A female warrior found herself standing in the middle of a backyard she didn’t recognize looking around she saw a clock in a near by window seeing it was eleven forty five in the evening. Taking a few steps she steadied herself she looked around, seeing only a few trees and bushes in the immediate surroundings. Unfurling her wings she knelt pushing with all her might she ascended high into the cold night sky just as a sliding glass door opened. Fluttershy’s mother stepped out of the house and looked around seeing her daughter's altar was nearly destroyed by the storm she sighed stepping back into the house.

“I need to figure out where I am” the celestial being thought as she flew away “then I need to find my friends perhaps they can help me with my task”.

The celestial, heavenly being clad entirely from neck to toe in ethereal silver-golden armor navigated her way through the rain drowned city. She had long slender white-snow colored wings protruding through the back of her backplate with a slight flap of her wings she began to descend towards the mostly empty city streets and parking lot below.

“This looks like a good place to land” she muttered having chosen a spot to land making sure to look around first in case anyone saw her before fully landing. “Joe’s Corner” she muttered to herself having noticed the store she had seen during her last visit to the city, “I don’t believe it” she muttered, “but that’s only in … Canterlot City”. Shaking her head she added, “This isn’t good”. Not seeing anyone within a few blocks of her location she continued, “no one is around I need to find those two if they are actually in this city that is” she added, “now to get off the streets before someone actually does see me”.

She quickly made her way into a nearby alleyway making sure to use the shadows of the alley to her complete advantage. She had a leather pouch strapped to her right hip and a short dagger strapped to her left hip and a long sword strapped to her back. Her soft silver hair was cut short above her slender ‘elf-like’ ears, her green eyes glowed with an eerie otherworldly light. Her soft milky-cream lush colored skin looked almost charcoal grey in the dim city's light.

“I can’t believe the city has changed so much in the last six years” she whispered looking around and not recognizing anything in sight seeing nothing but litter around her location, “this used to be a much cleaner city than what it is now” making her way further into the alley she finished, “ah, well I don’t have time to pity such things”.

Another thick strap was belted around her waist she wore knee high boots that though they were made of leather they were clearly worn and badly used. With each step she took she could hear the leather from her boots crinkle getting close enough to the exit to where she could stand up without being seen by anyone.

“Damn” she muttered through a forced sigh, seeing far too many people out and about for her liking “There’s too many of them to get by without being seen”

Standing up fully her seven feet seven inch height muscular frame nearly hit a fire escape ladder that was located just a few inches above her head. Glancing up she gulped muttering, “That would have been rather painful I can’t believe I left my helmet behind” looking back in the direction of the exit and towards the city streets she finished, “I better stay out of sight until I can figure out where those two are.”

Making her way towards another alley she ducked into an abandoned building next to a pet food store. Peering through one of the buildings many dirty and broken windows to the streets across from her current location she saw to her delight a few people coming and going each minding their own business.

“If I can get to that street without being seen by those people then I can try to find those two and ask for their help.” she thought. Feeling something run over her left boot her right eyebrow raised slightly, “what was---” she began only to cut her words short, “please for the love of Divinity don’t be what I think that was”. glancing down to her shock she was standing in a nest of nauseating rats. “Oh, gross! Get away from me you disgusting vile vermin!”

Kicking several of the rats out of the immediate area and into another part of the building she hastily found a door and exited making her way to the street. Shaking off the dreaded nauseating feelings she had gotten from the rats she took a few short breaths before making her way further into the city. Looking back she shook her head, turning a corner and heading down the street while trying hard to keep to the shadows she stopped short of a large brick building that had clearly seen better days. Looking at it she saw that most of the brick making up the buildings structure was covered in gang graffiti, feces and torn movie posters.

“I need to find another alley, hopefully one without any rats” she muttered “Oooh, I hate rats disgusting little things!” looking around she saw a rusted fire escape ladder nearby overhanging a large city dumpster, “Ah, yes that will do nicely” she finished.

Taking a few steps back she took a running start leaping over the dumpster onto the fire escape running up the rusted metal stairs, her boots ‘clunked’ with each step she took. The sound echoed in the otherwise quiet alley fearing that someone might come to investigate the sounds she quickened her pace.

“Move it, you fool!” scolding herself she added, “damn someone will for sure come to see what all this noise is, I need to get off this thing now!”

Instinctively she unfurled her wings taking to the air soaring high above the city surveying the city from above the rooftops she saw a reachable alleyway. Folding her wings against her back she dropped like a stone aiming for it. Getting close enough to the alleyway so as not to be seen she outstretched her wings coming to an inaudible landing touching down near the entrance. The alleyway was very sparsely lit, a single overhead street lamp flickered on and off moths fluttered around its outer base frying themselves when they got too close to its hot surface.

“I better not do that again less I wish for someone to come see what I am doing here.” she thought,“now I just need to see if those two are actually in this city.” A light breeze blew up ferrying with it a newspaper bending over to pick it up she failed to see someone coming up behind her. “Hmm, What’s this?” she muttered straightening up, she held the torn newspaper out in front of her reading the article it contained. “Those idiots!” she all but screamed having finished reading the article, growing angry she quickly folded it up placing it into her pouch, “well that proves beyond any doubt that they are indeed here in this city” she headed into the alleyway making her way towards the other side.“by the Holy Light of Div---”

“Hey lady!” a male voice behind her suddenly caught her attention cutting her words short, she impatiently spun around locking eyes with a man in his early twenties. “You lost?”

“No I am not!” she abrasively snarled in irritation, “What do you want?”

Noticing her armor and weapons he sneered a grin gesturing to her body, “You know it's a bit early for Halloween” he whistled, “my you do look very beautiful lady” looking her over, her armor did little to hide her plump full breast or very fit trim muscular figure. “You one of those cos-players, lady? I mean you're dressed like something out of a comic book.”

“I don’t have time for this”. She replied turning around she stopped feeling his hand on her shoulder, dropping her own hand to her dagger she snarled, “either let go or lose your hand”.

“Hey calm down I just want to make sure you make it out of here in one piece” Stepping towards her he gave her a contemptuous sneering smile adding, “if you're lost perhaps I can help my name is Steel Haze” letting her go he finished, “of course my help doesn’t come for …free”.

“I don’t ‘cosplay’ sir and I do not require your kind of help” she bitterly replied taking a step back making sure to keep herself in what little illumination the overhead streetlamp added to the otherwise dark alleyway. “keep this up and I’ll make sure that you will be the one that requires help”.

Hearing a door open and slam shut both turned their attention towards a building adjacent to their position two men in a drunken stupor stepped into the alleyway. One had short blond hair, vomit covering most of his midsection and was wearing a torn t-shirt with dirty urine stained blue-jeans. The second had long dyed chartreuse, glaucous hair, a deep navy-blue vest with torn pockets, and black ripped up jeans.

“Ley there Steel Haze” one of the two men slurred “how are y-you toing tonight”

“It’s been a while since I had myself a good time” the other one said, showing he was not nearly as drunk as the other one was, “Steel Haze do you mind if Drake and I join you?”

“Not at all Eldritch” gesturing towards the woman in front of him he continued, “I found us something fun to do tonight.”

Taking a quick glance around the immediate surrounding area she saw a dumpster located a few feet from the entrance to the alleyway. Deciding to use it as a means of escape she drew her dagger taking a swipe at Steel Haze’s face catching him by surprise ducking he laughed as she turned headed for the dumpster. Getting up to it she re-sheathed her dagger planting her right foot against the dumpster using it to push herself up towards the fire escape. Reaching up she scrambled as best as she could up the fire escape trying to elude her assailants.

“Hey what the hell Steel Haze” Eldritch yelled out watching her make it to the roof tops “why did you let her go?”

“Who says I did?” he replied, “come on boy’s this is going to be fun”.

Thinking she had escaped all three of them she ran across the rooftop throwing her arms above her head she flipped over to another roof landing safely. Glancing over her right shoulder she saw no one was following her racing to another rooftop she looked around deciding it was best to take to the streets. Using a rain gutter she slid down not knowing that Steel Haze and his friends had followed her from the streets below. Making her way into another alleyway she took a fist to her right temple the sudden blow sent her sprawling to the ground.

“Now to make sure you can’t use your pretty knife on us again” Steel Haze jeered, reaching down he took her dagger and sword tossing them down the alleyway “boys lets have some fun with this bitch then we’ll go get ourselves some ale”

“Alright” she said rolling to the right, getting up she made sure to keep her wings tucked against her back, “I can see you three really want to do this”.

Eldritch wanting to be first pushed past his two friends knocking both of them down lunging in threw himself at her only to be tripped by her right foot. Landing face first in a pile of dog poop he rolled to his back whipping the feces off his face getting up he threw a fist at her. Ducking she landed a clean right-hook to his left eye knocking him back a few feet.

“That hurt you bitch” he yelled.

“Well then back off and you won’t get hurt” she replied, throwing a fist missing her target she moved to the right ducking an incoming fist “Boy you really just can’t seem to learn can ya?” she smiled tauntingly “now lets see how you handle this”.

Reaching out to grab her she stepped to his left, tripping him with her foot waiting for him to get back up she placed a hand to her mouth faking a yawn. Placing two fingers to her mouth she gave a loud whistle receiving a look of confusion from Eldritch.

“If that was supposed to make me stop then you are sorely mistaken” he asked, picking himself up “What were you trying to do to call a cop to come get you out of this mess?”

Reaching out she grabbed him by his wrist flipping him head over heels sending him face first into the cold, wet street. Hitting the street with a thud he slowly climbed back to his frowning getting angry he lunged in throwing several fists to her face, each one missing her. Shaking her head she smiled holding her hand out with her palm facing up she flexed her fingers taunting him. Eldritch became enraged by Angelic’s taunting bull-rushing; he quickly took a knee to his groin, a fist to his jaw, and an elbow to his left shoulder for his trouble. Stumbling backwards he slumped to the ground letting out a pained groan.

“Next time when someone says back off” she snarled, “do as you are told and back the fuck off”.

“Screw you lady” Eldritch called back trying to climb back to his feet, “I aim to get myself a good time and that is just what I am going to do” seeing her grin he finished, “Just what the hell are you grinning abo---”

A metal plated fist slammed hard into Eldritch’s jaw, cutting his words short, the blow violently knocked the man back causing him to stumble backwards. Catching him, Steel Haze laughed, pushing Eldritch back at her. Spinning on her right heel she quickly planted her left foot into his stomach the blow immediately doubled him over causing him to fall to the ground. Raising her hands up she bawled her hands into tight fists throwing a right hook she hit Drake in his chin knocking him into the wall of the alley. Turning her attention back to Eldritch she watched him get back up.

“Damn-it stay down!” she screamed. Grabbing him by his shoulders she threw him into the ground watching him roll to a sitting position, “ ”.

“Screw off!” Eldritch replied. Placing a hand to his stomach he turned his attention to Drake helping him up, yelling out “Steel Haze are you going to help or not?”

Growing angry at his friend's words Steel Haze prepared to bull rush the woman, cracking her knuckles she prepared for his attack. Taking her stance, her eyes narrowed, gauging his body position, she saw Steel Haze was putting all his weight on his left leg. Her eyes changed from green to aureate in color causing Steel Haze to momentarily freeze in his tracks. Keeping her eyes on all three men she waited for them to make their move. The fight only stopped when a girl's voice suddenly called out from the entrance of the alley.

“I wouldn’t perpetuate to assail her any further if I were you three.” The girl’s voice said, “our dear friend Angelic doesn’t enjoy being messed with”. Looking over Steel Haze’s right shoulder Angelic could barely make out the silhouette of a girl standing near the entrance of the alleyway. “We don’t want to intervene on our friends behalf” recognizing the voice she heard the unseen person add, “It’s time for you three to depart and leave Angelic to travel in peace”. The unseen person further called out, “if we have to avail our friend then it will result in you three getting hurt or perhaps worse. So you can leave or you can stay and get hurt. The cull is yours.”.

The moon crept out from behind some clouds shining brightly above the cold, wet city, illuminating the streets and alleys below Angelic’s friend took a step into the alleyway. Drake momentarily glanced over his shoulder thinking he would be able to see the person who was standing behind him. To his disappointment the darkened shadowy silhouette of the person standing behind him was all he could make out. Wanting a better look at the newcomer he foolishly dropped his guard much to his friends dismay he turned completely around.

“Who are you?” he asked, seeing a darkened female silhouette standing only a few feet from him, “what do you want with us?” squinting his eyes he could just barely make out something being held in the unseen person's hand, “What is that you're holding”. He asked, giving the person a very concerned suspicious look, “is it a knife?”

The clouds moved silently above covering the moon darkening the alleyway once more Drake could only see a mere few feet in front of him. Though he tried as hard as he could he could only see darkness in all directions. The overhead street lamp did very little to light the already almost entirely darkened eerie alleyway. Getting worried he stepped back looking around his feeling of worry quickly became a deep seeded feeling of uneasiness. Glancing down a hand holding a single dethroned rose in its grip penetrated the darkness in front of him feeling his heart race he gulped.

“My name isn’t important at this time sir” he heard the unseen person softly call out to him, “I do not opiate to intervene on my friends behalf sir.” the unseen person called out from the shadows, “I cadge, you not to cull the option of staying for you will only entice upon your own deaths.” A gust of air quickly blew past Drake and Eldritch; both men chose to ignore it, with Drake fully focusing his attention on the newcomer and Eldritch focusing his attention on Angelic instead, “So please take my trinket, leave this area and gain a friend in the action of departing”.

“Screw you lady” Drake snarled, “You can take that fil---”

“Píseň” Angelic interrupted him calling out to the unseen person, “it’s good of you to come” Píseň took another step into the alleyway keeping to the shadows trying to stay out of Drake's line of vision. “I’ve gotten myself in a bit of trouble and could definitely use your help” she finished, “is Kāṭṭēri with you?”

“Yes I am.” a voice snarled behind Eldritch causing him to jump in fright. “Choose now humans” a hand suddenly reached out from the shadows grabbing Eldritch by his shoulder further adding to his fright, “or we’ll make the choice for the three of you”.

“What the fuck?!” he screamed, pulling away and jumping back he quickly turned around his eyes locked with a milky-white skinned girl with ocean and sky-blue hair standing a few feet behind him. “where the hell did you come from?!” he yelped in fright watching her move to his right, “I’m Kāṭṭēri” disappearing back into the shadows she called out to him,“in front of your friend is my girlfriend Píseň”.

Taking a step towards the area that she had disappeared in his eyes widened in fear, glowing red eyes stared hungrily back at him from the shadows. Looking over her prey from her hiding place she sniffed the air smelling his sweat; his scent was almost intoxicating to her.

“What the fuck are you”? He asked watching step out of the shadows once more Eldritch gulped trying hard not to let his sudden feeling of fear get the best of him. “Please don’t hurt me”.

“Aw, is the little human afraid” she teasingly cooed “perhaps I should” flashing him a elongated fanged grin she finished, “save you for later after all I wouldn’t want to spoil my ... dinner”.

Nearly pissing himself, Eldritch took a step back, his eyes locked with hers getting a very good look at her. He saw her eyes glowing red with hate showing in her irises and rage clearly plasturd on her lips. Her mouth opened and to his horror he saw several pointed sharp teeth next to for long curving inward canines. The bridge of her nose was lined and her nose was flat her ears were slender and pointed much like a elf's ears. Her tounge was thin, lean and forked in fours she had tuffs of hair just above the points of her ears. The girl before him was wearing a denim mud-red hooded vest with the hood pulled down and the vest was worn over a white t-shirt, with black torn skin tight ass hugging jeans and blue sneakers. A leather belt was looped through the jeans belt loops with a chained leather strap attached to the belt itself on her right side.

“You guys need to leave” Angelic chimed in catching Eldritch’s attention turning his attention to her she frowned adding, “if these two get involved I won’t be able to stop them from hurting the three of you”.

“W-we just want a little f-fun” he stammered trying to hide his growing fear, “you know a little something nice to do for the evening”.

Sensing his fear Kāṭṭēri quickly decided to have a bit of fun with Eldritch she took another step towards him causing him to step back again. Leaning in, she licked his right ear almost tasting his fear shuddering with delight her eyes ceased glowing becoming a soft aquamarine.

“Fun? huh?” Kāṭṭēri giggled sickly “Why honey I’ve seen how you get your ‘fun’ and you know what?” she added, looking him over, “you and your dumb-ass friends here have treated my friend Angelic like shit”. She whispered in his ear, “that really ticks me off”. Reaching out, she grabbed him by his shirt and spun him around forcing him to face her fully, placing a finger to Eldritch’s chest. “I mean really you ‘men’ think even in this day and age that it's OK to treat someone like a dog”.

“Wh-what are you going to do” he gulped, “t-to me?”

“Oh nothing much” watching him turn away from her she growled, “look at me” not getting the response she wanted from him she grabbed his mouth, “LOOK AT ME!” getting what she wanted from him she smiled. “That’s better”. Slowly she ran a finger in a circular motion over his chest stopping just over his heart. “So if I were you baby I’d get the fuck out of here while you and you’re three friends still can”. Running her hand down his shirt he felt her nails digging into his flesh, delightfully she watched him wince in pain, “Otherwise my girlfriend and I will have to” clicking her tongue she finished, “have our own ‘fun’ with you three shitheads”.

“This needs to end” Angelic thought “I wanted their help but not if it meant that these three men will get killed”.

Stepping back into the shadows Kāṭṭēri disappeared from Eldritch’s line of sight again Angelic watched her friend climb a wall like a bat preparing to strike down its prey. Quickly ceasing the moment she turned her attention to Drake surprising him grabbing his wrist she spun him around. Giving a hard shove she pushed him towards Steel Haze knocking both men down. Glancing up she saw Kāṭṭēri chose a hiding place above the alley hanging upside down like a bat near a broken window ledge.

