merfonde's gaze slowly turned to them, watching, and waiting for a verdict.

[Rose North]

The thought of Ian and Crystal already been killed because they'd 'stalled' was heart sinking, but what were the chances of that happening? Why was she even listening to Cain to begin with? Only when Merfonde's cold response came did Rose take a deep breath. "In times of distress, handle the enemy as quickly as possible, with all forces." It was almost like she was reciting a rule. And it was, in a sense. When the Nightmares were attacked, they were told that everyone was to launch a defense. If you weren't working to stop the opposing forces you would be killed as an act of treason, even if you were dealing with prisoners.

Only when she was asked if Merfonde had permission to kill Cain did she fall even more silent, her expression going almost sinister. Of course she wanted Cain dead! Right now though... Not right now. Not like this. "No. Leave him for his lover and child to find." She didn't refer to Sky by name. "When he dies, it will be by my hands, and he won't be powerless." It wasn't that she wanted a fair fight, she just wanted to pummel him into the ground no matter what he threw at her. She wanted to prove to him that no matter what he did, she would win, and she would kill him.

Rose slid down from the roof of the cave, slowly stalking to the entrance as staring at the dark matter wall she had blocking it. "Cain, you mentioned Shadow telling you why they are called the Nightmares. I'll show you exactly what that is." More Dark Matter was fading into existence, wrapping around Rose like armor, but this... This was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. The matter was thick, so thick you couldn't see her inside of it, and the way it was forming...

When the Dark Matter settled Merfonde actually hissed in shock. What stood before them wasn't a 19-year-old girl. It was a monster. A black demon with satanic red eyes, height touching at eight feet with claws for hands and feet. Horns shot out of the scalp in twisted tortured ways, the teeth of the monster fangs.

Before they'd left the school Rose had told Bobby something. To stop a monster, you must become one yourself. And Rose had, quite literally, become a monster...

[cain]

Cain glared up at Merfonde as she continued to talk down to him. He made sure that once he had the sword out of his side and his powers working again, he would kill every one of them. He grabbed the hilt of his sword and started to pull, but his attention was directed at Rose when she spoke. He didn't see her slide down to the entrance, but as the Dark Matter started to swirl around her, his grip loosened on the hilt.

His eyes widened and his mouth hung open as Rose's form began to shift and turn inside the matter. Apocalypse's eyes widened at the sight, Bobby's eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he stared at the demonic form of Rose.

"Woah..." was the only thing the boy could say. Cain on the other hand saw the advantage that was given when Merfonde now had her full attention on Rose. Gritting his teeth, he yanked the sword from his side and aimed it her back, hoping to run her through the way she did him. If he was going to lose a fight, he was going to make sure somebody lost it with him.

[mero]

Merfonde had never seen Rose do something like this. Or.... better yet, she hadn't thought it even possible! In a sense though.. It made sense. The girl controlled the Dark Matter it isn't fullest capabilities, why couldn't she use it on herself? Still... No one in their right mind would think Rose would do such a thing, even if they had known it was possible. Truly, Rose was a Nightshade. Not in body anymore, but at least in spirit. It made her wonder... Before Shadow had gone 'evil' had she been exactly like this? Could Rose be going down the exact same path as her insane cousin?

Merfonde was pulled from her thoughts when she felt Cain's blade against her skin. She leaped to the side, though that didn't mean she'd avoided the blade completely. Her guard had dropped, thinking Cain would stay put, since he was probably getting lightheaded with blood loss right about now. The sword ripped through her side, an injury that would be excruciating, but Merfonde didn't even stagger. The pain didn't even show in her eyes. Spinning around, and completely ignoring her own injury, she brought a foot down on Cain's chest to smash him back into the rock, but she didn't move her foot, forcing him to stay there.

"What, haven't learned your lesson?" She was smirking again. "If she hadn't told me not to I'd kill you here and now for that. But that doesn't mean I'm through with you." Still completely ignoring the pain and blood running down her side, she yanked out for long daggers. "Do you remember what you did to that Elensar woman? It's time you know exactly what that feels like. Do try and stay still, otherwise you'll only make it worse." Moving her foot off his chest she kicked out one of his hands, stomping down on his fingers and she buried the first dagger into his wrist, forcing it all the way through and into the hard rock ground. She repeated the process with his other hand, and then in ankles. Stepping back she finally put a hand to her injury, staring down at it with an intent stare, as if examining it, trying to see just how bad it was. "Hmph."