Down is Silver
The biddies that were at the door stood in front of Bells, with Tally in his arms. If anyone had asked why, Alder would have sent a simple, I will protect my own. But truthfully, she sees Tally as her daughter. And can be very protective over them she sees that way.
"Silver, place have a seat," Madame president Kelly Wade said very politely, distracting him fully to the situation. Knowing how she sees the Bellwether unit. As often she talked about them, in the privacy of their room.
He walks in allowing Bells to exited without having to speak or anything for that matter. Not caring for Bells or Tally he didn’t bring it up. Which everyone sighed with relief about.
"So, were you ever going to speak with me"
"We was, about to. But something that doesn't concern you, come up. Which we are still dealing with. So if you could please leave. We can discuss, Nicta, and Willa later"
"No" she stood from his chair pushing it back.
“I'm not leaving until you both discuss the matter. And maybe even then I want leave”
Alder, still standing, was about to see when Silver stood. And so she remained standing. The biddies all gathered ready to attack if necessary. Silver pulled out a gun.
Alder froze, she hated those things, she hated them so much she refused to have the army have them. She did allow General Stone to train and carry them when on missions. But that's all. She didn’t really know much but one thing she knew for sure, hold about 14 rounds. She also knew that no seed work could disarm the gun or the round that was discharged. She also could change him, as that could mean the biddies could be hurt or even the President.
One of the biddies rushed him without warning. The gun discharge. Everyone froze, even Silver. He only brought the gun, to force them to speak to him. He was already kicked out of one group and he wasn’t going to let that happen again.
*****
Bells carried Tally all the way back to the infirmary. The ground floor being the area, as the first floor was closed off since Willa was brought in.
He placed her down as a fixer come over. He quickly explained what happened. With recommendations to rest. And not do any mental links or work. She was allowed to leave once she awakes.
******
General Stone steps out of the gate. It's been awhile since she's been back to Fort Salem. After dropping off her kin, to her family for burial. She had been informed of the ins and outs of what was going on.
Sure as things that Quatermain have done. From her dealings with Scylla. To what Raelle has done to her. To her being part of the Spree.
She has her way to learn everything that she has done. Spies are handy. She smiled to herself as she walked around the grounds. The grass that was once bright green had this layer of mist over them. This just made her more confused as Alder was not called and welcomed her. Normally she would but today something was off. The ground had this mist in the air.
And that was where she was heading. As she made her way up the stairs, she noticed the receptionist was terrified. She walked over to her.
“Sargent what going on”
She turned to her, “a shot was fired”
“Call Anacostia, here now. And have your break”
She did just that, once done. She allowed the receptionist to leave before walking over to the door and swung it open without knocking, startling Silver and a few of the biddies. General Stone looked over them.
Alder was leaning against the wall, holding her shoulder as it bled. One of the biddies was whispering to her. Asking her to take her injuries from her. But as always Alder refuses, she hates giving her biddies her injuries, she already gave them her age. And that in Alder eyes was still too much.
"Stone, it's good you arrived safe" Alder said thought greeted teeth.
"Yes, I had to deal with the family. My second niece died in combat. Under my command." Alder could tell that Stone was greatly broken right now and didn’t really care what happened to her. She had seen Stone like this a few times before. And like her namesake, she was stone.
"The black unit" Sliver Snead.
General Stone looks at him and closes the door behind her without looking away from him. Her anger was just behind her eyes, so she did want she, always does and uses it.
"Your friend sucks. With commanding soldiers, I think once I arrived not a single civilian witch was hurt."
He waved the gun around, she didn’t care about it. She never fears them, not like civilians or Alder.
With a frown asked, "what friend"
“Kara Brandt the half sister to Alban Hearst. The husband, to one Willa Collar” General Stone, smiles at his pale face. It was clear to her that he believed they didn't know about that connection.
“I know there's a plan to kill Madame president Kelly Ward. And put you in her stead, but they realised that you had witch blood in you, so they changed their plan. Found a second person, and by the way as of this morning they're dead.”
“What” all Alder Biddies said at once.
Stone looked around at everyone.
