Antony Herondale

Herondale Hall, Chiswick, London
December 1, 2009

Within the outskirts of London, lies a lavish manor belonging to a powerful family that has long since retreated from the general public’s eye, the Herondale family. The manor is a massive, looming structure with towering walls and gates. It is made of white stone which has since been blackened by years of rain and neglect. It was built in the Palladian style, bearing a strong resemblance to classical Greek and Roman temples or a small castle with its soaring pillars, multiple staircases, strong, symmetrical lines and columns holding up an arched portico in front of a set of massive double doors made of metal. The Herondale family’s symbol, a falling star, is stamped into the metal front doors and on the tops of columns. It is surrounded by vast grounds that stretch to the edge of a meander in the Thames River. The property is surrounded by a high fence, tipped with sharp points, made of the same metal as the doors of the house, and the only entrance is one rusty gate built into it adding to the people’s belief that the building is no longer in use.

Contrary to the public’s belief, the building is still in use even now. If one were to enter the building, they would find that it acts as a covert military base for an unknown party. Within the building, one can find groups of men and women dressed in paramilitary uniforms training, sleeping, studying, and even playing sports and card games while others can be found in the basement patrolling hallways filled with rooms closed off by heavy metal doors.

Within the only guarded room out of the hundreds in the hallways, a naked man hangs from the ceiling by his chained wrists. The man possesses long, vibrant red hair that falls to his upper back, fair and unblemished skin that would make any woman jealous, with the only flaws being the deep and painful injuries on his slim and toned body that will no doubt scar once healed. However, none of these features are the man’s most eye-catching characteristic. Rather it is the man’s cold face, which is so beautiful that it would not be wrong to call it supernatural.

As the man hangs from the ceiling, the sound of approaching footsteps can be heard coming from outside before stopping in front of the door.

“Has he said anything?” asks a gruff voice just beyond the door.

“He’s been quiet since the last session, sir.” replies another man

“Not even a scream?” asks the voice again.

“No, sir.” answers the man.

“Not bad. Compared to other kids born with a golden spoon in his mouth he’s pretty tough. Open the door.” commands the man.

With a metallic clank, the heavy door is unlocked before being swung open. With heavy footfalls a scarred middle aged man in military fatigues enters the torture chamber and stands in front of the man.

“Young master Antony, we meet again.” greets the man, prompting Antony to lift his head to face the man despite keeping his eyes closed. “Good job surviving so far. Even some soldiers would have caved by now, you can be proud of yourself for that.” says the man. “Too bad for you I’ve run out of mild torture methods, so unless you feel like telling me where the ring is I’m going to start using more… painful methods.”

Contrary to what the man expected, Antony’s lips do move to answer him, yet no sound leaves his throat.

With wide eyes, the man approaches Antony and places his ears to his lips. “What was that?” asks the man.

“Die.” replies Antony with a whisper before the man feels his throat constrict, stopping any air from entering or leaving his body.

Panicking, the man stumbles away from Antony with wide fearful eyes as he reaches for his throat in the hopes of removing whatever chokes him.

“A futile effort.” comments Antony as the shackles around his wrists open and he lithely lands in a crouch on the floor before standing up to his full height of 6’1.

“6 days.” says Antony, his voice frigid yet smooth and hypnotising, as he rubs sore wrist while looking at the man with a gaze full of disdain. “I have allowed you and your brutes to hold me for 6 days in the hopes that my eldest brother would visit. Evidently the man is more of a coward than I give him credit for.” he says as he approaches the choking man, his eyes still closed despite the changed circumstances. “In spite of having me shackled with cold iron, he could not muster the courage to come and question me himself. What a disgrace to the Herondale name.” comments Antony as he tilts his head and telekinetically snaps the man’s neck.

With his torturer now dead, Antony turns his attention to the metallic door separating him from the rest of the base. With a graceful flick of his wrist, Antony blasts the door off it hinges and into a wall, causing the soldiers outside to scream in shock. Before they can react, the soldiers in the hallway feel their throats constrict and their bodies rise into the air before their necks are snapped.

With the most immediate of his enemies disposed of, Antony exits the room and begins to make his way towards the basement exit. With his back straight, his head level, and his steps measured, his every action is so full of grace and elegance that it should be physically impossible. To any who see him so much as breathe, Antony Herondale is the physical embodiment of nobility, elegance, and grace. A man so full of poise and charm that even his use of telekinesis can only be described as “some kind of pretty magic” and “artistic”.

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While Antony massacres his way through the base, a convoy black vehicles with tinted windows surround Herondale Hall. Within the lead car, a bulletproof limousine, two men and a woman dressed in suits can be found patiently waiting within.

The woman, a beautiful woman with short blond hair and emerald eyes, impatiently looks at her watch before sending a glare at one of the men, an older gentleman in his 50s.