“Mithrandir’al ” Angelic, heard Kāṭṭēri’s thoughts in her mind, “can you still hear my thoughts?”

“Yes” Angelic menteally replied, “It’s good to speak to you like this again”.

“Good Mithrandir’al so you are not out of practice” Angelic heard Kāṭṭēri’s thoughts within her own mind clear as crystal, “ I’m gonna sit this one out at least for the time being that is.”

Not realizing the danger he and his friends were in, Steel Haze got up helping his friend Drake up as well. Though the above hanging street light did show Píseň’s silhouette she stood just out of clear view of Steel Haze and his friends. Taking a step towards Píseň he rushed her, throwing his arms out; he took her by complete surprise grabbing her by her shoulders. Turning to his right he threw her into the ground Píseň fell to her hands and knees hitting the ground with a soft thud tearing trousers in the process.

“I really wish you hadn’t done that” Angelic said, “Now you have really made Kāṭṭēri mad”.

“You son of a bitch!” Kāṭṭēri screamed having seen everything from her hiding place. “I’ll tear you apart, human!” Without warning she dropped like a stone from her hiding place landing in front of Steel Haze back fisting him in the jaw, the blow knocked him down and sent him flying into a wall back first. His body hit the wall with a sickening thud Steel Haze felt three of his ribs crack from impacting with the wall behind him. A bit dazed and cunfused he heard her finish, “I’ll kill you for this”.

“Don’t do it please” Angelic screamed out “Kāṭṭēri we can’t afford any more mistakes”.

“Fuck off Angelic that bastard hurt my girlfriend he has to pay for that!” she yelled back, turning her attention to Píseň she rushed to her side helping her up. “Are you alright Píseň?”

“Y-yes I think so” looking herself over she frowned “though I do need to get some new trousers”

“Stay here I’ll deal with him” turning around she added, “Now” Taking a step towards Steel Haze she finished, “you die, human!” Raising a sharp finger nailed hand above her head she lunged in letting out a loud snarling growl her lips parted seductively as she took in his sent savoring the onslaught that was to come. "I'll tare your heart out and eat it raw!"

Not wanting her girlfriend to kill him Píseň jumped in front of Kāṭṭēri placing her hands on her girlfriends chest. A sad, desperate, pleading look quickly etched across Píseň’s face a look of worry plastered in her eyes. Sighing Kāṭṭēri nodded stepping back keeping her eyes on Steel Haze and his two friends silently waiting for the right opportunity to end him.

“You tell us to leave, I say screw you both'' Steel Haze yelled getting back up placing a hand to his side over his cracked but not broken ribs, “I’m going to enjoy having fun with your friend you cunt”. Stepping forward he got a good look at the person he just threw into the ground, “my you are indeed a beauty” he sneered.

“Girls listen to me” Angelic yelled in desperation, “Kāṭṭēri please don’t hurt him!” turning her attention to Píseň she finished, “you both need to go easy on them, their only humans”.

“Boy this human is such a jerk.” Kāṭṭēri thought. “Damn-it if I were here by myself he would be dead already”.

Píseň stood six feet tall with long shoulder length raven colored hair deep purple eyes that shimmered like freshly polished gemstones. Her skin was a rich charcoal grey under the pale moonlight though in sunlight her skin was a calm soothing peaches and cream color. she wore white silk gloves over each hand with a silver band on her left ring finger. She was wearing a white silk blouse, with a black silk tie around her neck. A silver g-clef was pinned in the center of her tie In her right hand she held a single rose. A pink rose was delicately pinned to the right lapel of her jacket with a rainbow colored ribbon tied between the peduncle and bract.

“I must say” Steel Haze began, “you really do look beautiful in that outfit girl” looking both girls over he grinned finishing, “I wouldn’t mind at all watching her dance on a pole with you taking part in it”.

Píseň was wearing a black jacket tailored with a welt front pocket and flap waist pockets sewn to either side of it. She wore sophisticated trousers that were now torn at the cuff which had been crafted from Fleece black silk with a subtly lustrous finish. Her trousers were styled with a streamlined contoured waistband. A black leather belt was looped through the loopholes of her trousers.

“Why don’t you unbutton that thing and show me the good’s girl?” He flashed her a sickening smile adding, “Come on now, don’t be shy all you have to do is unbutton your jacket girl”.

“Sir please stop, you're making me sick” she replied. “Besides I am as you have already seen for yourself clearly spoken for”.

“Yeah so what? Who---” he replied, only to be cut off as something brushed past him “Hey what the hell?”

Drake without any warning rushed in only to be completely caught off guard a well planted fist violently slammed into his jaw. The sudden blow sent him stumbling backwards into his friend Eldritch. Pushing Drake off of him Eldritch also rushed in only to take a knee to the groin, an elbow to the ribs, and a fist to the sternum. Stumbling backwards he fell butt first to the cold, wet street his head came to rest against a wooden fence behind him.

“Finally, now to end this!” Kāṭṭēri sneered having waited long enough, “you stupid humans think only with your dicks and not your heads” rushing in Kāṭṭēri grabbed him by his lapel picking him up his feet dangled above her knees, “this fight was over long before it got started”. Letting him go he hit the ground with a thud she reached into her vest taking out a knife flicking it open, “leave” she growled “or die”. Throwing the knife it slammed blade-first into the wooden fence next to his right ear. “the choice is yours” he heard her finish. “Make it now you piece of---”

“Kāṭṭēri! What the hell are you doing?!” Angelic screamed, completely ignoring her current situation, “Píseň will you---”

Taking full advantage of her distraction Steel Haze threw a fist striking Angelic in her face, cutting her words short, knocking her head back, slowly her head tilted forward. “OK, that’s it!” she snarled, “I’m through giving you and your friends chances to walk away”. A single droplet of blood dripped from her lower left lip raising her hand to her lip, she wiped off the blood giving him a scornful glare. “I didn’t want to fight however, you have brought this upon yourselves”.

Dropping to the ground she planted both hands firmly on the street flexing her legs forward spinning in a half-circle she knocked his feet out from under him. Everything else from Steel Haze’s perspective seemed to happen in slow motion. With inhuman speed Angelic raced forward grabbing Steel Haze by his left bicep twisting herself around she threw him, head over heels into the dumpster.

“That’s going to hurt” Kāṭṭēri thought watching Angelic fight Steel Haze, “man she is going to mop the floor with that asshole”.

Hitting the dumpster back first he slumped to the ground letting out a pained grunt. Backing away she breathed heavily catching her breath seeing he was trying to get back up Angelic quickly rushed in punching Steel Haze in the forehead knocking him out cold.

“Stupid idiot” she snarled, “he should have just stayed down”. Taking a step back from him she reached down grabbing him by his lapel picking him up. “Lets put you someplace where you can’t do any more harm to anyone else tonight”.

Drake stepped in throwing a fist at Píseň completely missing his target ducking she stepped to the left dogging another incoming fist. “My friend Angelic didn’t want to fight with you or your friends sir” Reaching out to him she held her rose out to him confusing him he stopped in his tracks momentarily looking at the rose then into her eyes. “I will in regards to that stipulation I will offer you this rose” ducking another incoming fist she locked eyes with his finishing, “please stop this foolishness and take this token of friendship sir”.

He lunged in throwing his leg out trying to kick Píseň in the stomach evading his attack, she spun around getting behind him slapping the back of his head with her free hand. She watched him stumble forward hitting the wall face first breaking his nose. Turning around his eyes watered from the pain rushing in she swept his legs out from under him hitting the ground butt first he sat in a dazed stupor fresh blood gushed from his broken nose staining his shirt.

“All you had to do was” he heard Píseň softly say “take my rose and depart this area” She watched Drake trying as best as he could to get back up. “I offered you friendship instead you chose to keep fighting”.

She watched him place his hand over his nose. “you could have left here as a friend”. Shaking her head she threw a fist adding,“instead of being an enemy”. She struck his left temple, knocking Drake out cold.

“You little slut” she heard Eldritch scream catching her attention spinning back around she ducked an incoming fist, “you’ll pay for that”.

“Don’t do this sir please don’t do this” Throwing a fist herself she hit him in the chest knocking him down, “Stay down! Please just stay down” she screamed.

Eldritch climbed back to his feet, lunging; he threw a fist missing her face by a few inches, growing angry he tried to kick Píseň in the stomach. Dogging the attack she momentarily forgot her own strength catching him off guard flat palming him in the chest. The blow immediately sent him hurtling out of the alleyway into a parked car across the street. Hearing a very loud sickening bone breaking, crunching thud Angelic’s eyes widened in comprehension of the sound from the mans body exploding upon impacting with the car.

“Píseň!” she heard her friend Angelic scream out, “what have you done?!” Angelic raced past her friend towards the street adding, “Come on Kāṭṭēri” leaving Drake where he lay and Steel Haze stuck inside the dumpster, “we have to make sure he’s alright” Kāṭṭēri followed her friend, stopping just short of her friends back hearing a gasp escape Angelic’s lips “Oh, God” Kāṭṭēri watched her friend Angelic clasp a hand over her mouth a sneering grin etched over Kāṭṭēri's lips at the grissly sight . “No”. she heard Angelic whisper, Kāṭṭēri watched her friend take a step back hearing her finish, “How could Pisen have done this?”

To their horror the car was toppled over on its side Elderitch’s twisted, mangled body was pinned to the car’s metal frame, blood pooled in the center of the wreckage. His body had indeed exploded open from impacting the car most but not all of his internal organs were splattered on the sidewalk and wall of the building next to the car. His bones though mostly crushed from impacting the car punctured what was left of his skin, his right eye dangled from his smashed skull. His brain lay several feet past the car with bits of skull and hair still attached to it. his left eye bulged outwards looking as it was ready to pop the eye itself was oozing puss from what was left of his skull. Most of the center of the car was smashed inwards held together only by Elderitch’s lifeless body. Getting closer to the car Kāṭṭēri saw to her astonishment some of Elderitch’s organs were splattered over the front windshield as well as the sidewalk and building next to the car.

“Angelic, Kāṭṭēri is---” Píseň called out to them getting up to them her eyes widened in fear, cutting her words short she stood nearly frozen seeing what she had done to him, “I-I didn’t m-mean” shaking her head her eyes filled with tears, “to do this to him”.

“Well you did Píseň, you lost control!” Angelic screamed pointing to the mangled mess that once was a man but was now only a corpse “no amount of tears will change it!”

“Hey!” Kāṭṭēri, chimed in rushing to her girlfriends side, “don’t you dare yell at her like that Angelic besides you have done far worse to humans than this” stepping between Angelic and Píseň she growled out, “so back off”.

“I didn’t want this, I didn’t want to kill ...again”. Píseň turned away from the horrible sight, almost choking on her words, “I’m going to be sick”. She turned to the right retching, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the street swallowing hard trying to calm down she coughed adding, “I hate what I am”.

“Hey it’ll be alright” Kāṭṭēri softly spoke trying to calm her girlfriend down gently laying a hand on her shoulder she added, “it's going to OK, honey”.

“The hell it is!” Angelic chimed in stomping towards her friends she added, “you two idiots have really screwed up” throwing her arms up her eyes narrowed glaring at Píseň she almost screamed, “Píseň what were you thinking?! I told you,” turning her attention to both of her friends she added further, “I told both of you, that we can’t afford any more mistakes” Thrusting her hand outward she pointed to the mangled corpse finishing, “that we needed to go easy on them!”

“Just what the hell are you talking about Angelic?” Kāṭṭēri demanded.

“This is what I am talking about!” reaching into her pouch Angelic retrieved the newspaper article thrusting it into Kāṭṭēri’s chest she added, “read it” watching Kāṭṭēri turn her attention to Píseň she finished through a forced snarl, “don’t worry about Píseň she’ll be fine!”

Taking the news article Kāṭṭēri handed it over to Píseň turning her attention back to Angelic, “why the hell should I care about som---”

‘An eviscerated body was taken from the docks to the city morgue earlier today.’ Píseň read outloud unintentionally cutting Kāṭṭēri’s words short, not giving her girlfriend time to say anything she added, ‘C.S.I squad member Charm Haste shall be the one to perform the autopsy on the body which is scheduled to take place at eleven tonight at the 112 precinct.’

“Píseň stop there for a moment” Angelic chimed in holding up her hand, “can either of you tell me whom you two were fighting with earlier today”?

Looking down, Kāṭṭēri began to walk away folding her arms under her very round plump chest noticing this Angelic quickly followed her. Getting up close to her Angelic reached out grabbing Kāṭṭēri by her shoulder spinning her around Angelic’s deep mousey colored eyes stared deeply into Kāṭṭēri’s aquamarine eyes. Seeing only anger, loneliness, hatred and sadness, staring back into her own eyes she let Kāṭṭēri go frowning deeply.

“I am afraid that I don’t know whom we were fighting Angelic” Píseň chimed in “I can only tell you that a fight did occur at the docks earlier today my girlfriend was unfortunately rather ... mum on that subject.”

Taking a step back, Kāṭṭēri’s jaw began to tremble looking away she gulped trying hard to suppress her emotions. Her mind shifted back to a time long before she had met Angelic or Píseň; her whole body trembled with anger. Kāṭṭēri’s eyes closed tightly, her right hand balled into a tight fist she stood silently listening to the sounds of the city. Her anger boiled within her threatening to erupt at any moment.

“Tell me whom did you fight down at the docks” Angelic’s words snapped, Kāṭṭēri out of her anger induced state of mind, hearing her friend add, “why did you go there endangering not only yourselves but all of us as well.”

Several long silent moments passed reaching up Kāṭṭēri placed her hand over Angelic’s removing her friends hand from her own shoulder. Turning around she stared at a nearby puddle of dirty oily water walking over to it she saw her reflection in the water kicking a pebble into the water she watched her reflection twist and distort. Several clouds slowly drifted overhead covering the moon’s soft glow. The wind blew lightly through the alleyway, a few strands of her double blue tone hair flowed in the wind tucking the flowing strands of hair behind a slender elf-like pointed ear that was slowly returning to a human sized and shapped ear Kāṭṭēri turned around facing her friend.

“We were tracking” she finally spoke, “that is all I am willing to say on this subject so just leave it alone”.

“I understand that Kāṭṭēri!" Angelic snapped bitterly " But for the love of Divinity's Light tell me who you two were tracking and fighting with?” taking a step towards her Angelic added, “since the winter of 1420 I have never known you to make a mis---” her eyes widened a look of realization quickly etched over her face. “Tell me you didn’t go after---”

“we-er that is -I found one of them” she replied interrupting her friend, “so I did what was needed, what you wouldn’t have done”.

“You stupid fool” Angelic all but screamed at her friend, “your need for vengeance has put us all at risk!” balling her hand into a fist she added, “and to make it worse you put the humans in danger as well”.

Growing angry herself Kāṭṭēri snarled out, “fuck the humans! I lost my family due to humans and their damn war!!” pushing past Angelic she headed back over to Píseň muttering, “stupid fools why should I care about them anyway?” getting up to her girlfriend she received an angry look from Píseň, “I take it your siding with her on this?”

Stepping back a bit and clearing her throat Píseň waited for Angelic to rejoin them Kāṭṭēri scoffed kicking the ground with her left foot. Angelic rejoined them a few minutes later giving Píseň a nod with a deep sigh Píseň begrudgingly returned to reading the news article out loud.

‘A few witnesses stated that when the police arrived after the sounds of gunfire were heard they found three people in an all out gun fight. However it would appear that only one person was killed during the battle while the police tried to get things under control. Witnesses also stated that the police were hopelessly outmatched by one of the three assailants. A police officer by the name of White Tails was badly hurt during the gunfight it is unclear if he will make it or not.’

Angelic watched her friend Kāṭṭēri lean against the wall folding her arms under her chest once more turning back to Píseň she sighed shaking her head in annoyance. Kāṭṭēri stood staring at her girlfriend and Angelic letting her anger brewing within her a slight movement to her right quickly caught her attention. Her eyes followed a rat as it climbed out of a sewer drain cleaning its face and whiskers with its tiny paws.

Looking up from the news article Píseň watched her girlfriend for a few minutes “Ughh” she groaned in sickening irritation “Kāṭṭēri’s not going to do what I think she is going to do ... is she ... Angelic?”

“Not if I” she replied, “can help it Píseň”.

A soft, growling snarl escaped Kāṭṭēri’s lips taking a step away from the wall her eyes glowed a pearly soft white. With anticipation of the meal to come she tracked the rats every movement watching it dart in and out of various hiding places. Her mind drifted to a time when she used to hut such small animals for food, game and fun. Her senses enhanced, licking her lips she savored the smell of her prey rushing forward much to the rats squealing squeaking surprise scooped the little furry Píseň up in her hands. Holding it by its tail at eye level she opened her mouth raising her hand upward her eyes rolled back her jaw slightly quivered.

“Kāṭṭēri!” Angelic called out, snapping her friend out of her predator-like state of mind, “don’t even think about eating the disgusting vermin” stepping forward she finished, “besides you have no idea where that sickening little beast has been”.

“But I’m hungry” she protested, lowering the rat back to ground, she watched it scamper off, “and besides this is getting boring”.

“I don’t care” gently taking Kāṭṭēri by her forearm she added, “now come back over here, you need to hear what is written in that article”. Leading her back over to Píseň she nodded to her letting Kāṭṭēri go finishing, “go ahead Píseň honey please continue”.

Giving both her girlfriend and Angelic a cold scrutinizing hard stare Píseň sighed a soft breeze blew her raven colored hair back. Tucking a lock of her hair behind her pointed ears she turned her attention back to the newspaper held in her hands flexing her fingers a soft noticeable cracking pop came from the paper.

