JUSTUS will be served (1400)

I.


The abandoned warehouse where we normally see Phoenix LeStrange seems a little different, just a touch darker as we pan around the blood covered walls. Handprints, seemingly feminine in nature, adorn the walls. We see Phoenix LeStrange, inside a cage, blood covering her face and neck. She weakly raises her head.

”What… what did I do? Why are you doing this, Justus? I… I am fighting for you. I am fighting for the whole race and yet now you come back and do this to me again. Why?”

The camera pans until the following face is seen.



Justus props his feet up on the desk normally occupied by Phoenix LeStrange. He laughs as he shakes his head and speaks in a deep, somewhat distorted voice.

”You have been failing, Phoenix. You have been losing and there is no excuse for it. How can you represent us when you can’t fucking win? You are a disgrace to the Moroi. You should be killed and destroyed. However, the powers that be won’t give me the green light to do that. We need to make you stronger and the only way to do that is to keep you on a short leash. Or, in this case, keep you caged up for your own good. You need guidance. You need to be given the treatment you have given others in our name. Apparently you need to see it from the other side so you can learn!”

Justus opens the cage and stands inside with Phoenix. He pulls her hair as hard as he can forcing her to her knees. She cries out.

”Justus, there is no need to hurt me. I will listen. I will obey.”

Justus laughs maniacally as he speaks again.

”You don’t have to tell me that you will obey. You see, you don’t have a choice in the matter. Insubordination is something we in the Moroi do not deal with. You have stated you do things in our name but you do not do the things we ask. We asked you to release young Madalyn and you refused. We asked you to let Cooper go as you were holding him hostage on your own accord, and you refused. You have not been doing our work. You have gone into work for yourself. You and your actions are of NO choice on our part but have been done under your own volition. We will make sure this kind of thing never happens again. We will make sure you are doing OUR bidding… from now on. Our goal now, is to make you a legitimate monster. We plan on showing the bad shit you are capable of. People want to call you a monster. You want to run your mouth like a badass so we will make sure you back up the shit you blab on and on about. We will make sure you learn your place in the fucking food chain.”

He grabs her by the throat, lifting her to her feet.

”Rise and face your maker, whore!”

Phoenix nods and speaks, still trying to catch her breath.

”Ye...Yes sir.”

Justus laughs as he paces around Phoenix. She wobbles on her feet a bit but is able to lean against the cage. Justus slaps her across her face.

”Stand before me!”

Phoenix struggles but finds the fight within her and stands, blood dripping from her nose and mouth.

”Good girl. Now, you will do as I say. You will defeat Eli Beazley. You will be a monster. You will be that which goes bump in the night. If you lose, I will be back with more punishment. Understood?”

Phoenix nods as Justus disappears and she crumples to the ground in a heap as the scene fades to black.


II.

The scene opens to Phoenix LeStrange nursing the wounds on her face and neck. She seethes in anger as she speaks.

”Justus was right. He is always right. I have been an absolute failure. I have lost focus on what is important, I have lost focus on what matters. While I am on Twitter posting selfies, my race is ceasing to exist.

Eli, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. This Monday you stand across the ring from a monster. A true face of fear. What will your response be? Fight or Flight? Will you stand up to me or will you run? One choice is the smart choice and one is the dumb choice. Which will it be?

If I were a betting woman I would say you will go the dumb route and fight me. Just know, this is not the Phoenix LeStrange you want to be in the ring with. This is the one who is fighting for, not just her race, but for her own chance to existence. You see, punishment is a strong word for the Moroi. We take it very seriously. When Justus says he will be back to punish me, he fucking means it.

We have a belief in the Moroi. A tortured soul is the best soul. Only after a soul knows true torture can that soul be whole. It isn’t about being the best, it is about surviving. You have to survive absolute torture to become a vampire. You have to be bitten to the point that your very lifesource is drained from you. You have to watch your old body fall to the ground. You have to watch as a vampire keeps feeding on you. That is the stage we are at this week Beazley. We are in the stage where your body has been pushed to it’s absolute limit and you have no choice but to watch the remainder of your humanity slip from your grasp. As your eyes roll back in your head, you are forced to accept that this is the end…

… or is it merely the beginning? You have to make that choice, Beazley. You gave to decide if you live or die. You fighting for your life this week will ultimately lead to your demise. It will lead to your lifesource going away and your soul heading into the light.

Do the smart thing, Beazley. Don’t fight. Let your soul live. Let is survive. Lay down and allow your vessel to be pinned by my vessel. There is no punishment for you losing. It is already determined that you have a North American Title match at Showdown. Why put you showing up to Showdown in jeopardy by fighting me? Why make it so you can’t compete?

Do you understand what I am saying Beazley? I will absolutely kill you in the ring. It is all legal. I will make sure your pathetic life is ended by my hand. As you watch your life slip away, will you make the right choice? Will you survive or will you depart? Will you live or die? Beazley, the choice is yours!”

Phoenix laughs as she winks at the camera and the scene fades to crimson.


III.

We open to Phoenix LeStrange standing in front of a mirror. The reflection shows Pandora speaking to her.

”Phoenix! Pandora trusted you! Pandora gave you her whole being and you took it for granted!”

Phoenix splashes water in her face as she blinks her eyes rapidly. She shakes her head side to side.

”Madness gets to us all from time to time. We all must face our creator one day or another. We all must look into the eyes of that which we fear. This message is for all of APW. This is a message to Adam Dante. You and your roster have awakened a sleeping monster, one of which makes your nightmares look like fairy tales.

This is a message to Lilianna Rose. Thank you. Thank you for showing Justus how soft I am so he could come back to deliver the message to me.

This is a message to the intern who sends me text messages of my opponents. Wait until you see the bad place you placed Eli Beazley in this week.

To the roster, prepare for your worst nightmares to come true. Prepare for that which goes bump in the night. Prepare for the end of your fucking lives! Prepare… for the Moroi!”

Phoenix smiles, her fangs protruding past her bottom lip as she bites her lip and the scene fades to black.