“I have my ways of knowing things, you know this better than anyone. Along with Raelle, don’t use your biddies at me”
Silver fires another round, toward Stone. Hitting her arm, but she didn’t even blink or whimper or show any signs of being in pain. Who looked at him with a cold stare. And she simply removed her blade and cut his throat. Making him drop the gun, making it fire again. Which landed in Alder desk.
He fell blood soaking into the carpet. Before his eyes turned dull. She leans down and quickly linked with him. Quickly sealing his throat back up. He lay there stunned. He didn’t move, he just stared at her.
“You know they wanted to kill me” Kelly said when Stone stood back up.
“Sarah wouldn’t allow that to happen, as for everything else. I have my own resources that helped me put everything together. This spinner's man is playing with the big boys. But all he did was kill his own daughter and wife”
She walked over to Alder and linked with her, she didn’t listen to anything. Just seal her wound up and walk back over to Sliver. Who had peed himself. And sat down removing her jacket. Know one touched the gun, Silver eyes were still on Stone.
It wasn’t long before the door was opened again and standing there was Anacostia. She looked over at everyone. Noticed the blood on Alder. She was about to speak but Stone stopped her.
“Your undermine command. You will follow my order to the letter. I hear you like to over step with your work. I would like to see your methods up close.”
“Yes, General”
“Alder is fine, she was shot but i healed her '' Stone said, seeing that Anacostia hadn't looked away from her. Knowing that Alder was her mother she allowed her to know this.
“Know, Quartermain. Place Sliver under arrest”
Quartermain quickly moved over to Silver, flipped him over and tight his hand together with a small rope that was thought her way. She didn’t know who thought it but she was grateful.
She then pulled him up onto his feet.
“Alder, I will inform you of our finding, if he has any more information. At some point we must discuss a few things” she gave her a pointed look.
“Understood”
And with that she and Anacostia with Sliver moved to the basement.
****
Once they were gone. Ward and Alder biddies moved Alder into the next room. Alder once was inside and the next broke free, her hand shaky by her side. Her biddies left the room saying they will deal with anything that will come up.
Alder made it a few steps before she fell down to her knees. Her mind racing, reliving the time she had her sister was arrested. Too guilty that she couldn’t even protect her love. Kelly rushed to her side.
“You need to breath, Sarah”
Sarah looked up, her breathing was heavy, her eyes watery.
“You're safe” she said in Alder ear. As Alder leans forward her face into her hands.
“I couldn’t protect you” she mutter into her hands
“But you did, you stepped in front of me. Took the shot. I should be the one, saying sorry. As i couldn’t protect you”
“But. but”
Kelly pulled her head up from her hands. And looked at each other.
“There is no but, I think. It's hard for both of us.” Kelly confessed “But I will always love you. Come with me to Washington. Only until graduation then. We go somewhere, just us. Me and you. Alone in a cabin, late morning and all”
“Ok” and with that buried her face into Kelly's shoulder. Allowing herself to fully break. Only a handful of people have ever seen her like this. All but one are still alive.
******
It was much later in the day.
Kelly stood tall behind, behind the stand. As the media a few feet away took pictures and wrote notes down. Standing behind Kelly was Alder, her arm in a sling.
“Early today, Vice- president Blanton Silver. Was arrested for assault on General Sarah Alder. As you may know we have been hunting down the leader of the Camarilla. While Sarah was talking with Blanton. He pulled out a gun and shot her. Luckily he was taken down with anyone dying. Sarah was healed by a fixer but as you know it takes a few days for injuries.”
She paused for a moment,
“Blanton is one of the leaders of the Camarilla. He is a murder of his wife and daughter.”
She carried on talking about his crimes and that a new election will start at the end of the month. As Stone walked over to the telly and switched it off. She turned back and sat down on her chair that faced the room. Anacostia stood beside Silver who was strapped down into his underwear. His hand above his head.
“Is this what you did with Scylla”
Without looking over to her, she respond, “yes sir”
“Well I didn't say stop, I want to see your work. But there only thing, heal the wounds full this time”
“Yes sir”
And with that she removed her jacket and started her questioning.