“According to witness statements two of the three assailants were cloaked though their cloaks did at one point during the gunfight with the unknown assailant come off. Much to the fright of the local homeless living in the immediate area. Several doc workers also claim to have seen the gruesome looking pair as well.

Quirking an eyebrow Kāṭṭēri smirked shaking her head quickly earning herself a very unpleasant frown from her friend Angelic and girlfriend Píseň. Taking a step back Kāṭṭēri watched Angelic close her own eyes placing to fingers to the bridge of own her nose letting out forced irritated sigh. Wanting to lighten the sour mood she was perceiving from her girlfriend Píseň and their friend Kāṭṭēri reached into her vest pocket taking out a pack of cards. Realizing what she was doing Angelic rolled her eyes reaching out she took the deck from Kāṭṭēri placing it into her pouch earning herself a confused look from her friend.

“You know very well Kāṭṭēri” Angelic irately growled, “that I don’t like card games”.

“Fine whatever” Kāṭṭēri derided in reply adding, “I was just trying to lighten the mood is all”.

“There is no time for that now” turning her attention away from Kāṭṭēri she finished, “we need to get going and soon”. Watching her friend put away her cards, Angelic finished, “Píseň please finish reading the rest of the news article”.

Looking back at the newspaper in her hands Píseň walked over to her girlfriend and Angelic staring at both of them intently. Frowning she folded up the newspaper unbuttoned her jacket retrieving her cell phone from her innermost left pocket tossing it to Kāṭṭēri who gave her a confused look.

“Use it to call Varnas” she all but growled out giving Kāṭṭēri a cold, hard emotionless stare “I’m going topside” turning her attention to Angelic she finished, “come or stay the choice is yours”.

Without another word to either Angelic or her girlfriend Píseň turned around heading towards the nearby fire escape. Getting up close to it she used it to vault from one building to the adjacent one till she reached the top of the first building she was headed for. Landing safely on the rooftop she looked around seeing only an empty roof with a single entry for maintenance workers located in the middle of the rooftop. Stepping towards the ledge she placed her right leg to the grey stone ledge looking down. She waited and watched her friend Angelic give her wings a hard flap lifting herself into the air.

“I’m going to go see what caused her to leave” Angelic said, rising further into the sky, looking down at Kāṭṭēri she added, “you stay down here and take care of this mess”.

“Aww come on!” she heard Kāṭṭēri protest “this is so not fair!” glancing at the phone in her hand she shrugged “well she said to ‘stay down here and take care of this mess’ she didn’t say ‘how’ to handle this” dialing a number she held the phone to ear waiting for the other person to pick up, “Come on pick up already”.

She waited for a few minutes before hearing a tired voice on the other end of the phone say, “Hello this is Canterlot Investigations Bureau, Agent Varnas speaking how may I---”

“It’s me I’m-well-I’m in trouble and need your help” hearing a very irritated groan on the other end she quickly added, “hey come on I hardly ever call you please I like, really could use your help”.

“Fine!” she heard him bitterly reply. “I need to know where you are at this pierce moment”

“I am not sure where in the city we are located” she replied.

“Wait … you said ‘I am in trouble’ so tell me what do you mean by this ‘we’? Who else is there with you?” she heard him ask, his tone of voice indicating he was less than enthused to learn she was not alone, “tell me what happened?”

“Well there is Píseň my girlfriend and um-er-uh,” clearing her throat she silently prayed and hoped that Varnas wouldn’t blow up clenching her left hand into a tight fist she gulped, “Angelic … is here as ... well”.

“I see” hearing the phone being set down and placed onto speaker Kāṭṭēri waited for a few seconds before she heard him finish, “I’m not happy to hear that Angelic is back Kāṭṭēri! Nor am I happy to learn that you're with her”. She listened to the sounds of water running and squeaking coming from what was more than likely his bed, “I am equally not happy to learn that you are once again in trouble and that your girlfriend is also I assume in trouble as well due to your actions”.

“I understand” she replied, looking around she added, “Hey I am not sure where I am located so I was wondering if you could just oh, I don’t know, perhaps trace the call?”

“I’ll do that but you need to tell me what happened first and foremost I can’t do anything at all until I know fully what I am getting my department into”.

“We-er-I mean I was tracking or rather hunting one of them and well I wound up getting myself and Píseň into a gunfight at the docs earlier today.” taking a breath she added, “I didn’t call you about that because I thought I could handle it on my own I have after all lived for well.... a rather long time” she began to pace back and forth her mind started to race trying to calm down she sat down pressing her back against the cold wet brick wall of the alleyway. “Well one thing led to another and during the gunfight the cops got called one of them got hurt and I killed the um, thing that I was hunting .” bowing her head a single tear threatened to break the surface of her right eye wiping it away she let out a forced sigh, “Several hours after we got away Píseň wanted to go out for dinner so with my weapons or hers we left. Perhaps it was meant as a way to take my mind off of it I don’t know and I don’t care what her real intention was”.

“I see, tell me Kāṭṭēri what happened next?”

“Well we were headed into the city using the rooftops and alleyways to keep out of sight when we-er-I mean when I heard a whistle” leaning her head back against the brick wall she added, “I knew that whistle quite well as I was the one who taught it to Angelic. I had made it clear to her she was only to use it when she needed either my help or Píseň’s help”. Closing her eyes she further continued dreading the words that were to come, “Angelic had somehow gotten herself into a bit of a skirmish with three hu-er-people. One of them is knocked out in this alleyway, the second is locked inside a dumpster and the third” her eyes opened, sniffing, believing that her girlfriend wasn’t ready to face Varnas, she thought it best to take the blame for her girlfriends actions. “I-I killed him”.

“You did what?!” she heard him reply the tone in his voice was stark and full of anger, “say that again Kāṭṭēri”.

“You heard me! I killed him I placed my hand to his chest shoved him and he went hurtling out of the alleyway into a parked car across the street” getting up she finished, “upon impacting with the car his body exploded I didn’t mean to kill him I just wanted him to leave Angelic alone”.

“Are you with your friends now”?

“No I am in the alleyway, Angelic and Píseň are headed for precinct one twelve they need to retrieve the bodies that were sent there.” turning around she placed her arm above her head placing her forearm to the brick wall leaning forward she finished, “there was a news article about this incident though it stated that there was only one body found at the docs there are in fact two, one of which is human the other … is not''.

“Get me the license plate of that car then rejoin your friends I’ll meet you at Fourth and Hallard street in about twenty minutes”.

Walking down the alleyway Kāṭṭēri stood in front of the twisted metal mess that once was a car looking it over she found the license plate giving that to Varnas. Turning back towards the alleyway entrance she took a few steps away from the mangled twisted wreckage stopping in her tracks hearing her stomach growl she placed a hand to her very muscalur flat well tone 12 pack abb stomach frowning. Turning around she reached out taking Eldritch’s heart into her hands surprisingly it was still warm. Licking her lips she pressed it to her mouth biting into it, her eyes darkened turning dark purple and glowing brightly the warm blood gushing over her lips, down her throat was intoxicating. Finishing her meal she wiped a hand over her lips licking her fingers a soft growling laughter escaped her lips.

“Well at least this bastard was good for something” she thought, out loud she said into the phone, “Varnas as long as you are coming can you be a dear and perhaps bring me something to ….snack on?”

“Alright I’ll make something for you to snack on” he replied “oh, Kāṭṭēri don’t touch anything from the wreckage or the body I need to---”

Hanging up before he could finish she smirked, shaking her head heading back into the alleyway she soon found Angelic’s sword and Drake still unconscious. Picking up her friend's weapons she carried them over to him setting them down next to him kneeling next to him. She placed her hands to his head very violently twisting his head to the right a sickening bone snapping, crunching sound echoed in her ears. Dropping his lifeless body where it lay, she picked up Angelic’s weapons once more, carrying them over to the dumpster that held Steel Haze in it.

“Hey let me out” she listened to him bang and thrash about inside the dumpster “someone please let me out there are roaches in here for the---”

Pressing the tip of Angelic’s sword to the metal dumpster Kāṭṭēri thrusted her hand forward penetrating the dumpster with the sword. A soft squelching gurgle came from inside the dumpster, her eyes narrowed twisting the blade to the right she smiled she slowly methodically twisted the blade to the left. Drawing her arm back Kāṭṭēri watched as blood slowly drip from the blade onto the street. Reaching out with her free hand she ripped open the dumpster looking inside she saw Steel Haze’s lifeless body lying on a small pile of rags.

“This scum will never hurt anyone else again”. She thought, out loud she muttered to herself “Angelic should have backed down as soon as I showed up then this wouldn’t have been necessary”.

Reaching inside the dumpster she retrieved a handful of rags quickly using them to clean off her friend's weapon. Sighing, she tossed the rags back into the dumpster over Steel Haze’s lifeless corps she turned to leave stopping in her tracks.

“Oh, right I mustn’t forget Drake's body” she muttered.

Heading a little further down the alleyway she quickly located Drake's body getting up close to it. She sniffed the air, the putrid smell of death hung heavy in the air. Setting Angelic’s weapon down for a moment she knelt next to his body picking him up heading back to the dumpster she tossed him inside of it slamming the lid closed laughing. Kāṭṭēri retrieved her friends weapon once more before heading for the fire escape getting up close to it she looked it over scoffing at its rusted frame and damaged exterior.

“I can’t actually believe this rusted piece of junk actually held Píseň as she made her way to the top”

Tucking friends sword under her left arm Kāṭṭēri turned around taking a running start running towards the fire escape she planted her right foot against it. The massive ten story structure creaked, groaned and shook from the slightest touch of her feet using it to vault from one building to the next she headed for the top.

“You told me that Kāṭṭēri found you in 1720, February the 8th in Shoreham which if I recall correctly was a small sailing port of Neighland”. Kāṭṭēri heard landing on the legde of the building just behind Angelic and Pisen who both didn't see her she decided it was best not to interfere with Angelic’s tale choosing rather to remain silent as she listened in on the conversation, “she took you in, fed you, bathed you, clothed you and eventually had sex with you she also taught you how more or less to fight”. Recalling the memory herself Kāṭṭēri silently crept into the shadows of the maintenance doorway listening intently to Angelic’s every word. “In the early spring which I do believe was March 6th of 1728 you found those that you believed took away from you what you can not replace which was your family” Kāṭṭēri watched from her hiding place as her friend Angelic laid her hands on Píseň’s shoulders “That was if my memory still serves me correctly eight years after Kāṭṭēri found you Píseň. You do understand sweetheart that was 292 years ago. So tell me why are you still carrying this around with you?”

“Because I killed two innocent people that day” she sniffed “and I did some checking on my own before the dock incident from earlier today. I know that the Sower family is still in this area. They have no idea what I did” looking into Angelic’s eyes she added, “just like you have no idea whom it was that we …. killed earliertoday.”

“I would if you or Kāṭṭēri would just tell me” she replied.

“It was Riz^tyākt her fourth in command”. Kāṭṭēri still choosing to hide and listen in watched her girlfriend Píseň look down with shame etched over her regal face, “Once again I took a life, he like the Sower family did me no wrong at all. Yet like before I wanted blood for blood so I hunted him down, but I couldn’t do it I wanted to but I just ... couldn’t.”

Kāṭṭēri watched Angelic gently place a finger under Píseň’s jaw slowly raising the distraught girls head up so ther gaze locked. Offering her a simple yet pleasant smile she wrapped her arms around Píseň gently pulling her into a warm reassuring safe hug. Kāṭṭēri watched further as her girlfriend returned the hug burying her face into Angelic’s breastplate wrapping her own arms around her friends shoulders. Trembling Píseň began to cry gently Angelic much to Kāṭṭēri’s hope was indeed a friend to her gently Angelic ran her fingers through Píseň’s raven-black hair.

“Shh, honey it’s going to be alright”. Angelic was heard whispering.

“How is this going to be alright?” pulling Angelic in a little closer Kāṭṭēri listened to her girlfriend add, “I wanted him dead for what she did to me for what she took from me and I took two incconcent lives that day” Kāṭṭēri watched Píseň end the hug hearing her finish, “Why did I do this, why?”

“Listen to me honey Eldritch was a fool he could have left at anytime but he chose to stay so thus his fate was sealed” Kāṭṭēri watched further as Angelic whipped away Píseň’s tears hearing her winged friend add, “what happened today and all those many long years ago wasn’t your fault Píseň you need to learn to live with this and let it go otherwise it’ll eat you up inside until you become like---”

“Like who” Kāṭṭēri heard her girlfriend ask “whom will I become like Angelic please tell me”.

“I am afraid that you’ll wind up like … Kāṭṭēri. I am afraid that you’ll become a killer who kills at their leisure without regard or remorse for their actions”.

Having heard more than enough Kāṭṭēri snarled her eyes glowed incarnadine in color quickly remembering that Angelic was only trying to help Píseň she calmed down if only a bit. Stepping out of the shadows she placed two fingers to her lips giving a loud whistle watching in delight as Píseň and Angelic both jumped with fright. Snickering to herself she playfully tilted her head to the right enthralled by Angelic’s and Píseň reactions to her whistling at them.

“Dammit!” Angelic yelped, “I swear by Divinity’s Light Kāṭṭēri!” placing a hand over her own heart she finished, “don’t you ever do that again”.

“Kāṭṭēri that was not funny” Píseň chimed in taking a step towards her girlfriend her eyebrows scrunched sniffing the air her eyes slightly narrowed, “why do I smell fresh blood on you?” looking her over she finished, “y-your not hurt are you”.

Holding out Angelic’s dagger Kāṭṭēri feeling a bit playful tossed it to Angelic watching her friend catch the blade and placing it against her left hip she smiled. Leaping from the ledge she landed next to her girlfriend in a squatting position standing up she began to playfully twirl Angelic’s five foot long sword moving around the pair in a circular formation.

“You know honey” she began tossing the blade into the air much to Angelic’s annoyance catching it she added, “it occurs to me that if you” giving Angelic a very tauntingly half-hearted grin “two wanted to be alone together” tossing the blade back into the air again she watched it spin reaching out to catch it she stopped when a metal plated hand suddenly reached out catching it. “All you had to do was ask” taking a step back with a playful bow she added, “instead of leaping all the way up” straightening up she finished, “here”.

“Kāṭṭēri you know very damn well that” Holding up her sword Angelic snarled, “this is a weapon!” sheathing her sword she added “it's not a damn toy”. Sniffing the air Angelic also smelled the scent of blood stepping towards Kāṭṭēri she finished, “I too smell blood on you so tell us why do we both smell blood coming off of you Kāṭṭēri?”

“If its blood you smell it is not my own” she replied, grinning she added, “but you are right Angelic there is a scent of blood in the air and its closer to you than what you would like it to be”.

Giving her a concerned look Angelic pursed her lips together not liking where the conversation was going, reaching behind herself she drew her blade giving it a once over. Her gaze quickly fell back to Kāṭṭēri who offered her a very playful smile. Not wanting a fight to break out between her girlfriend and her friend Píseň stepped between the two hearing growl coming from Kāṭṭēri she turned to her growling herself. Kāṭṭēri not wanting to fight with her girlfriend chose to back down folding her arms under her own chest. An uneasy silence filled the air wanting more information Angelic stepped back knowing her next words could easily start a fight with her friend.

“Tell me Kāṭṭēri” she asked showing she was growing angry “what did you do?”

“I did what you either couldn’t or be it wouldn’t do” she replied taking a step back herself she sneered showing her left fang to Angelic “I believe your words were ‘you stay down here and take care of this mess’ you never said ‘how’ I should take care of it” she turned her attention fully to Píseň adding, “I called Varnas like you asked he’ll meet us at Fourth and Hallard in about” glancing at her watch she finished, “ten minutes that is if we hurry”.

“You killed them didn’t you?” Angelic said, her words caught Kāṭṭēri by surprise “that isn’t what I meant when I---”

“So what if I did?!” she screamed back “they are three humans” holding up her hand with three fingers showing she added, “count them three nothing more and nothing less” Dropping her hand she finished, “there are seven hundred billion more where they came from!”

Looking away Kāṭṭēri’s hand trembled swallowing hard her gaze slowly returned to Angelic’s eyes. Placing her own hands on Angelic's she pushed herself free from her friends grasp the wind picked up blowing several strands of Kāṭṭēri’s hair into her own eyes. Squinting slightly from the irritation she raised her hand to her eyes brushing away the strands of hair. Her left hand trembled, turning around to leave she stopped hearing her girlfriend Píseň call out to her.

“Why would you do this Kāṭṭēri? Why?”

Thrusting her hand forward she pointed to Píseň almost screaming out, “they would have hurt you” pointing to herself she added, “they would have hurt me” pointing to Angelic she added, “Angelic or anyone that would have come along” taking a breath she tried to calm herself down finishing, “I won’t shed a tear for them they won’t be missed least of all by me”.
Turning around Kāṭṭēri much to her girlfriends shock and dismay raced forward leaping from the rooftop to another stepping forward to go after her Píseň stopped feeling a arm collide into her chest. Grunting a bit from the impact she felt in her chest she gave Angelic; a confused, concerning look watching as Kāṭṭēri disappeared over the edge of another roof. Taking a step to her right she locked eyes with Angelic staring into Angelic’s green eyes she saw only sadness and comprehension staring back at her.

“Let her go” Angelic softly whispered “you’ll do her no good by chasing after her like a love sick dog chasing after its mate or owner”.

“How dare you of all people call me a ‘dog’ you know I am not of their ilk” Píseň growled, calming down a bit she added, “tell me at least why did you stop me from going after her?”

“I stopped you because she needs to be alone right now” she replied, “you and I however we may feel about this situation need to get to that precinct” gently laying a hand on Píseň’s shoulder she finished, “if you doubt me then read the rest of the news article”.