“Glaring at me will not solve the problem, Celine.” says the gentleman.

“You’re right. Perhaps I should remove your head from your shoulders for this blunder of yours.” replies Celine.

“The decision was not mine to make. It was under the young master’s orders that his security detail was lax. It was also under his orders that we did not act before today despite knowing exactly where he is held captive.” replies the gentleman.

“I will also give the young master a piece of my mind. However, your fault is much worse than the young master’s for not dissuading him of such a dangerous decision.” answers Celine. “Heaven forbid that his eldest brother finally goes mad and decides to cripple him, or worse, kill him.” she adds as an afterthought.

“That wouldn’t happen.” says the second man, Celine’s twin brother. “According to the young master, he and the family patriarch have come to an agreement. He will allow the young master Antony to spend the first three years of his adulthood seeing the world before returning to the family to take his rightful place as the heir. During that time the young master will be considered off limits.” he explains.

“It is as Jace said, the young master is currently off limits. His eldest brother is already skirting the line by holding him captive. Any action that is more drastic than even the mildest form of torture will put him in danger of facing severe retaliation.” adds the older gentleman.

Despite her brother and Bernard’s assurances Celine can’t help the uneasy sensation that she feels at the thought of the Antony being held captive and tortured by his older brother’s personal paramilitary troops. For all of Antony’s power and skills, he’s never really been a confrontational man. He’s always preferred to use diplomatic means to resolve his problems rather than a violent approach like the rest of his family. It’s why he used his deal with his father as an excuse to run away.

As far as Celine, Bernard, and Jace know, Antony never planned to return to the family. Rather, he planned to use those three years to quietly disappear to avoid becoming the heir and having to deal with the bloodbath that is the Herondale family’s succession battle.

At least that was the plan before he awoke one day and asked Bernard to begin preparations for his return to the Herondale family a year and a half ahead of the agreed upon date with his father.

Antony’s new attitude towards his position as heir was not the only thing that changed about him. In fact so much of him has changed to that had Celine not known any better she would have claimed that he was possessed or replaced. However, too many fundamental things about him remained the same for him to have been replaced. As such she, Jace, and Bernard have had to think of other possible reasons for his change. Currently the theory that they are going with is that he’s had enough of running from his family. Something in him snapped resulting in his current attitude. However what caused the snap is something that they haven’t figured out yet.

Before Celine can continue her train of thought, the rusty gate of Herondale Hall is violently blown open and a naked Antony Herondale exits the building.

Despite having his eyes closed, Antony fluidly makes his way towards the limousine as if his eyes were open.

Seeing their young master approaching, every member of the convoy exits the vehicles to form a pathway from the gate to the limousine.

Exiting the limousine, Antony’s three personal attendants stand at attention as their young master stops in front of them.

“Your clothes, young master.” says Bernard as he ignores the fresh set of scars on Antony’s body to hand him a neatly folded suit.

“Send a cleaning squad to Herondale Hall. From now on I will be requisitioning the hall for my own personal uses.” commands Antony as he telekinetically unfolds his suit and begins to dress himself.

“Shall I have them renovate the exterior also?” asks Bernard.

Stopping in the middle of buttoning up his shirt, Antony turns to look at the manor as he ponders Bernard’s question.

The current Herondale Hall’s exterior is truly in need of repairs, however Antony isn’t sure if he’s going to make it his main residence even if it were renovated. Having been newly transmigrated to the Marvel Universe, his current priority is becoming the head of the Herondale family. A family so powerful in terms of finances, politics, and status that just being the heir would place him on even ground with many of the heads of old and powerful families in Marvel. The pragmatic side of him is telling him to leave it as is in order to draw the least amount of attention to it as possible. However, the Antony Herondale side of him absolutely refuses to own anything that is in such disarray.

“Yes, that would be much appreciated.” replies Antony after a few seconds of silence.

As Bernard pulls out his cell phone to carry out Antony’s orders, the man in question turns to Celine and Jace.

“As ordered, the Wild Hunt and Birds of Rhiannon are in position to exterminate your eldest brother’s forces. In addition, your eldest brother’s current residence has been forced into a lockdown to stop him from escaping.” reports Celine. “Just give the order and we’ll wipe them from the face of the Earth.” she adds with a bloodthirsty glint in her eyes.

Celine has long since grown tired of the eldest brother’s treatment of her young master, and were it not for his relation to Antony and Antony’s kindness, she would have already tortured him into madness before killing him. She has a decade worth of pent up frustration and hatred caused by him to work off. She may not know what it is that caused the young master to change his views towards the bloodbath that is the succession war, but she’s glad for it regardless.

“Good. I have been kind long enough. It is time for that simpleton to learn that kindness does not equate to weakness.” says Antony as he adds the finishing touch to his suit in the form of a pair of thin white gloves.