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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 11:43:41 GMT -5
The look that passed between Christian and Derek was of mutual concern. The fact that there was mutual anything between them was a new concept, as Christian still was uncertain of Derek but the look supported his belief that Diana acting strangely. "Let's get on with it then."
They reached for the bottle, duffle bags in hand, and an no time they were descending on a snowy mountain top. Christian's stomach gave the familiar turn associated with such travel, but otherwise showed no symptoms of distress. He looked to the others to see that everyone had arrived safely.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 14:04:03 GMT -5
Diana followed and Derek took up the rear as he had before. Indeed the fact that they shared concern was troubling for Derek. Christian normally ignored any looks Derek gave him. They would simply have to step up their game just in case.
Diana landed with a thud, the spinning being too much for her stomach as she moved to the side of them and threw up the breakfast she had enjoyed so much.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 14:18:32 GMT -5
Something was clearly wrong with Diana and they could not continue with her. She'd get them killed at this rate. "Bloody hell, Diana. What's wrong with you?" Christian moved toward her and stroked her back as her stomach was emptied onto the snow.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 15:07:09 GMT -5
She quickly got a hold of herself and wiped her mouth almost angrily, "It's Hanley's damn medical potions." she accused. She wasn't accusing Christian, but she felt wretched and less than her usual self.
"I'm fine. I'm fine!" she said using her wand to clean her mouth out. She pulled her hair back as well into a tight ponytail.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 15:49:07 GMT -5
Christian grabbed Diana's arm and pulled her close to him. "We've seen them leave. They haven't put up an anti-disapparation jinx. When we get in there, if you're in trouble, Diana I want you to get out of here. Do you understand?" He knew he'd have no luck insisting they postpone or that she let them go on without her. But if it came down to it that her recovery put this mission in danger, Christian needed her to not act a fool.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 16:01:36 GMT -5
Diana was fighting, she didn't know what was wrong with her and it set her on edge, but she couldn't endanger the mission either. She took his arm the one that was holding on to her, and she pressed herself against his chest, "I'll be fine Christian." she said sincerely looking up at him.
"I can do this, and if I can't, I won't get in your way."
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 17:01:57 GMT -5
He didn't like what Hanley's drugs were doing to Diana's system, but he wouldn't deny she was a hell of a lot more cooperative in her current state. He found he didn't like that either.
"Come on," he said, clearing his throat and avoiding Derek's eyes after the display of affection he had shown Diana. He led the way through the snow toward O'Grady's hideout. They had a long way to go on foot and by the time they reached the bunker the sun was low in the sky.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 17:23:11 GMT -5
Derek dutifully ignored their intimate moment in pretense of keeping an eye out and going setting a few protective charms over them.
Diana gave a firm nod to his command, finding it easier to follow his orders with the way she was feeling. He had more information on this assignment and she honestly could use the direction. She followed him and Derek followed her.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 17:40:37 GMT -5
There were two large men stationed at the entrance, one on the roof, and two more walking the edge of the concrete building. According to Christian's intel there were at least three more that they would encounter before reaching to O'Grady who would be flanked by another pair of armed wizards. And that was if O'Grady hadn't gotten spooked within the last day. With the masked assassin in play, Christian wasn't doubting anything.
He turned to signal Derek to go around to the other side, when he saw a dark shadow move in the distance. Soon the sky was orange as three of the guards came up behind them, open firing.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 17:46:58 GMT -5
Derek followed Christian's signals and moved when suddenly there was firing. His protective charms held and allowed them to move for cover.
Diana's strange mood that morning evaporated as she was pulled back into the chaos she had lived in for the past two years. She returned hexes with a vengeance taking down one of the men quickly and then another with a throwing dagger lodged in his throat.
Derek focused on deflecting any spells or bullets from his companions, and kept an eye on the other direction as well. Now that firing had begun it wouldn't be long before more guards came.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 18:47:23 GMT -5
Christian fired several hexes at the oncoming men until one dropped from Diana's curse. He had a clear shot and threw the Killing Curse at another, just as Diana flung a knife into the throat of the last man.
But they had no time to rest as the fight had signaled the other guards, three of which were heading at them, curses flying ahead towards the trio. Christian used a Shield Charm to deflect a sparking red flame that was headed straight for Derek.
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Post by Derek Burke on Oct 25, 2016 19:01:33 GMT -5
Derek gave a nod of gratitude as he had been unable to deflect the curse himself. There were more men coming and they didn't have the advantage in the field, but they were miles ahead in the skills department.