Taking out the news article Píseň held it out in front of her reading it out loud, “One worker stated that those who were fighting with both the police and the unknown assailant as well looked like something out of a horror movie. One of these Píseňs according to the eye-witness reported that it looked almost like a wolf the other looked almost bat-like in appearance both according to what the witness saw and heard could actually speak.” folding it up she tucked into her jacket front pocket closing her eyes she finished, “alright I’ll ...go with you”.

“Good” giving her friend a foolish grin she added, “oh, you might want to brace yourself”.

“What do you---” Angelic much to her friends' shock rushed forward scooping up Píseň in her arms her friends eyes widened. She quickly realized what Angelic was about to do, “Angelic wait, stop what are you doing?!” Píseň screamed.

Angelic ran towards the ledge of the building scooping up her friend Píseň in her arms planting her foot against the ledge she lept off taking her very frightened friend with her. Twisting around Angelic held tightly to her friend not letting her slip once while the two of them plummeted towards the ground. Her wings outstretched catching the cool nights air keeping herself and Píseň aloft gently.

“Oh, God, oh, god, oh, god” Píseň, scared for her own life, wrapped her arms around Angelic’s neck nearly choking her friend in the process, “we’re gonna die, we’re so gonna to die!”

Feeling Píseň’s arms wrapping tighter around her neck Angelic tapped her friend's forearm with her finger cuing her to let go. Coughing a bit she half-heartedly chuckled, turning, twisting and swooping high into the night sky much to Píseň’s ever growing worry and fear. Feeling the cool air rush through her hair and over her arms, shoulders and sides Píseň buried her face into Angelic’s chest plate silently praying her friend wouldn’t accidentally drop her.

“Thanks for not choking me to death Píseň” she halfheartedly chuckled, “now you might want to hold on”.

“Wait hold on?” Píseň cried out holding on in mortal terror “What the hell do you think I’m” her words were almost cut short as Angelic swooped downwards coming close to the ground but not close enough to crash “doiiing?!” Píseň screamed.

“Relax” she soothingly whispered “Don’t worry Píseň I won’t be dropping you any time soon” smirking she added, “yet”.

“Oh, that’s comforting,” she halfheartedly replied, “now put me down!” Angelic flew for another ten super-blocks before up-righting herself stretching her wings out she came in for a landing hearing Píseň add, “I don’t see why we couldn’t have just used a taxi”.

“On these streets and in this city?!” she replied, setting her friend down earning herself a very scornful glare she sheepishly grinned adding, “besides we made it to the rendezvous point with” taking her friend’s arm into her own hand she glanced at Píseň’s watch, “Ha! Three minutes to spare” smiling she finished, “besides that was---”

“I can’t believe you actually did that to me!” Flailing her arms around she added “that wasn’t bloody funny Angelic!” her eyes scrunched tightly together “don’t you ever do that to me again”.

Failing to notice her girlfriend leaning against a wall nearby Píseň turned around folding her arms under her chest, stewing in her anger. Shaking her head with a slight smirk etched on her lips Angelic noticed a Black Mercedes Benz with fully tinted windows, no front license plate and black headlights pulling up alongside the curb.

“Looks like Varnas is right on time” Angelic said.

Noticing the car as well, Píseň stepped back as the car rolled to a stop in front of her. Both Angelic and Píseň waited for the occupant to step out of the vehicle. Stepping away from the wall she had been leaning against Kāṭṭēri without a word to either her girlfriend or Angelic walked over to the car tapping the drivers side window. The occupant of the car shut off the vehicle Kāṭṭēri sniffing the air caught the familiar scent of what she was after. Her eyes slowly became a soft erubescent cerise in color impatiently she tapped her foot waiting for the occupant to lower the window.

“Uh, Kāṭṭēri” she heard Angelic ask, “what are you doing?”

The window lowered looking into the car Kāṭṭēri saw a young blond haired woman driving the vehicle. The occupant was in her late teens she was wearing a three piece full button down black suit with a black silk tie around her neck and black tinted sunglasses covering her eyes. Handing over a medium sized brown paper bag the woman waited for a few seconds for Kāṭṭēri to take the bag from her. Taking the bag Kāṭṭēri opened it, looked inside of it hearing Angelic clear her throat she looked up giving her a grinning smile.

“If you must know what I am doing Angelic” she began “I am getting something to snack on” being too hungry to fully realize what she was saying she foolishly added, “besides that human’s heart wasn’t nearly as satisfying as this will soon be”. Reaching into the bag she retrieved a small plastic pouch containing red liquid licking her lips she finished, “nor was it as tasty”.

“Human heart?” Píseň chimed in “what human … heart” her eyes slowly widened with realization a gasp escaped her lips covering her mouth with her hand she finished, “Kāṭṭēri honey, how could you eat Eldritch’s heart like that?”

“What?” she replied “I mean, it's not like he’s actually going to need it” tightly gripping the plastic bag in her hand she finished, “besides he’s dead so I don’t see what your getting so worked up about”.

“That is truly disgusting Ms. Kāṭṭēri” the woman said chiming in, turning her attention to Angelic she gave her a once over adding, “I am agent Snow I take it you must be Angelic and the person standing to your right is Píseň correct?”

“That is correct” Angelic replied instinctively placing herself between agent Snow and Píseň dropping her hand to her dagger and raising her free hand to her sword she added, “what do you want with Píseň?”

“Whoa, wait please, my orders are to help you.” Raising her hands, agent Snow quickly added, “I was not ordered to harm either of you three”.

Hearing another car pull up, stop and park behind the first one Snow watched Varnas step out of the second car sighing in relief. “Angelic!” he growled “stand down now”. Turning his attention to agent Snow he added, “Snow why have you not given Angelic the package I told you to give her?”

“Sir I was going to but I---”

“Don’t make excuses” he barked “hop to it” taking off his glasses, “Angelic” he added turning his attention fully to her “there is no reason for you to protect Píseň from agent Snow” putting his sunglasses into his innermost right jacket pocket he finished, “please stand down”.

“Hmph” Angelic snorted in reply, stepping back but making sure to keep herself between Snow and Varnas she stood down snarling out, “we shall see … saurian”. The sound of a car’s trunk opening and closing caught her attention, “what is your agent doing Varnas?”

“You’ll see,” he replied, “Snow you are to place that item in front of Angelic,” he demanded, “then get the other item from the other car and hand that over to Píseň as well”. Taking off his sunglasses he added, “Oh, and Snow”.

“Yes sir?” she asked, “was there something else that is needed?”

“Yes there is” he replied, “don’t do anything stupid”.

Without another word, agent Snow continued about her business placing a wooden box in front of Angelic. Doing as instructed; Snow returned to the first car retrieving another item from inside of it. Confusion showed in Angelic’s eyes and on her face she watched Snow close the car door tentatively she approached Angelic holding out her hand. In her hand Snow held a black leather wallet still not convinced that Snow wasn’t a threat to her friend Angelic stood her ground placing her right hand on the hilt of her dagger.

“Easy Angelic” she heard Varnas warn, “she’s not a threat, she's just obeying my orders”.

“This is for Píseň,” Snow quickly injected. “May I please approach her and give this item to her?”

“No you may not” staring her down Angelic bitterly added, “Don’t. Move”, kneeling, she further added, “you move and I will slam you into the ground.” hearing Snow gulp she added, “Do you understand?”

“Y-yes I understand” She replied.

“Good” Angelic added, “I’m glad to see you understand Snow” opening the box Angelic found a silk blue full button down blouse, charcoal grey trousers, a leather black belt, white cotton socks and suede shoes inside of it. “What am I supposed to do with these?”

“You need to change out of your armor and get dressed in those clothes” gesturing towards the car she silently prayed to herself hoping that Angelic would ignore her movements, “if you wish to Angelic you may use my car to change from what you are currently wearing” She added, looking down at Angelic she finished, “that is if you will let me move so I can open the car door for you?”

Standing up Angelic lightly kicked the box staring Snow down she reached out placing her fingers on Snow’s sunglasses removing them. Tucking them into Snow’s lapel pocket she looked the teenager over looking into Snow’s silvery argent colored eyes she saw only self-doubt, disquiet and tension staring back at her.

“Place the wallet into your innermost pocket and raise your arms to the sides fully outstretched” she said, adding “and spread your legs agent Snow”.

“Whatever for?” she replied, “Varnas has already told you I am not a threat to you”.

“Yeah he has already told me that but you know what?” leaning in her face came within inches from Snow's face, “I don’t trust his word and he doesn’t trust me so do as you are told!”

Staring into Angelic’s eyes she saw only anger and hate staring back at her. Snow quickly did as she was instructed much to her own building anger. Angelic thinking Snow had a hidden weapon of sorts hidden on her person laid her hands on Snow’s left shoulder moving slowly towards her wrist. Finding nothing hidden she moved to Snow’s right shoulder feeling the soft fabric of Snow’s jacket running under her fingers Angelic once more found nothing hidden under Snow’s right arm. Placing her hands on Snow’s collar bones she slowly made her way to Snow’s minuscular, pygmy, elfin sized breast.

“OK,” she said feeling Angelic’s hands run across her breast “I’m going to take that personally in a second”.

Ignoring Snow’s words Angelic slowly moved to Snow’s stomach much to the teens irritation finding nothing hidden she moved to Snow’s hips. Running her fingers down the teen’s nuanced, graceful, petite hips finally having had more than enough Snow foolishly dropped her arms placing her right hand over her own right hip. Much to her shock Angelic without a word to her immediately carried out her threat, wrapping her right arm around Snow’s legs and her left arm around Snow's hips picking her up.

“Angelic no!” she heard Píseň and Varnas call out in unison.

Thinking quickly Snow tucked her chin against her own chest trying to protect the back of her own head from impacting with the ground. Angelic violently slammed Snow back first onto the cold, hard ground kneeing her in the stomach and pelvis. Snow for her part fought back as best as she could hitting Angelic in her lower back and upper shoulders. Angelic, wanting to end the fight, quickly placed a hand over Snow’s neck wrapping her fingers around the teens throat while keeping her free hand against Snow’s legs slowly she choked Snow into submission.

“You listen” she snarled, “human and you listen real good” she tightened her grip around Snow’s throat, “I know Varnas!” standing up, Angelic kept her hand over Snow’s throat, “How he thinks” She dragged Snow to her feet, “How he moves during a fight”. She thrusted her arm outwards, “How breaths” Snow quickly found herself suspended in mid-air, “how he deals with threats” Snow’s feet dangled just above Angelic’s knees, “I know what to look for when he tries to hide a weapon from me” pulling her in close their faces almost touched Angelic’s eyes turned from green to fuchsia in color, “you I don’t know”.

Letting her go, Snow hit the ground painfully landing on her right side. Angelic used her foot to roll Snow over to her back, Thinking Snow still had some fight left in her Angelic knelt planting her knee into Snow’s stomach knocking the wind out of the teenager. Snow’s eyes shrank to pinpricks she gasped for breath rolling to her side she felt Angelic’s hand reach inside her jacket retrieving the wallet. Standing up Angelic opened the wallet making sure it wasn’t laced with a hidden needle or some other form of trap. Finding only a gold badge and identification card inside she stepped over Snow’s body handing the wallet to Píseň a single tear trickled down Snow’s right cheek.

“That was completely---”

“Necessary” Angelic unintentionally interrupted her friend Píseň “this blond-haired sylph of a pixie will think twice before moving when someone tells her not to move”. Turning around she watched Snow slowly climb back to her feet, “I did warn you” listening to her cough and watching her place a hand over her stomach she added, “Next time Snow I won’t be so … gentle”.

“Screw you” she coughed in reply, limping away from Angelic she painfully made her way over to Varnas,“Sir I request to formally file charges against her for attacking a C.I.B agent”.

“Your request is denied, Snow” he replied, reaching out he proceeded to unbutton the first two buttons of her shirt lowering her collar he examined her throat, “you’ll have some bruising by tomorrow”. Buttoning her shirt up she frowned glaring at him, “I told you not to do anything stupid” he added, turning his attention to Angelic he continued, “Angelic you need to get dressed while Píseň and Snow head inside to retrieve the bodies and all other data concerning them”.

“Hey wait a minute?!” everyone heard Kāṭṭēri exclaim “why can’t I just go in there and get the bo---”

“Because you have no regard whatsoever for human life Kāṭṭēri” Varnas intentionally interrupted her, “If I were to send you in there you would most certainly kill everyone inside that precinct”. He turned his attention to Píseň, “this requires stealth and someone that actually gives a damn about human life”. Turning to Snow he finished, “just get the bodies and all evidence collected do nothing more than that Snow”.

“I’ll need papers that show why I am there sir” Snow replied, “my badge alone won’t be enough to---”

“It’s already done” he replied, reaching into his jacket he handed her a folded piece of white paper, “give this to the officer behind the front desk” watching her take the piece of paper, “come out through the south entrance you’ll find a van waiting there for you”.

Sore, angry and concerned about her objective Snow headed for the entrance watching her and Píseň go Angelic knelt reopening the box. Rummaging inside of it Angelic found a thin leather harness at the bottom of the box taking it out she looked it over holding it up for Varnas to see.

“And just what by Divinities Light am I supposed to do with this?” she asked.

“That is for your wings” he replied “so you can hopefully hide them” receiving a disgusted look from her as well as a rather devious look from Kāṭṭēri he finished, “while you’re in plain sight of humans”.

Putting the harness back into the box she closed the lid, pick it up heading for Varnas’s car with Kāṭṭēri in close proximity to her. With her hands full from carrying the box Kāṭṭēri opened the passenger door for Angelic watching her winged friend toss the box inside the car getting in Angelic closed the door directing Kāṭṭēri to stand guard. Doing as instructed Kāṭṭēri pressed her back against the car’s passenger window folding her arms under her cantaloupe sized breast while Angelic proceeded to dress herself. Inside the precinct Píseň made her way to the front desk while Snow did her best to keep up though she was clearly in pain.

“You going to be alright, Snow?” she heard Píseň whisper, “we can always leave and try to get this done some other way”.

“I’ll be fine!” she snorted in reply “let’s just get this over with” making her way past Píseň she limped in her approach to the front desk placing her left arm on the desk to balance herself and help further hide the pain she was in she added, “I can’t believe Varnas denied me like that” she muttered. A officer in his mid twenties with short crew cut white hair and hazel eyes sat behind the desk compiling files paying her little attention to either of them, “which way do I go to get to the C.S.I autopsy room?” she finished catching the officers attention.

“You need a warrant to get in there” He replied not looking up from his work “or you need a ba---” he tried to add looking up from his work as he was interrupted by Agent Snow.

“Warrant” she handed over the piece of paper holding up her badge she added, “and badge” she flipped it open for him to see it fully, “Agent Snow C.I.B now can you show me how to get to the C.S.I.U room?” gesturing to Píseň she added, “this is Agent Winter she’ll be accompanying me”.

Taking the piece of paper from her he read it, handing it back to Snow he snorted “Very well” getting up he added, “follow me”. Muttering to himself he finished, “lousy CIB's think they can do whatever they damn well want!”

“What was that officer” Snow piped up, “I didn’t quite catch what you just said”.

“Oh, uh, it’s nothing ma’am I’ll---” he began, noticing she was limping with each step she took he added, “are you alright you seem to be--- he tried to finish being interrupted once more by Snow

“I’m fine” she snapped, “You listen and you listen well officer I don’t have time or the patience for an officer that can’t or won’t do as I have instructed him to do” her eyes narrowed with anger, “So you either show us the way to your C.S.I.U door or I swear I’ll have your gun and badge on my desk by dawn’s end! Do you fully understand me?”

“Y-yes ma’am” he replied gulping, “I fully u-understand”.

Stepping around his desk he led them down a hallway around a corner to another hallway at the end of which was a large steel door. Getting up to it Snow saw it had a retinal scanner, palm scanner and several locks on it engraved on the door were the words, ‘Crime Squad Investigations Unit’. Snow and Píseň watched the officer fish out a set of keys from his pants pocket, place his hand to the hand scanner and his face to the retinal scanner a soft beeping was heard. He stepped back placing a key to each lock unlocking the door for them, opening it he gestured inside of the doorway allowing both to enter.

“Thank you” Píseň said, stepping past him she added, “now if you’ll be so kind please return to your duties Agent Snow and I shall take it from here”.

Looking around Píseň saw several lab technicians working on various cases. Each lab technician wore a blue lab coat, clear plastic goggles, white latex gloves, hairnets and a face-mask with plastic face shield. The lab walls were plain simple walls, the floor was metal leading from the door to the back south wall, multiple security cameras lined the top of the lab walls. Three computers lined the west and east walls and a lab technician sat at each computer working on various files and compiling various cases for later use. Taking a step further into the room Snow stopped in her tracks noticing security cameras located at top and middle of each wall were moving from left to right. A large metal double door was located in the back of the room and the word’s ‘autopsy room’ was inscribed upon it.

“Damn” she thought, taking out her cell phone from her outer jacket pocket she texted, ‘problem, security cams recording, need instructions’ she waited for a few seconds impatiently tapping her foot, “Come on, come on, reply already!” she muttered, getting a confused look from Píseň ignoring her Agent Snow heard her phone blip grumbling to herself, “finally”.

“Don’t worry about them, I’ll have someone take care of it, hurry”.

“Ok, we need to move Píseň, place the badge into your front pocket” Agent Snow began, “walk in front of me and let me do most of the talking”. Approaching one of the lab technicians Snow cleared her throat, “excuse me can you tell me where Charm Haste is?”

“Yes she is in the autopsy room” the technician replied, “It’s located behind the door right behind me”.

“Thank you” Snow said, looking around she saw a shelf containing multiple boxes of latex gloves taking one of the boxes down she opened it up handing a pair to Píseň, “Here you’ll need these while we are in there” receiving a confused look she added, “so you don’t accidentally contaminate anything that is in there”. Taking a pair for herself she put them on reaching into her outer pocket she took two evidence bags handing them to Píseň “you’ll need these as well”

Taking the gloves and bags Píseň followed Snow as she opened the metal door and stepped through into the next room with the technician in pursuit of both of them. Looking around both saw the east and west walls were lined with many metal doors each door had numbers inscribed upon their surfaces. A digital clock was hung on the wall above a computer, a large metal table was positioned in the center of the room. Charm Haste was standing at the far right of the table setting up everything she needed to conduct a thorough autopsy. Looking around the room Snow saw the autopsy room didn’t have any cameras inside the room.

“Excuse me are you Charm Haste?” agent Snow asked.

“Yes I am” she replied “I don’t have time for an interview right now”.

She was wearing a white lab coat, blue hairnet, black latex gloves, thick plastic goggles with a face shield pointed upwards at a forty five degree angle and a cloth white face mask. Looking around a bit Snow saw there was a first aid kit next to a large table located in the far right corner of the room. A set of double metal doors located at the south wall of the room each door had a light above it with a sign attached to each light that read, ‘when flashing do not open’. Under the sign was another sign that read ‘intake doors authorized personnel only’.

“So this is what a morgue looks like?” Píseň thought.

A shelf containing several boxes of n-ninety five respirator face masks and power respirator hooded masks stood near the intake doors. A microscope and computer were on a glass desk located to the left far northern wall with a sliding railing bolted to the floor attached to it was a metal chair. A trash can with a clear plastic liner was positioned next to the desk with a bio-hazard symbol on it positioned next to it was a box with the words ‘place bio-hazardous materials in here’.

“An interview” Snow said, “isn’t the reason the two of us are here”.

“Hey you guys can’t be in here” the technician said catching Charm Haste’s attention “I must insist that the two of you leave now”.

“Unless this has to do with another case, do as my lab tech says” Charm Haste snorted irritably placing a tape recorder next to the computer, “I’m busy” taking a seat in front of the microscope she leaned in muttering to herself, “ok, let's see what we have here?” Ignoring both the lab technicians and Charm Haste’s words, Snow walked up to her tapping Charm Haste's shoulder becoming angry she grumbled, “go away”. Feeling Snow tap her shoulder again Charm Haste looked up from her work growling out, “Hey didn’t I say I was busy?” Turning her attention to her lab tech she finished, “Don’t you have work to be doing mister?”

“But ma’am they just---” the technician began.

“I don’t care if your nut sack is on fire” Charm Haste interrupted him, “get your butt back to work now!” The lab technician quickly made a hasty retreat back to his station. “Now if I am not mistaken” Charm Haste stated returning to her own work doing her best to ignore agent Snow, “I do believe that I already told you that I am busy”. Agent Snow watched Charm Haste pick up the tape recorder finishing, “am I correct in that regard?”

“Yes you did say that” She replied, reaching out taking the tape recorder from her handing it over to Píseň. “But you know what” turning to fully face her she leaned forward locking eyes with Charm Haste finishing, “I don’t care”.

“What on earth is so important that you both felt the need to barge in here and interrupt my work?” turning her attention to Píseň she held her hand out to her adding, “may I have the tape recorder back please I need it for my notes and for work”.

“I’m afraid not Ms. Haste” she replied, placing the tape recorder into one of the two evidence bags that Snow had given her “this belongs to us now”.

“I don’t believe this” she balked, “what on earth is so damn important that you both felt the need to barge in here and interrupt my work?”

“This is what is so important.” Handing over the warrant Snow frowned, adding, “Agent Winter will need full access to your computer Ms. Haste” she added, “other than what is stated in the warrant what else have you collected from that case thus far Ms. Haste”?

“Nothing” she replied, “I have as of yet, not had time to conduct the autopsies”. Reading the warrant she added, “you C.I.B’s get around fast I have just barely started the autopsies” handing the warrant back to agent Snow she finished, “I haven’t even collected blood and tissue samples from the second body yet”.

Taking a step towards her Píseň's nostrils filled with an all too familiar scent sniffing the air she silently prayed that the scent wasn’t what she thought it was. Filled with growing dread her eyes shifted back and forth for a split second, worried she gave Charm Haste a concerned glance Píseň's gaze quickly shifted to the microscope.

“But you have collected a blood sample from the first body right Ms. Haste?” her concern only grew with each passing moment “may I please see it?”

“No you may you not” she replied, stepping away from the microscope, “you only have a pair of latex gloves on therefore, you’ll contaminate the evidence if you touch it”. Píseň, much to Charm Haste’s building anger, was brushed aside; all she could do was watch Píseň take a seat in front of the microscope,“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!” leaning in Píseň pressed her face to the ocular viewing shield, completely ignoring Charm Haste’s words, “I told you that you couldn’t look at that”.

“It can’t be” Píseň thought, viewing the specimen on the glass slide, “that monster actually did it.” continuing to view the specimen she continued to think, “Angelic and my girlfriend are not going to like this”.

“What the hell gives you the right to view what I am working on?” Charm Haste barked furiously, looking over to Agent Snow, she added, “Is your idiot partner trying to contaminate my case?!”

Continuing to fully Ignore Charm Haste’s words Píseň pressed her fingers to the viewing dial adjusting it for a better look at the specimen placed on the microscope's aperture. The specimen was a green globular cluster containing hickory brown and yellow blood cells. To Píseň's horror she watched the cells within the blood sample with growing alarm begin to self replicate with each new cell that was formed she grew more and more concerned. Agent Snow noticed Píseň clenching her right hand into a tight fist thinking something was very wrong she reached out tapping Píseň’s right shoulder.

“Hey you alright” she asked, “agent Winter?”

Not looking up she replied, “I’m fine Snow” continuing to look at the specimen she added, “Ms. Haste this blood sample is from the body on the table correct?” finally looking up Píseň added, “and where is the second body that you and your team found at the docks today?”

“Yes it is” she replied, wanting to know a bit more she added, “why do you ask?”

“I have my reasons for wanting to know where this came from” Píseň replied, “we’ll need any and all slides that you may have collected Ms. Haste”.

“Before I hand them over, you both should at least note that I am not happy about you CIB's taking over a case that is under my jurisdiction” Reaching out Charm Haste placed her hand on the glass slide removing it from the microscope's mechanical stage, “the second body is in storage cooler two seventy-six”. In her haste to pick up the glass slide Charm Haste accidentally dropped the slide watching it hit the floor and break into multiple sharp shards she grumbled, “dammit”.

Bending down to clean up the mess she stopped hearing Píseň say, “Don’t touch it” sighing Charm Haste stood up turned and headed for the door, stopping in her tracks as Píseň called out to her, “hey” gesturing to the computer she finished, “the password, I still need it”.

“I don’t see why you need it when I don’t have any notes stored on the computer” she replied with clear irritation in her voice, “I have already stated that I have not as of yet been able to fully conduct a full autopsy”. Frowning she added, “on either this body or the other one”.

“It doesn’t matter weather you have or have not done a full autopsy Ms. Haste” Agent Snow chimed in “the warrant states that you are to give us full access to this lab and your work that also entails any computer files that we might need” folding her arms under her own chest she added, “Agent Winter is required by law to check your computer just as you are required to fully cooperate with us regardless of your inability to perform the autopsies you will cooperate with us”.

“Fine!” she snarled in reply.

Walking over to the computer Charm Haste pressed a few keys entering her password, glaring at Píseň before irritably storming out of the room. Opening the intake doors Agent Snow was greeted by a male and female standing in front of a black van with tinted windows and no license plate. The van was parked with its back doors already opened.

“Get the bodies loaded and move out” she said, “Píseň” she added, turning her attention to her, “we need to hurry”. Turning back to the male and female she finished, “the second body is in the storage cooler the door number is two seventy-six”.

The female had shoulder length brown hair, wore black sunglasses, she stood five feet six inches tall the male stood five feet, nine inches. The male had military crew-cut red hair, both he and the female wore the same suit as Agent Snow guessing they were both C.I.B agents Píseň paid them little attention. The male wordlessly stepped towards the first body pushing aside a metal autopsy tool cart placing his hands on the medical cart he pushed it towards the van. Getting the cart into position he pressed a lever on the cart collapsing the front wheels pushing forward he loaded the cart and body into the van.

“The second body is in a storage cooler slot number two seventy-six” Snow began directing the female to the cooler adding, “I’ll help you get the body into the van” The female agent wordlessly opened the holding door and sliding the medical slab within outwards, “while Píseň checks the computer”.

Píseň sat down in front of the computer using the mouse she clicked on the ‘open all files’ tab she began to shift through all the files stored on the computer. “Agent Snow” Píseň began “I can’t find any file pertaining to this case” not getting a reply she returned to her work pressing various keys on the keyboard. “It looks as if the computer is clean”. satisfied she stood up taking out the other evidence bag she added, “is there anything else that we need from Charm Haste or her staff?”

“Not that I know of,” she replied, carrying the body past Píseň with the males help. Snow hefted it into the van. Her work done she turned and headed back inside all without showing any sign of her injuries from earlier that night adding, “Píseň I don’t mean to question you but are you sure the computer is clean?”

“Yes I am sure that the computer is clean” she replied scrunching her eyebrows. She shot Snow a questionable look not wanting to give away her suspicions she gestured to the computer, “but if you don’t believe me take a seat and check the computer for yourself”.

“Very well if you insist” Watching Píseň step away from the computer Snow added, “can I ask you something?”

“sure” she replied, “what is it?”

“Why did Angelic refer to Varnas as saurian?” directing the female to get into the van “she does know that word means of or like a lizard right?” watching the female do as directed she added, “Varnas is human so why call him something that he is not?” hearing the van’s engine start up she smirked finishing, “care to tell me why you didn’t want Charm Haste to clean up the broken slide that you are kneeling next to?”

“Angelic has her reasons for calling him that” she replied, “just as I have my own reasons for not allowing Charm Haste to clean this up” picking up several pieces of the slide she placed them into the evidence bag standing up she handed it to Snow “Just leave it at that”.

Snow took the bag from Píseň as the door opened and Charm Haste stepped back into the room with a dustpan and broom in her hands. Píseň turned her attention to Charm Haste failing to notice Snow taking out a slender shard of glass from the evidence bag. She placed it between the interdigital folds of her own right hand holding it in place between her middle and ring fingers. Charm Haste began to sweep up the smaller pieces of broken glass that Píseň wasn’t able to pick up.

“Ms. Haste” she began holding up her hand. She stopped Charm Haste for a moment adding, “I would like to offer you my-er-I mean our most sincere apology for any inconvenience that our actions here tonight have caused you”.

“Well you’ll forgive me if I don’t accept it” she replied, kneeling she placed the dustpan on the floor sweeping what was left of the slide into it, “you C.I.B agents always think you can do whatever you want” finished sweeping up the glass she stood up finishing, “This case was clearly under my jurisdiction” Snow stepped forward holding up her left hand, “I fully promise you both that I will be lodging a complaint with your superior for this”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Snow said, holding up the evidence bag in her left hand, Charm Haste dumped the rest of the glass into the bag, “I think that is everything we needed” handing it to the male she watched him get into the van, close the back doors and drive off with the female, stepping towards the intake doors, “now that they are gone Snow closed the intake doors finishing,“there’s one last thing that I need to do”.

“I don’t understand” Charm Haste said, returning to the computer she added, “I assume you’ve both checked this computer and found nothing on it” pulling out the chair she sat down, switched the computer on and logged in “you’ve got the broken slide and bodies that I collected from the docks” gesturing to Píseň she continued, “You agent Winter have my tape recorder, which by the way I want that back”. Turning her attention back to the computer she grumbled, “what else is there for you to do here?”

“What else needs to be done here Ms. Haste” Agent Snow replied, “is between myself and Píseň though because you are a boffin you may listen in if you wish to do so that is”.

“I’d rather not” Charm Haste replied, “in fact I would really rather you both just leave”.

“Suit yourself” Snow replied, heading for the door she stopped in front of it tracing the lock with her fingers it felt cold and smooth to the touch, “though you might find this interesting”. Turning the lock to the right she locked the door turning around she added, “Píseň didn’t you ask me if there was anything else we needed from Charm Haste or her staff?” receiving a silent nod from her she walked over to her further adding, “I think a better question would have been is there anything else you need from me?” taking a step towards her she brushed her shoulder into Píseň nearly knocking her down flicking her wrist she smirked, “and what I needed from you has now been taken care of”.

Glancing downwards Píseň felt something wet dripping between her fingers glancing back up her eyes widened in fear to Píseň’s shock Snow’s eyes changed before her own. A moderate harlequin color slowly overtook Snow’s blue eyes with her pupils becoming a dark grayish opal in color. Hearing her snicker Píseň backed away feeling something sharp in her right middle finger she cupped her hand in her own, raising her hand she saw a slender shard of glass had penetrated her finger. Looking back at Snow she watched as Snow’s hair slowly grew in length changing from blond to dark cerulean feeling pain throughout her hand Píseň fell to her knees wrapping her arms around herself.

“Hey what the hell are you doing?!” Charm Haste yelled, getting up from her computer, she quickly rushed to Píseň’s side, “Snow for crying out loud can’t you see she’s in pain?”

“Oh, I can see just fine Charm Haste I just don’t care” she replied through a half hiss, her work done Snow walked over to the door she had locked striking it with the side of her fist “this should make sure you don’t have any other way out except through the intake doors” the sound of metal bending, creaking and twisting echoed in her ears walking past Píseň and Charm Haste she stopped, turned around, her lush winter color skin turned a blackish dark grey, “tell Imzadi” her laughter echoed in Píseň’s ears “I said ‘hello’ as for you Charm Haste I hope yous survive though” turning around she exited through the intake doors, “I doubt it”.

Trying to help Píseň up Charm Haste fell to her butt with Píseň falling on top of her pushing Píseň off of her Charm Haste got up rushing for the exit door. Banging on it as hard and as loud as she could, Píseň's screams quickly caught her attention, turning around she watched in growing fear as Píseň writhed on the floor in pain. Píseň’s muscles, tendons, hand and arm felt as if someone was pressing a thousand cherry hot needles into her flesh for sheer enjoyment her body began to spasm.

“No” Píseň snarled, her body twitched with each muscle spasm she suffered, “not” flipping to her hands and knees “now” she felt her back rise, arch and fall her bones “aaargh” painfully creaked, popped and snapped, “m-make-argh- i-it stop” she cried out in pain, black grayish hair grew over her hands, and face.

“Help please” Charm Haste screamed, pounding on the door with all her might “somebody help please”

Píseň's ears painfully elongated, becoming wider at the lobes and slender at the tips, her face contorted, her jaw popped and creaked slowly becoming a snout. Her eyes glowed bright yellow, her canines pushed downwards painfully curving inwards each of her teeth became jagged, pointed and sharp perfectly shaped for ripping flesh from bones. Her thumbs shrunk becoming dewclaws, her fingers grew in length becoming slender, her palms became fuller fur sprouted from her shoulders. Her muscular transformation tore apart her suit, thick fur sprouted from her back.

“For God’s sake somebody open this damn door” Charm Haste screamed, continuing to pound on the door as hard as she could, being completely unaware that everyone had left for the evening, “Let me out, let me out”.

Hearing growling behind her, Charm Haste looked over her shoulder seeing to her horror a tail began to form from Píseň’s tailbone. Loud cracking could be heard coming from Píseň’s legs, to Píseň’s growing painful anguish her legs began to painfully bend backwards forming a Z shape with a slight S shape to them. Her fingernails formed into sharp claws, her clothing ripped around her waist, back, chest and most of her legs leaving only her upper legs covered in ragged torn cloth. Her hair fell out being replaced by thick fur, her eyes ceased glowing purple becoming a soft golden brown.

“Run” with one last cracking sound emanating from her neck, back and forearms she managed to snarl out, “now”.

Charm Haste too scared to move stood frozen like a deer in headlights the creature before her let out a loud mournful howl, it breathed heavily sniffing the air before locking eyes with its prey. A clawed paw furry hand swiped downwards striking Charm Hast in the face, flesh painfully ripped and tore from her bones a blood curdling scream escaped Charm Haste’s lips. The creature grabbed Charm Haste by her lab coat’s lapel and blouse throwing her into and out of the intake doors into the street beyond. Hitting a fire escape with a sickening bone snapping thud she slumped to the ground wounded, through forced breaths she coughed badly. The creature burst through the doors ripping them from their hinges; the sounds of the doors hitting the ground echoed in Charm Haste’s ears.

“No please” she barely managed to spit out, “L-lea-leave me-a-alone”.

Standing on its hind legs it growled, falling to its forelegs Charm Haste though her vision blurred badly, watched in stunned fear as the fury thing slowly made its way over to her. Sniffing her body it snarled reaching out a furry paw it wrapped thick fury fingers around her throat picking her up. Choking on her own blood a few tears trickled down Charm Haste’s left cheek, her right cheek being too badly ripped apart to feel them.

“Please” she begged, blood spat from her lips splattering on the creatures fury face, “don’t”.

Violently it threw her behind itself towards an allay wall the only thing that saved Charm Haste from an untimely demise was a metal dumpster. Hitting the dumpster Charm Haste’s right shoulder shattered like glass sliding from the dumpster she slumped to the ground, badly wounded she painfully cried out in anguished pain placing her right arm in front of her as best as she could.

“Help” she screamed out as best as she could, “somebody help me!”

Looking over her shoulder her eyes widened in fear to her horror, the monster had leapt into the air landing a few feet in front of her. Striking her chin with its pawed hand the blow instantly sent Charm Haste hurtling backwards back first into the dumpster. A large dent showed in the dumpster from where she impacted with it, sliding to the ground a stain of blood smeared over the metal surface of the dumpster. The crazed monster reached down grabbing Charm Haste by her hair hoisting her off the ground staring into its brown-golden eyes Charm Haste coughed.