Derek was quiet then for a long moment as more guards came and started firing. He was working on something. Finally he tapped Christian on the shoulder and signaled to Diana, "I put an illusion up, come on we gotta get back!" he said as curses flew overhead and around at everything but the three of them.
The guards were still firing at what to them appeared to be Christian, Diana, and Derek. Suddenly they stopped firing as the illusions fell to the ground. All at once the three men went to investigate their targets.
Derek had an altogether irreverent grin on his face. Having moved his party back to a safe distance, he uttered a spell and pointed his wand to the mound where they had been standing. It suddenly burst outward in a blue flame that took out the three guards as well as anyone else in a hundred foot radius.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 19:15:00 GMT -5
Christian was apprehensive about Derek's plan, but upon execution he smiled and gave Derek a quick pat on the back as he moved forward again. The blast had knocked the two remaining guards back into the door they had been guarding. Christian approached swiftly. The sky lit up green and he signaled for Diana and Derek to follow.
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Post by Derek Burke on Oct 25, 2016 19:24:21 GMT -5
Derek grinned, knowing that was high praise from Christian indeed.
Diana stared, first at the explosion then at the man who had caused it. Diana had been hesitant to use Derek, feeling as though she was sparing him the turmoil of taking a life. She had seen him kill before, but for the most part he had stuck to defensive maneuvers which is what she thought she preferred.
First Christian surprised her, now Derek did, was there anyone else incredibly talented at murder that she didn't know about? Derek and Christian had both warned her about the other, and now she was realizing how right they both were.
She didn't have time to dwell on it however as Christian signaled for them to follow. Derek pulled up the rear as usual.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 21:25:35 GMT -5
The door opened to a small landing, then immediately to a flight of stairs that would carry them deep under ground. There were light fixtures overhead, but most of them were broken, the remaining few dimly lighting the way down a corridor. The light above them was flickering, threatening to go out. Christian gripped his wand as the group carefully made their way into the bunker.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 21:53:58 GMT -5
Clearly O'Grady wasn't indulging in the same luxuries as Hadelman or Sanchez. What was the point of running if you were forced to live like this?
Diana followed silently. They were all a tad more silent than usual thanks to one of Derek's charms that kept them from making noise. At least noise that would be heard by other guards.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 22:33:17 GMT -5
O'Grady was clearly of the mindset that living, of any sort, was better than dying. It was a shame then that he had lived like this and would be dying anyway. The light continued to flicker behind them as they proceeded. There were two doors, one on either side of the hall about 10 feet apart from each other. The small windows on each the doors had been blacked out. Christian stood opposite the first door and cast a charm which would allow him to see what was on the other side of the door.
Or it would have let him see, if the anti-charm had not already been used. "Looks like we're going in blind." Just as Christian was about to knock in the door, they heard sounds of shuffling coming from the second room. He looked at Burke, then Diana.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 22:53:15 GMT -5
Diana still wasn't feeling well, the slower they went the more her stomach rebelled against her actions. She broke out into a sweat trying to keep her head in the game. She heard the sound then, some kind of shuffling. She didn't know what to expect, were they too late again? Was the masked assassin here to?
She gave a small nod to Christian. She was following his lead, but she wanted to go in, she didn't want that bastard to get away a second time.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 23:30:43 GMT -5
Christian followed the sound to the second door and this time didn't bother to see through to the other side. He slowly checked the knob, locked. He stood back and blasted the door open charging into the room under cover of the smoke that curled in dark clouds from metal door the lay on the floor. He heard a cat screech as it ran under a table at the far end of the room, but there was no sign of any man here.
Suddenly the hallway was blue and angry as the remaining two guards stood in front of the first door firing at them. Just beyond them a tall fat man hurried up the stairs toward the snowy exterior.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 23:38:18 GMT -5
"It's him!" Diana said gesturing to the tall fat man panting at the exertion.
Derek was shooting back at the other two men, but due to the hallway there was no way of providing cover to get to O'Grady until they had taken both men down. These men unlike the ones outside were much more difficult to kill.
Diana was growing frustrated as O'Grady was slipping through their fingers, as soon as the man reached a far enough distance he would disapparate and they would have to find him all over again. She replaced her wand with twin knives then distributed one to each hand. She looked at Christian, Merlin he was a handsome man, never moreso than when he was in his element firing curses, both magical and verbal.
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