“S-scr-screw you” she barely managed to mouth.

Hearing footsteps approaching their position, the last thing Charm Haste saw before she began to slip into unconsciousness was a man followed by two women running towards her and it. The creature dropped Charm Haste with a sickening thud she hit the hard, cold, wet street her legs bent painfully under the weight of her own body.

“Angelic go”

“On it”

“Kāṭṭēri protect that woman”

“Aw, come on do I have too”

“YES”!!

Angelic getting caught up in the moment tried to stretch out her wings completely forgetting about the harness that Varnas had insisted she wear while in public. “Damn!” she yelled. Ducking an incoming hand she back-flipped catching the monster in the snout. “Where the hell is Píseň? We could use her help right about now”. Kāṭṭēri quickly knelt next to Charm Haste picking her up turning to run from the battle she frowned carrying the badly injured women to Varnas and to relative safety. “Píseň where the hell are you?” she heard Angelic scream out, turning around Kāṭṭēri quickly rejoined the battle watching Angelic duck another incoming pawed hand “I can’t hold this thing back for long. Varnas get that woman out of here now”.

“We can’t fight this thing in the city” Varnas yelled out, “too many people will get hurt trying to get involved”. Turning around he ran as fast as he could carrying Charm Haste in his arms towards his car “I hope those two can hold her off long enough to get you to a hospital”.

Kāṭṭēri watched Angelic run up the wall sideways leaping over the monster’s head landing safely behind it she punched it in the lower back. The blow did little more than anger her furry crazed thing. Taking a back paw to her jaw Angelic was knocked backwards hitting the ground hard wiping a hand over her mouth she glared at the pinkish substance on the back of her hand.

“Okay it’s time” she snarled in anger, “for you to go down”.

Hearing Varnas’s car start up and drive away Kāṭṭēri rushed forward sliding on her shins she slid between and under the monsters legs. Angelic leapt at it, kicking the creature's jaw, knocking the crazed beast back several feet. In rage and in pain the monster hit the dumpster with a sickening thud. Growing angry it grabbed the dumpster lifting it above its large fury head throwing the dumpster at Angelic.

“Angelic watch out” Kāṭṭēri yelled.

“Oh, shit” Trying to get out of the way Angelic dove to the ground though to her shock it wasn’t enough the dumpster collided with her body sending her cannoning into the alley wall. “Okay” she grunted slamming into the wall, “yeah” pushing the dumpster off of her, “ow”. She grunted slumping to the ground “yah that’s going to leave a bruise”.

“Severs you right for being so stupid Angelic” Kāṭṭēri yelled out to her, ducking an incoming swipe from the creatures left paw, “hey watch it”. Hearing the monster let out a loud blood drenched roar Kāṭṭēri’s eyes closed she whispered, “I have no choice”. Her eyes snapped open, she screamed out, “you’re going down”.

Rushing forward she threw a clean right hook catching the creature’s chest with her fist, backflipping she caught its fury chin with the tips of her feet knocking the crazed enraged beast backwards. Using the alley wall to her advantage she ran up it sideways and flipped, getting behind it. The monster spun around trying to bite Kāṭṭēri’s shoulder ducking out of the way she reached out grabbing it by it’s large fury neck. Leaning forward Kāṭṭēri violently threw monster into the street. The beast roared in rage, taking a fist to the abdomen and a foot to its chest for it’s trouble.

“That thing will eventually get the upper hand” Angelic thought watching the two fight, “I need to do something”. Feeling a rock next to her right hand she glanced down picking it up, “Oh, I hope this works” throwing the rock at the creatures head she watched it hit the crazed beast momentarily distracting it, “Now Kāṭṭēri now!”

Taking advantage of the monsters momentary distraction Kāṭṭēri upper cutted the stunned beast in the snout knocking it backwards several yards. Rushing forward Kāṭṭēri once more threw her arms around the creatures neck firmly planting her knee in it’s stomach taking the fight out of the monster. Both breathed heavily Kāṭṭēri waited only for a moment as the creature stumbled forward thinking it still had some fight left in it she ran forward grabbing by its ears. With a scream she slammed her forehead into the monster's head knocking it down and out cold taking several steps back she turned to Angelic giving her tired thumbs up. Turning back to the creature Kāṭṭēri’s eyes widened in shock as it changed from a beast to its human form.
“No” she whispered, putting her hand over her mouth “this can’t be”.

“Oh, thank Divinities Light” Angelic whispered to herself, “It worked”. Getting up and she walked over to Kāṭṭēri seeing what her friend was looking at she gasped, “oh, no please, no not this”. Turning away she glanced up seeing agent Snow wave them off before disappearing from view turning back to her friends she finished through a whisper, “I’ll make that bitch pay for this”.

Kāṭṭēri fell to her knees next to Píseň’s unconscious body she reached out pulling Píseň into her lap thick tears trickled down her cheeks wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's body. Several long moments passed, Angelic stood up holding her right shoulder with her hand. She watched Píseň slowly begin to regain consciousness, Píseň’s eyes slowly fluttered open, the nearly unconscious girl’s vision blurred only for a moment.

“Uh-hmm-uh” she groggily groaned, sitting up Píseň felt Kāṭṭēri cover her breast with her arms, “wh-where am I?” looking around she felt something wet and sticky on the palms of her hands, “what happened?” trying to look at her own palms she added, “what did I do?”

“No honey” she heard Kāṭṭēri whisper trying hard to prevent Píseň from looking at her own hands, “don’t look, you don’t want---”

“Tell me what happened?!” she screamed interrupting her girlfriend, she wrestled for a moment with Kāṭṭēri freeing one of her arms from her girlfriends grasp. “Please tell me”. Getting a good look at her own hand she trembled with fear. Píseň's palm and fingers were covered with Charm Haste’s blood, “ please, not ...again”. Her nails had bits of Charm Haste’s flesh under them. “tell me I didn’t hurt anyone”. Seeing the glass shard was still in her right middle finger she wrestled her other hand free from Kāṭṭēri’s grasp. Pulling it out Píseň let it drop to the ground listening to it shatter she cried, fully burying her face into Kāṭṭēri’s half-pint, petite breast. “Please, no this can’t be”.

“I’m so sorry baby” her girlfriend softly whispered “I’m afraid you … attacked that biped” Helping her up Kāṭṭēri took off her vest taking Píseň's right arm she threaded her girlfriend’s arm through the right armhole repeating the process with Píseň's left arm. “Varnas is I assume taking that errable, weakly biddy to the hospital as we speak”. Whipping her thumb under her girlfriend's eyes she dried away Píseň's tears, finishing, “if it’ll help you to feel better honey I suppose we can go check up on that hominid”.

“Kāṭṭēri before we head out what happened to that bag you got from Agent Snow?” Angelic asked.

“Does it really matter what happened to it?” she replied, not looking up “but if you really want to know I dropped it somewhere near the car though I am not sure entirely where”.

“Very well as long as you didn’t drink any of it” her eyes locked with Kāṭṭēri’s “you didn’t did you?”

“No I was going to but Varnas being the ass that he is stopped me before I could consume it” helping her girlfriend up she added, “Why do you ask?”

“I asked, because I am worried that there was something wrong with it,” Angelic replied.

Píseň fully able to stand wordlessly buttoned up the vest covering her half-naked body. Angelic feeling her own shoulder was dislocated, slowly stretched her dislocated arm out and over her head. Slowly she rotated her hand behind her head as if she was going to scratch her own neck, reaching for her opposite shoulder a loud cracking, crunching pop caught Píseň and Kāṭṭēri’s attention. Both girls winced hearing Angelic’s shoulder ball and socket pop back into place. Angelic for her part let out a pained grunt rubbing her shoulder with her free hand sighing. Noticing her two friends were staring at her, she gently laid a hand on Píseň and Kāṭṭēri’s shoulders giving them both a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry I’m alright” she said, adding much to Kāṭṭēri’s displeasure, “just had to get myself fixed up is all.” heading towards the autopsy room she glanced behind her finishing, “you two stay here I’ll be back in a few minutes”.

Finding Píseň’s shredded clothing lying in a heap in the middle of the autopsy room floor Angelic picked up the tattered garment placing it over her right forearm. Getting back outside a couple minutes later she nodded to her two friends leading them to Snow’s car. Finding the bag Snow had given to Kāṭṭēri, Angelic stepped on it splattering its contents over the blacktop picking up the bag she carried it to the car. Opening the back passenger door Angelic tossed both the bag and Píseň’s tattered garment onto the back seat. Taking the driver's seat Angelic buckled up, reached over to the glove box, opened it taking out various papers, a mini flat-head screwdriver and a map of the city. Kāṭṭēri climbed into the front passenger seat opened the map tracing the quickest route to the nearest hospital while her girlfriend got into the backseat and buckled up.

“Hm” she muttered, “let’s see, it looks like if we take route 10 to highway 787” folding up the map and putting it back into the glove box along with the papers she finished, “we should get there in about forty minutes though Angelic you do realize we would get there faster if we use the sirens”.

“Absolutely not” she replied taking the screw driver Kāṭṭēri, watched her friend set it to the cars ignition “we are not going to do anything that will draw further attention to us”.

“Uh, you mean like stealing this car and busting the ignition with that screwdriver?” she playfully giggled in reply adding, “you do know that won’t---” Hearing the car’s engine start up she cut her words short buckling up herself, she finished, “nevermind”.

“Angelic dear” Píseň chimed in “which hospital do you think Varnas took Charm Haste too”.

“Wait ….what? Charm Haste?” turning around as best as she could she finished, “you mean to tell me that woman that Varnas helped was Charm Haste?!”

Shrinking back a bit, Píseň cupped her hands together trembling with fearful anxiety, her eyes began to shift rapidly from left to right as she tried to reply. Opening her mouth she could only make a soft squeak looking away she sniffed trying desperately to keep her emotions in check. Feeling her girlfriends hand on her right knee she opened her eyes looking into her girlfriends she silently nodded.

“Angelic why are you so upset about one human getting mauled” Kāṭṭēri asked, “I mean it's like I said twice today its one human being out of seven hundred billion”.

“Because Charm Haste is the absolute head of the C.S.I.U team here in this city Kāṭṭēri” she snarled in her reply, “you don’t think that her going missing or being mauled by your girlfriend won’t go unnoticed?” Pulling out into the street she added through a grumble, “If I need to reiterate this then I will; humans are not supposed to know about us at all”. Coming to a red light she stopped the car momentarily closing her eyes, her grip tightened around the steering wheel, “I should be in Sethfril not in Canterlot”.

“Ya why are you here Angelic?” Kāṭṭēri asked, “the last time I saw you was seventeen eighteen in uh, I believe it was march the eighth or tenth”.

“I was fighting a ‘Brozgil’ and during the fight I got hit with some sort of energy beam” She replied, “next thing I knew I was in a backyard of some sort”. Waiting for the light to change she finished, “though I don’t know whom the backyard belonged to”.

“That would explain why you were wearing your armor and weapons”. Kāṭṭēri said, adding, “where were you when your fight with the Brozgil took place Angelic?”

A car pulled up behind the one that Angelic was driving the driver irritably began to honk his horn, growing irritated from the irritating loud noise Kāṭṭēri turned on the radio. Trying to find a station to listen to she switched through multiple stations settling on soft orchestral music the driver continued to honk his horn pushing slowly pushing Kāṭṭēri to her mental limits. Angelic watched Kāṭṭēri place her right hand on the door handle and her left on her seat belt latch not wanting her friend to get into a potential fight she reached over placing her own hand on Kāṭṭēri’s left knee.

“Just sit tight, the light will change in a few minutes” the two locked eyes for a split second “that person will pass us. I know that driver is upsetting you, that person is upsetting me as well so just relax”. Taking a breath she finished, “I was in Kentare”.

“That’s not possible!” both her friends yelped in unison.

“Angelic, Kentare is three thousand nine-hundred ninety one miles away” Píseň said, “How did you possibly get here when it takes eight and half hours to fly there?!”

“I don’t know like I said Píseň, I was fighting the Brozgil next thing I knew I was here in this city I have no idea what happened or even how it happened”. She replied, “besides right now it doesn’t matter what does matter is what we do from this point on”.

Trying her best to ignore the other driver Kāṭṭēri focused her attention on the music hearing another loud honk from the other car she dug her fingernails into her palms clenching her hands into tight fists. Another loud honk came from the car glancing up. Angelic saw that light was still red reaching over to the radio; she turned the volume up, doing her best to ignore the other driver as well. Píseň sighed; silently hoping the light would change soon and the other driver would simply drive off. Trying to ignore the person in the other car Kāṭṭēri opened the center council finding a glock twenty-two inside of it taking the gun out she grinned.

“Don’t even think about it” Angelic said, “that driver isn’t worth it dear”. Taking the gun from her, Angelic put it back into the center council, “just focus on the music honey, ignore that idiot”. Hearing another loud, long honk Kāṭṭēri nearly lost her patience feeling Angelic’s hand resting on her thigh she nodded to her, “Hey I know that person is being a jerk but don’t worry honey everything will work out in the end”.

“Alright, if you say so.” she replied, watching the light change she added, “its green”

“Alright, time to go.” Angelic replied, pulling out into the intersection she glanced to the rearview mirror watching the other driver follow them honking, flicking them the bird and surviving all over the road. “I better pull over and let this idiot have the road”.

Pulling over Angelic grinned watching the other driver speed past them to her delight a silver Dodge Charger going in the opposite direction slowed down and turned around. To her and two friends' amusement they saw red and blue lights flashing. The other car sped down the street with the unmarked police car in hot pursuit of it chuckling to herself Angelic pulled back out into the street and drove down the street for a few minutes. Pulling up to a stop sign she, Kāṭṭēri and Píseň all saw the other driver being handcuffed by the officer of the Dodge Charger.

Bursting with laughter Kāṭṭēri rolled her window down as Angelic drove by the officer and other driver sticking her head out the window she yelled “yeah bitch that’s karma for you!”. Rolling the window back up she happily grinned Píseň’s eyes rolled though she was happy the other driver would no longer be a problem. Angelic reached over switching off the radio, smirking she chuckled happily she too was happy the other driver wouldn’t be a problem any longer. Nearly thirty minutes passed without further incident pulling into the hospital parking lot Angelic found a place to park, shut off the car and got out. Kāṭṭēri also got out stopping just short of her girlfriends door.

“You better stay out here honey” she said, “with what little you have on I doubt Angelic wants an inquiry to why you look-well-the way you do”.

“Alright just please tell me how Charm Haste is doing” watching Kāṭṭēri walk away from the car she yelled out adding, “hey don’t forget about Angelic’s armor and weapons”.

“Right, got it” she replied catching up to her friend she added, “so um, you know who’s going to do the---”

“Return to the car Kāṭṭēri” Angelic interrupted her. “I don’t have time or the patience to listen to you make things worse than what they already are so please return to the car”.

“Aw come on Angelic that is so not fair” she whined in protest, receiving a slightly irritated angry look from her friend Kāṭṭēri bowed her head in defeat, “Oh, very well”. Turning to head back to the car she called out over her shoulder, “will you at least get us something to snack on?”

“I’ll do my best” she called over her shoulder heading inside the hospital Angelic found Varnas in the lobby waiting room “Varnas how is Charm Haste doing?”

Walking up to him she noticed he was hardly paying any attention to her. Varnas kept his back to her while he looked over a file. Setting it down he pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose closing his eyes, a door next to him opened and two doctors and a nurse came out each talked among themselves before one of the doctors approached Varnas tapping his right shoulder. Opening his eyes he glared at Angelic turning his attention to the doctor he frowned asking, “How is she?”

“Not good” the doctor replied, gesturing towards another door he led Varnas towards it with Angelic following them, “she has multiple lacerations on her face”. Opening the door all three stepped through turning his attention to Angelic he finished, “are you Charm Haste’s partner or family?”

“Neither” she replied, “I’m---”

“It's alright doctor she’s with me” Varnas interrupted “please continue doctor”.

Leading them to another room the doctor opened the door gesturing for Angelic and Varnas to enter, the room was sparsely furnished. A single desk sat in the middle of the room with a brown leather chair behind it. A single manila folder sat on the desk, a large metal filing cabinet filled the far left corner of the room. Entering the room Varnas and Angelic waited for the doctor to enter watching him close the door. Walking behind the desk the doctor pulled out the chair taking a seat giving both a concerned bitter stare, opening the file in front of him he handed it to Varnas.

“That is Charm Haste’s file” watching him look it over, “as you can see by her xrays her T4 through her T6 vertebrae are broken” taking the file back he added, “the maxillofacial trauma done to her face was rather … extreme to say the least.” Looking down he further added, “almost all of her Orbicularis oculi, Procerus, Corrugator superclii and her Zygomatic muscles major and minor were all torn to shreds” opening his desk middle drawer he took out a pack of smokes lit one inhaled letting out a long puff of silver-grey smoke. “Her risorius, Orbicularis oris, and her Depressor anguli oris were also ripped apart as if some sort of wild animal did this to her.” taking another puff he continued, “the Levator labii superioris and her depressor labii inferioris were also torn apart” putting out his cigarette he finished, “her Mentalis and her Platysma all needed surgery to give her a chance at all of recovery”. Getting up he finished, “if she is actually able to recover and I do mean ‘if’ then she will never walk again let alone be able to eat without a feeding tube”. Looking down herself Angelic turned to head for the door, stopping as the doctor finished, “there is something else you need to know”.

“What?” Angelic asked, clearly upset, “what else do we need to know, doctor?”

“After the surgery was completed Ms. Haste slipped into a coma” walking around his desk he watched Angelic open the office door finishing, “it could take days, weeks, months … even years … for her to recover from this”.

“Th-thank you doctor” Angelic said, walking away from him she headed back the way she and Varnas had come, entering the lobby several minutes later, “I need to speak to Píseň about this perhaps she knows why this happened”. Angelic thought “I just hope she’ll be in the mood to discuss this incident.” Getting outside a few minutes later she closed her eyes feeling a soft hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “I need my armor and weapons.” She opened her eyes looking into Varnas’s sunglasses, “Where is your car parked?”

“I’ll go get my car and pull it around, you go get Snow’s car and we’ll trade” heading away from Angelic he looked over his shoulder finishing “I’ll have a car complete with all the paperwork ready for you by tomorrow”.

Heading to Snows car Angelic got in started it up and pulled it up to the front of the hospital Kāṭṭēri wanting to know what happened gave her friend a expectant look. Ignoring her friend Angelic shut the car off, got out waiting for Varnas to pull up a few minutes went by before his car pulled up behind theirs.

“Angelic please don’t do this” she heard Píseň called out from the back seat, “tell me how Charm Haste is doing”.

“Not good Píseň” she grumbled in reply “she has a broken back, severe lacerations on her face and will be blind in her right eye”. Turning to face her she finished, “she slipped into a coma the doctor thinks it could take months perhaps even years for her to recover if she does actually recover that is”.

“I-I understand”. Doing her best to contain her guilt she finished, “thank you for telling”

Opening the drivers side door Angelic motioned for Kāṭṭēri and Píseň to exit the vehicle shutting the door she headed over to the one that Varnas was occupying. Kāṭṭēri and Píseň each a bit confused both got out also heading over to Varnas’s car watching Angelic take the keys from him Kāṭṭēri and Píseň gave each other passing glances. Getting in Angelic started up the car rolling down the drivers side window.

“You wouldn’t happen to have anything for” she began, noticing her friends both looked tired and hungry “Kāṭṭēri and Píseň to um, snack on w-would you?”
“You’ll find everything you need in the glove box” he replied.

“Alright, oh, Píseň’s tattered clothing is still in the back seat of Snow’s car” Angelic began as Kāṭṭēri got in taking the passenger front seat with Píseň taking the right back passenger seat, both buckled up. “Varnas you should know that you will also find the bag that Snow tried to give to Kāṭṭēri in the backseat as well.” Opening the glove box she took out a clear plastic bag. It contained the same red liquid as the one that Snow had offered to Kāṭṭēri earlier that night. “Hey what’s this?” she asked, taking out eighty dollars placing it into her blouse front pocket handing the bag over to Kāṭṭēri she finished, “here this should hopefully tied you over until we can get you something else to eat”.

“Looks like you got enough money there to do some shopping” Kāṭṭēri said through a light hearted grin, taking the plastic bag from Angelic she added, “Thanks” wrapping her fingers around it she froze giving Varnas a concerned glance, “wait it's not poisoned is it?”

“Seriously?!” he balked, “You really think I would do that to you Kāṭṭēri?”

“Well yes I do think you might do that” she replied.

“No it's not poisoned,” leaning on the driver side door a bit he added, “Listen to me; all three of you,” stepping back a bit he added, “tomorrow we’ll need to discuss your new identities”. Looking at Angelic he finished, “Angelic do you have a place to stay tonight?”

“I um,” Angelic began cutting her words short as her friend Píseň interrupted her. “I’ll find a place in---”

“Angelic will be staying with us tonight” Píseň interrupted, laying her hand on her friend's shoulder she finished, “we will not under any reason take ‘no’ for an answer”.

“Very well” Varnas said, “Kāṭṭēri you have my number call me if there are any further issues”. Turning around he finished through a soft but noticeable mutter, “I need to get some agents together and find that beast before it can harm anyone else”.

“If only he knew the truth” Angelic thought. “You be careful” she said, “that uh bear looked really big and powerful so don’t go getting yourself hurt”.

“Don’t worry I won’t get hurt. We will tranquilize it and relocate it to a wilderness area”.

Giving him a nod she pulled away from the hospital letting out a relieved forced breath glancing to the rearview mirror; she smiled slightly grateful Varnas had not figured out what happened to her friend. Tired from the night's excursion Píseň laid her head against the passenger back window closing her eyes. Kāṭṭēri opened the bag Varnas had given her raising it to her lips she squeezed it slurping down its contents finished with the bag she whipped the back of her hand over her mouth erasing any trace of it. Letting out a soft belch she opened the window letting the cool nights air blow on her face, cooling her down a bit.

“Ugh, it sure is hot for this time of year” Kāṭṭēri muttered.

Píseň opened her eyes, inhaled deeply, stretching out her arms, cracking her neck, lower back and shoulders back into place. She noticed a drive-in fast food restaurant coming into view. Reaching out she tapped Angelic’s shoulder cueing her to pull over for some much needed food taking the hint Angelic pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant directly into the drive thru. Looking over the menu she grimaced seeing the selection of choices deciding not to get anything for herself she instead ordered some food for Píseň. After paying for the meal and handing it back to Píseň she drove back out to the street while Kāṭṭēri looked over the map directing Angelic towards their home.

“Thank you both for allowing me to stay with the two of you.” compared to the bustle and noise of the city the neighborhood Angelic was driving through was relatively quiet taking a corner she added, “where to now?”

“Take the this street until you reach the end of it” Kāṭṭēri replied, five minutes slowly passed folding up the map and putting it away she added, “alright we’re here”. Angelic pulled up along the street, parked and unbuckled, “home sweet home”. She heard Kāṭṭēri finish.

Getting out Angelic looked around for a bit the house had a large three sectional window to the right of a tan front windowed door. The siding of the house was a soft red with a pink siding just under the roof. The house had a screened porch connected to the front of it leading from the front door to the right of the house. The front yard was small but adequate for the small yet humble looking home. Walking up to the house Angelic headed to the left taking in the house's size and shape, it was a single square floor home. The left side of the house had two sash windows each window had an air conditioner sticking out of it. Heading to the back of it she saw four more sash windows with wooden shutters connected to left and right of each window. Each shutter was painted to match the outside of the house. Getting to the right side she saw ivy growing along the side of the house and two more sash windows each with an air conditioner sticking out from it.

“Hey you coming inside?” she heard Kāṭṭēri call out to her. “Come on let’s go”.

“Huh?” she replied. “Oh, yes.” stopping for a brief second she added, “I need to get my armor and weapons”. Heading back to the car she opened the back door retrieving her armor and weapons. “I can’t believe I almost left these in here for someone to steal”.

Carrying her armor and weapons into the house Angelic set them down next to the front door with a loud ‘clang’. Receiving a playful ‘shh’ from Kāṭṭēri, she shook her head rolling her eyes turning to her right she saw a medium sized living room. Turning to her left she saw the kitchen was openly contented to the living room, a refrigerator could be seen from the front doors entrance-way. A smooth-top range sat across from the refrigerator, next to the range was a mini counter top cabinet with a microwave on top of it. An eighteen inch dishwasher was located under a single basin sink to the right of the mini counter top cabinet. A tan sectional sofa lined the back wall of the living room; a large flat screen TV was hanging on the wall in front of the sofa. A tri-sectional bookshelf stood near to the left of the TV with multiple DVD and Blu-ray movies lining its six shelved body. A short hallway led from the kitchen to the back of the house with two blue doors at the end of it.

“Angelic would you like something to eat and drink?” Entering the the kitchen Kāṭṭēri opened the refrigerator “lets see, we have eggs, bacon” poking around a bit she added, “uh cold six week old tea, carrots and” taking out a moldy bag she held it up finishing, “I think this was cheese”.

Making a sickly face she replied, “uh I’ll pass on everything else expect the eggs and bacon”. Píseň walked by her headed for the rooms in the back of the house, “Píseň, I just wanted to say thank you for letting me stay here tonight”.

“If you two will excuse me I want to get some sleep” taking her food with her Píseň headed for the back rooms. “Charm Haste was hurt because I didn’t act upon my instincts.” she thought, entering one of the two bed rooms setting her food down on her desk she sat down on her bed pulling her legs up to her chest, “I knew something was wrong so why didn’t I do something?”. Wrapping her arms around her legs she muttered, “now because of my inability to act Charm Haste is in a coma, blind in her right eye and has a broken back”. Hearing a knock on the door her eyes rolled in annoyance, “Kāṭṭēri I want to be left alone!” she snapped.

The door opened, Angelic walked wordlessly into the room sitting next to Píseň gently, she pulled Píseň into a warm, safe reassuring hug. Slowly she ran her fingers through Píseň’s shoulder length raven-black hair no longer able to hide her anger or sadness Píseň burst into tears burying her face in Angelic’s full, plump, ample breast sobbing.

“Shh” Angelic soothenly whispered “It’s alright honey I’m here”. Leaning against the wall she held Píseň in her arms gently rubbing her shoulders and biceps, “It wasn’t your fault sweetheart you mustn’t blame yourself”.

“Yes it was!” Píseň cried out, “it was my fault I caught that monster's scent yet I did nothing.” wrapping her arms around her friend Píseň sniffed trying to calm herself down. “I didn’t act upon my instincts because I value human life and was worried if I acted Charm Haste would have been hurt” Pushing Angelic off of herself she sat up taking a breath she finished, “you said it yourself ‘our kind isn’t supposed to be known by humans’ with that regard I chose not to act when I should have”.

“I can tell you beyond any doubt within my mind that this wasn’t your fault” Angelic said, getting up she turned to look Píseň in her eyes adding, “I too didn’t trust her and I should have killed her when I had the chance”. Angelic folded her arms under her own chest, “the reason I didn’t kill Snow is because I didn’t think she was working for her”.

Looking up Píseň whipped away her tears, getting up she gulped hoping her friend wouldn’t lose her temper. Looking into Angelic’s eyes she saw only love staring back at her, knowing deep within herself she had to tell Angelic and Kāṭṭēri the truth about agent Snow she wordlessly headed out into the hallway. Angelic followed Píseň back to the kitchen where Kāṭṭēri was putzing around in the refrigerator. Several boxes of molding old strawberries, blueberries and cranberries sat on the counter next to the range. Kāṭṭēri took out a carton of milk, opened the top sniffed it and grimaced putting it next to the moldy fruit.

“There is something that I need to tell you,” Píseň said, catching her girlfriend's attention, “Something that I need to tell you both”.

“Your finally giving in and taking that trip to Everfree right” Kāṭṭēri playfully asked, taking out a carton of eggs “I mean I’ve been on you about that trip for like what six years, eight years now?”

“No honey that isn’t what I need to talk to you about” Píseň replied, stepping into the kitchen she took Kāṭṭēri by her hands leading her over to the couch gesturing for her and Angelic to sit, “what I wanted to talk you both about was what happened tonight”.

“Píseň, honey that wasn’t your fault” Kāṭṭēri chipped in, “you were not in control of your own faculties” heading into the kitchen she began to rummage through one of the cabinets adding, “besides it was only one single human out of seven hundred billion more so I don’t see why your so upset over this”.

“Before I changed I used Charm Haste’s microscope and saw within it a green globular cluster of blood, the cells within this blood sample were beginning to replicate.” she replied, adding “It was her'” feeling Angelic’s hands on her shoulders she added, “when Charm Haste went to remove the glass slide from the microscope it broke she didn’t use it on me.” trying to control her emotions she further added, “someone else used it on me”. Turning around she buried her face in Angelic’s chest, “Kāṭṭēri she found a way to force me to change without a sanguine moon”.

“There is one thing I don’t fully understand” Angelic chimed in, “What does a sanguine moon have to do with this?” turning her attention to Kāṭṭēri she added, “I know the moon doesn’t have any affect on you Píseň while you are fully changed and that you can talk like we can.” Hugging her tightly she finished, “so what happened this time around?”

“The sanguine moon causes me to become that monster that you all saw earlier tonight” Píseň sniffed, adding, “Snow wanted me to be killed by either you Angelic or by Kāṭṭēri”. Ending the hug she finished, “what went wrong this time? I am not sure I have no idea what it was that I saw in that microscope, only that something in that blood sample caused all this to happen”.

“I see,” Angelic sternly said, “what else do you recall, Píseň honey?”

“I was told to say something to Kāṭṭēri” she said watching her girlfriend stop what she was doing, “but I am sure she won’t like it”.

“What was it?” Kāṭṭēri bitterly said, “what were you told to say to me?”

‘tell Imzadi I said hello’ Píseň softly replied, “that is what Snow told me to tell you while I was changing into that monster.”

“Imzadi now that is a word” Kāṭṭēri softly spoke, looking down she opened the cabinet next to the range rummaging through it she took out a frying pan, Angelic and Píseň exchanged passing glances. “I have not heard for one thousand nine hundred forty one years”. Setting the pan down next to the range she sighed whipping a hand over her eyes blinking away a single tear that threatened to fall she added, “it is a word that I have not spoken in, oh, about seventy eight years”. Letting out a forced breath she looked up, “Angelic do you still want to get something to eat” looking back at all the rotted fruit on the counter, “errn; this won’t do at all, not at all” opening the refrigerator again she took out a carton of eggs, “ah, here we go” opening them she finished, “these look...uh-er-somewhat still um, usable”.

“Thank you for the kind offer Kāṭṭēri” She replied, “but I think we should be talking about this situation besides I’ll order some takeout”

“Don’t be silly” she replied, “these eggs are only,” Kāṭṭēri glanced at the expiration date, “wow would you look at that? These eggs are twelve weeks out of date” setting them down, she finished, “they should s-still be good r-right?”

Shaking her head Angelic walked into the kitchen gently taking her friend by the hands pulling her into a warm hug taking in her friend's perfume she smiled. Kāṭṭēri unsure what to do returned the gesture a few minutes went by before both ended the hug.

“Don’t run from this Kāṭṭēri let us help you”

“I’m fine” she replied “I’ll be alright”.

“Hey, I know you're not fine,” Angelic laid a hand on Kāṭṭēri’s shoulder adding, ``you're in pain, you're hurt, you're angry”.

“I said ‘I’m fine’. She grumbled in her reply, “I don’t need anyone's help”.

“If you feel like screaming and throwing things,” Angelic said, removing her hand from her friend's shoulder, “I won’t stop you but please note we both love you”.

“I know” Kāṭṭēri, sniffed trying her best to hide her anger and sadness, “l-let's just get you something to eat and have ourselves a good night's rest alright?”

“Alright” She replied, “but, we will both be here whenever you need us”.

Píseň headed into her room retrieving her food she then headed into the guest room next to her own bedroom. The room had a twin sized bed, dresser and night lamp. A push button phone sat on the dresser. Pressing the speaker button she dialed a number.

‘Hello this is Dough Bellies Pizzeria’.

“Yes hello this is Píseň I’d like to order a large vegetarian pizza please”.

‘One moment’ hearing computer keys clicking in the background she waited for a few moments, ‘ok so that is one large veggie pizza would you care to add anything else?’

“Yes I would like to add one two liter of Moxxi Tab and a two liter of Zero Peps to the order”

‘Alright so that is a veggie large with one two liter of Moxxi Tab and Zero Peps, anything else?’

“No thank you, that’ll be all”

‘Alright your total comes to Thirty six dollars and Twenty five cents. Will that be cash or charge?’

“Hmm, that’ll be cash, oh, I need to tip the driver. How much will that be?”

‘With a tip of forty percent comes forty five dollars and fifteen cents.’

“Alright I’ll have that ready when the driver shows up. Have the driver come to one seventy-six Lake road boulevard west Canterlot five five two six”.

‘Alright your order will be delivered in about forty five minutes’.

“Thank you, have a nice night”. Hanging up the phone Píseň returned to the living room finding Kāṭṭēri and Angelic sitting on the couch watching Tv together “alright I ordered Angelic a large veggie pizza with a bottle of Zero Peps” taking a set to Angelic’s left she finished, “I ordered a two liter bottle of Moxxi Tab for you Kāṭṭēri” setting her food down on the arm of the couch she opened it, taking out her burger unwrapping it she groaned tossing the burger back into the paper bag, “perhaps I should have ordered a pizza for myself”.

“Why do you say that Píseň?” Angelic asked, “was there something wrong with your burger?”

“Yes there was, it had maggots on it”. Receiving nearly sickly green expressions from both of her friends she finished, “needless to say I’ll be leaving that out for the birds and squirrels in the morning”.

Forty Five minutes ticked by slowly, Píseň bored with what was currently on switched the channel to a opera while Kāṭṭēri got up and headed for their bedroom. Angelic followed Kāṭṭēri, concerned for her friend's state of mind following her friend over to the bed taking a seat next to her. Kāṭṭēri looked Angelic over noticing her friends newly acquired silk blue blouse did little to hide her friends wings or the harness she was wearing. Getting up Kāṭṭēri opened her closet door taking out a large green t-shirt coming back to the bed she reached over to the night stand next to her bed, opened the drawer taking out a pair of scissors.

“Now hold on” Angelic protested seeing the scissors in her friends hand, “you are not about to cut this blouse or harness are you?”

“What? No! I am however going to cut the back of this shirt” She replied, taking a seat next to her, “so your wings can slip through it”.

“Oh”.

Cutting two large holes in the back of the shirt Kāṭṭēri held it up for Angelic to examine it giving a approving nod Angelic stood up taking the shirt in her hands. Headed for the door she turned smiling to her friend getting up as well Kāṭṭēri nodded following Angelic out into the hallway. Hearing the doorbell ring she and Angelic headed for the living room finding Píseň in the living room with the front door open. Kāṭṭēri wordlessly walked into the kitchen opening the cabinet next to the stove taking out two plates and three cups setting them on the counter. Angelic headed into the living room with the box of pizza taking a seat on the couch. She set the box on the couch’s seat and draped the shirt over the couch’s right arm, Kāṭṭēri joined her a few seconds later carrying the soda bottles and cups with her.

“Angelic would you like me to pour you a cup of soda?” she asked, holding up the bottle of Zero Peps she added “also do you want ice with this soda?”

“Thank you” she replied picking up the pizza box she sat down placing it on her lap, “I’ll take just the soda without ice please”.

Pouring the soda into one of the three cups Kāṭṭēri sat down next to Angelic placing the cup on the couch’s left arm with her free hand she picked up the remote changing the channel.

Píseň walked into the hallway stopping by a single thin white door opening it, she rolled out a set of Tv trays. Closing the door she rolled them into the living room to the left of the couch setting one of them up in front of Angelic. Taking the pizza box from Angelic’s lap and the cup from Kāṭṭēri’s hand she set both down on the Tv tray before taking a seat to Angelic’s right.

“Thank you both for allowing me to stay here tonight,” Angelic said, reaching out for a piece of pizza she added, “I’ll be sure to find a place of my own tomorrow”.

“Absolutely not dear I won’t hear of it” Píseň said, “our home is and shall always be your home” turning to face her she finished, “stay as long as you wish”.

“Angelic neither I or Píseň will have it anyother way” Kāṭṭēri began, taking the bottle of Moxxi she took one of the two remaining cups pouring Píseň a drink adding, “I think your just tired after all fighting with Píseň does take a lot out of one's self”. Handing the cup over to Píseň she poured herself a cup finishing, “perhaps some rest will do you and us some good so let's watch a movie then it's off to bed”.

Taking a sip of her soda Kāṭṭēri leaned into the soft cushions of the couch Píseň took a sip from her own cup setting it down on the TV tray. Watching the movie play out she reached over giving Angelic’s knee a soft pat, looking into her friends eyes she saw only love staring back at her own. Laying her head on Angelic’s shoulder she closed her eyes taking in her friend's scented aroma snuggling a little closer to her. She smiled taking comfort knowing she didn’t hurt either her girlfriend or Angelic.

"I can't believe that happened to me" Píseň thought.

The movie ended an hour and half later, Kāṭṭēri stretched, yawned and got up helping Angelic and Píseň to clean up the living room before heading to the bedroom she shared with Píseň. Angelic stretched, yawned and headed to the room next to her friend's shared bedroom she nodded to them turning in for the night. Closing the door Angelic took a seat on the bed unbuttoned her blouse taking it off she reached behind her unclasping the harness letting it fall she fully stretched her wings out to their full forty foot length. Cracking her neck, back and shoulders into place she tucked her wings against her back slipping the shirt on it fit snugly around her waist and under her wings.

“I am glad this shirt fits” she thought, getting up she picked up her blouse and opened the dresser top drawer she folded it placing it inside the top dresser drawer, “alright now to get these pants off”. Unbuckling her pants she unbuttoned and unzipped them letting the gourmet fall to the carpeted floor, walking over to a sliding door she opened it finding a closet full of clothing. “Well at least I won’t have to walk around half naked”. Looking through the clothing she took out a pair of purple pajama pants holding them up, “I hope these fit”. Putting them on she smiled picking up her paints. She folded them, opened the second drawer placing her pants inside. “Now to get some much needed” placing a hand to her shoulder she groaned in pain, “ugh rest, I can’t believe Píseň turned into her monstrous form all without the add of a sanguine moon”.

Pulling the blankets back she tucked her wings against her back climbing into bed she laid her head against the soft fluffy pillow falling fast asleep. A few hours went by while Kāṭṭēri waited for everyone to fall asleep looking over to her girlfriend she saw she was fast asleep, gently she carefully moved the blanket off of her getting up she tiptoed to the door. Laying her hand on it she stopped; turned around heading back to her bed, taking the blanket she tucked Píseň in leaning she kissed her cheek.

“I’ll be back soon honey I promise”.

Opening the bedroom door she stopped by Angelic’s room making sure her warrior friend was fast asleep satisfied; she headed outside. Taking in the cool nights air she knelt placing her right hand on the ground spreading her fingers as wide as she could she bowed her head. Her hair fell over her face partially covering her eyes, her canines began to elongate, her ears pointed becoming slender at the middle more so at the tips. Her face contorted, becoming bat-like, her nose shrunk inwards becoming a shrunken snout, her eyes glowed red flesh formed between her ribs and arms becoming wings. With a push she vaulted high into the sky letting out a screech she began to search the city and neighborhood below for her prey.

“Come on I know you're out there” she thought to herself, "where are you?!"

Flying over the city slums, a part of the city she would normally avoid even during the day; she failed to notice something big coming up behind her. The creature reached out grabbing Kāṭṭēri by feet pulling her into a downward spiral she hit a old church rooftop with a sickening bone shattering thud. Pulling herself out of the wreckage she felt pain throughout her body as her bones put themselves back together breathing deeply she whenced from the pain holding herself she fell forward screaming. The creature took delight in hearing her screams rushing in it caught her by complete surprise upper cutting Kāṭṭēri in her jaw the impact from the blow instantaneously sent her flying backwards out of the church into a wall. Leaving a body impression in the wall she coughed hitting the ground with a thud her bones rehealed shaking off the blow she stood up snarling in rage.

“Alright come out!” using her bat-like senses she looked around, her eyes widened in shock “you?!” taking a stumbling step back she finished, “how are you alive Riz^tyākt?” dropping her hand to her hip, eyes shrank in fear to her horror she had been in such a hurry to get out of the house she had forgotten her weapons, “Son of--I’m no match for him without my weapons”.

Feeling a strong need to retreat she back-flipped latching onto the wall behind her using it to climb out of the area upside down she watched as he jumped grabbing onto the wall himself. Turning herself right-side up she scrambled as best as she could up the wall stopping only when she felt his hand grasp around her left foot like a vice. Kicking him in the head with her other foot she watched him let go falling back to the ground desperately she climbed the rest of the wall. Getting to the roof a few seconds later she ran across it leaping to another roof several yards away landing she rolled standing up. Hearing him let out a loud angry roar she glanced over her shoulder making a B-Line for a maintenance hatch.

“Move it you fool” she screamed to herself, “move it”. Throwing her hand outwards she grabbed the handle of the hatch ripping the door from its base turning around she threw the door at Riz^tyākt “Screw You!” she screamed in raged fear.

The door hit him in the face doing little more than ticking him off, she ran into the maintenance hallway, sliding down a ladder and through another hallway before coming to a dead end. Looking around she found a door with a sign posted to it ‘fire stairs’. kicking it open she raced down the flight of stairs trying hard to make it to the first floor. Hearing the flooring, walls and wood breaking from above her she picked up the pace searching frantically for a way out of the building the sound grew louder and louder.

"Wheres the way out of this dump?" she blurted out, "come on, I need to get out of here".

Finding a window leading to the outside she dove for it only to be stopped in mid flight as a thick muscular arm burst through the ceiling above her. A thick twisted hand grabbed Kāṭṭēri by her right shoulder violently throwing her back into the hallway. The ceiling came crashing in around her, covering herself up she screamed in fear Riz^tyākt fell through the ceiling a few feet behind her. Crawling under and around the debri she made her escape to the window the sounds of his roar echoed in her ears.

“Get the hell away from me you freak”

Breaking the window she began to climb out of it cutting her leg in the process, Riz^tyākt pushed through the debri, fear etched over her face she fell backwards just in time. Thrusting his massive body through the broken window he watched her hit a industrial caged truck growling he watched her roll off the truck hitting the ground. Getting up, wounded and scared out of her mind she limped down the sidewalk towards a hardware store. Hearing the sounds of metal crunching beneath something massive and heavy she breathed heavily forcing herself to endure the pain she ran as fast as she could towards the hardware store. Breaking the door open the alarm sounded running inside with Riz^tyākt in pursuit she ran to the tools section finding several shelves containing circular saw blades. Grabbing as many as she could hold she threw them at him like shuriken each one finding its mark.

“You’ve gotta be freaking kidding me?!”, to her horror he kept coming, throwing another round of blades at him, “die already!” she screamed, she turned, grabbing another volley of blades, “how the hell do y---”

Her words were cut short, his hand wrapped around her throat picking her up he threw her into a nearby shelf toppling it over. Coughing she climbed back to her feet growing angry she lunged at him taking a back-fist to her jaw the impacting blow sent her hurtling backwards into another shelf. Shaking off the blow she threw several boxes of screws and nails at him looking around for any weapon she could use against him, her eyes fell to a monkey-wrench sticking out from the debris.

"Alright if I can't kill him with saw blades I'll just beat him to death".

Backing away from him she dogged an incoming fist rolling to the right she scrambled for the wrench hoping to get to it before he could make the kill. Grabbing it she swung with all her might striking his head knocking him over she raised the wrench above her head taking a twenty-four inch foot to her abdomen for her effort. Stumbling backwards she hit the ground back first striking the back of her head on the hardware shop's linoleum floor. Getting up Riz^tyākt grabbed her by her shirt picking her up, her vision blurred, he dropped her watching her hit the ground with a thud. Climbing to her knees he reached out placing both hands over her head slowly he began to crush her skull.

“Stop” a familiar voice called out, turning around Riz^tyākt still holding Kāṭṭēri between his palms watched his master step into the destroyed hardware store, “don’t kill her”. Riz^tyākt snarled pressing tightly against Kāṭṭēri’s skull causing her to scream in pain, “I said stop!” striking Riz^tyākt’s face his master yelled, “obey me!”. Watching him ease up a bit his master grinned, “that’s better” Riz^tyākt observed his master kneeling next to Kāṭṭēri “I don’t want her to die at least not just .... yet”. Riz^tyākt master tapped Kāṭṭēri’s forehead, “come on open your eyes” not getting a reply Riz^tyākt’s master yelled, “open your damn eyes!”

Opening her eyes, Kāṭṭēri’s irises shrank with anger watching agent Snow’s body change before her very eyes. Snow’s hair grew in length turning into a deep seaweed green, her eyes turned to a dark forest green and her skin changed from a pinkish soft white to a dark oil black. Fly like wings flicked and fluttered every few seconds her canines grew in length becoming jagged and sharp.

“YOU!” Kāṭṭēri screamed in rage, wounded though she was she tried to grab onto Riz^tyākt master being pulled just out of reach by Riz^tyākt. “I’ll kill you!” She listened to Riz^tyākt master’s tongue click, the fiend stood up slowly passing back and forth snickering. Stopping for a brief moment Riz^tyākt master cooed letting out a deep contented sigh. “Order your dog to let me go so I can die with my hands around your neck”.

“Now why would I want to do that Imazdi?”

“You no longer have the right to call me that” she replied “after all the harm you’ve---”

“As if that dog could ever truly understand you Imazdi” kneeling Riz^tyākt master added, “I---”

A sword burst through Riz^tyākt's chest cutting his master's words short, Riz^tyākt master watched in anger as the sword slid upwards splaying Riz^tyākt in two. His body fell to the ground, Kāṭṭēri also fell to the ground passing out from her injuries Riz^tyākt’s master turned to face the wielder of the sword. Winter snow-colored wings flapped lifting the swords wielder off the ground flapping her wings the warrior landing near Kāṭṭēri kneeling next to her the warrior pressed two fingers to her friends neck checking her pulse. Standing the winged warrior placed herself between Riz^tyākt’s master and her injured friend gripping her sword with both hands she locked eyes with Riz^tyākt’s master.

“Angelic” Riz^tyākt’s master snarled.

“You have a choice to make” she replied, keeping herself between Riz^tyākt’s master and her friend, “you can face me in combat or you can leave”. Taking a step towards Riz^tyākt’s master she finished, “the choice is yours”.

“How did you find us?”

“Does it matter? Make your choice or I’ll make it for you!”

“Given the choice I’ll leave … for now”.

Watching Riz^tyākt’s master unfurl her wings and leave the area Angelic turned her attention to Riz^tyākt sheathing her sword she looked Riz^tyākt over. Knowing she couldn’t take him on by herself she knelt behind him reaching into his split open skull she tore his brain from his skull. Holding the grayish misshapen thing between her palms she pressed inwards squishing it to little more than jelly. Using his deformed body to wipe off the bits and pieces of brain matter from her palms she turned her attention to her injured friend shaking her head, she helped her friend up.

“Are you alright?” receiving a tired but glad nod she slammed her fist into her friends face knocking her down, standing over her she added, “that was for being so stupid”. Holding her hand out to her Angelic help Kāṭṭēri back to her feet once more, “let's go home”.

“I don’t think I can fly with my injuries”.

“Alright then I’ll carry you” Angelic said adding, “but you are not staying here”.

“We can’t leave that thing for someone to find” Kāṭṭēri replied stumbling forward she began to look around for anything to use to destroy the body finding several bottles of lighter fluid she picked up two of them “I hope this time this works” dousing Riz^tyākt’s body in the fluid she placed the other bottles around his dead body “last time I burned him I didn’t remove his brain only his heart and organs”.

“Well this time” Angelic began, finding a box of matches she struck one throwing the box onto his body, “we’ve removed his brain and there is enough lighter fluid here to make sure he is reduced to ash” tossing the match on his body both watched Riz^tyākt’s body burst into flames, “let’s go we can’t wait around for the police to show up”.

Both unaware that four winged warriors who had chosen to remain out of sight had seen everything Angelic and Kāṭṭēri had done to Riz^tyākt’s body. The warriors watched Kāṭṭēri from a safe hiding place as she looked around the surrounding area finding a gas valve near the back of the store. Kāṭṭēri kicked it busting it open letting the gas flow the warriors watched her run towards Angelic grabbing her by the wrist. Flying into the nights sky they watched from above as Kāṭṭēri and Angelic just barely managed to escape the fiery blast.

“Your nuts!” The warriors heard Angelic yell, watching her pull her hand back they listened to her add, “what if we hadn’t been able to get out in time?”

“Hey relax” The heard Kāṭṭēri reply “we made it didn’t we?”

The warriors flew away from the burning building soon joining others of their kind as Angelic picked up her friend. Spreading her wings out her she took to the air flying high over the city with Kāṭṭēri nestled in her arms. Returning home a half hour later both found Píseň waiting our front angrily tapping her foot giving both a very unpleasant stare. Still completely unaware of what transpired at the hardware store Angelic landed on the front lawn setting Kāṭṭēri down. Both girls offered Píseň a foolish, sheepish grin, Píseň having none of their foolishness pointed to the house, her eyes narrowed with anger. Knowing they were both in big trouble Angelic headed for the house leaving Kāṭṭēri outside to deal with her girlfriends ire.

“So” Kāṭṭēri began, rocking back and forth on her heels rubbing the back of her head, “I guess I am in trouble huh honey?”
Wordlessly Píseň reached out grabbing her girlfriends ear giving Kāṭṭēri’s ear a hard, tight, painful twist she dragged her girlfriend into the house. Kāṭṭēri flailed her arms in protest letting out a blood curdling yelp. Píseň’s grip only grew tighter, opening the door she marched Kāṭṭēri inside slamming the door loudly behind them. Heading for their bedroom she stopped by Angelic’s room knocking on the door with her free hand while Kāṭṭēri continued to flail about Angelic answered the door quirking an eyebrow at the sight before her.

“Thank you dear for finding her and returning her to me”. Píseň said, “now please get some sleep while I deal with this … idiot”.

“Go easy on her she’s had a rough night” Angelic softly replied, “her injuries have not yet fully healed”

“I’ll bear that in mind good night”. Píseň replied, dragging her girlfriend to their bedroom opening their bedroom door she added, “as for you, Kāṭṭēri you are in big trouble” letting her girlfriend go she shut the door behind her, ignoring the fact her girlfriend was in pain she pointed to the bed, “get in bed NOW!”

“Ye-yes honey”

Kāṭṭēri undressed, redressing in her pajamas, climbed into bed with Píseň getting into bed a few seconds after her. Reaching over to her side of the bedroom Píseň switched off the lights and rolled over taking all of the blanket with her. Kāṭṭēri rolled to her right keeping her back facing her girlfriend curling up in a fetal position she silently cried herself to sleep shivering in the cold night.

“I’m sorry”

“Go to sleep”

“But, I’m really sorry”

“I don’t care go to sleep”

Listening to Kāṭṭēri cry for a little bit Píseň though she was still very angry with her girlfriend rolled back over placing the blanket over Kāṭṭēri’s body laying her head down next to Kāṭṭēri’s she soon found herself falling fast asleep. Angelic, tired, angry and worried also laid down for a much needed good night's rest she found the soft pillows of her bed to be more than welcoming as she also soon fell fast asleep. Unaware that a certain green haired black oil-skinned woman had followed them home, the woman flew high into the sky soon being joined by multiple legions of winged warriors.

“Go my offspring, my children, my … babies” she hissed, pointing to city behind them she added, “find us a new home away from prying human eyes and ears” she turned her attention back to the small humble, quant, small home before her, make sure it is far away from Kāṭṭēri, Píseň or Angelic”. Laughing wickedly she was joined by four others “ah, now that you four have returned tell me where is Riz^tyākt?”

“He is dead”

“They burned his body asunder”

“There was nothing we could do”

“Yes nothing, nothing at all yes, yes yes”.

“It doesn’t matter, Riz^tyākt was a fool” the woman growled, “GO find my eldest tell him I want a meeting with him” watching all but one leave she hissed, “within a fortnight tell him that my preciouses” turning back to the house one last time she finished, “Soon you three shall pay and as for you Imazdi you’ll be mine … again”. Flying away, her laughter turned to a cold cruel cackle.

Next Chapter: August, 4th, Thursday 4:00 A.M. part one Estimated time remaining: 55 Minutes