Checking out of the hotel, I ignored the looks from the staff and concierge. My eyes were red and puffy and keeping my head held high, I walked out of there like everything was completely fine; like I couldn't feel their stares or hear their not so subtle whispers. I carried my bag around the corner and down into a dark alleyway where it suddenly disappeared, my clothes changed and I prayed I managed to make myself look much more presentable before locating Meghan.

She said nothing as I appeared, too focused at the building at the base of the hill she and a few others had spaced themselves out along. I thought I saw someone on the roof, but couldn't find any sign of them as I kept watching. Everything felt unnaturally dark, and looking up there were no stars or moon in the sky. A light breeze brushed by us and the only light was a dull orange glow coming from inside. We were out of the city, there were no streetlights or other buildings around. If there was, I couldn't see them.

Just as I was about to talk, the lights of two suv lit up the side of the building as they came from seemingly nowhere from the other side. Colourful graffiti covered the metal walls. Abandoned tires sat in a pyramid by the door that opened with a loud screech, of metal on metal. The two cars drove in with a third soon arriving that positioned itself to block the doorway. Vampires were soon swarming like ants, large heavy duty rifles kept close and I didn't doubt they weren't loaded. The skin on the back of my neck prickled, and four more vampires came out to join them only they had no weapons that we could see. We both held our breath as they looked our way, their voices too far and quiet for us to hear what they were saying. Two walked off further down the side, one staying by the corner as the other disappeared and another two came out and did the same on the other side.

"They're patrol is weak and too late. We are already here," Meghan whispered to me, shaking her head slightly.

"Those guns look impressive though," I tell her.

She snorts. "Perhaps, but don't think the people holding them are. My guess, vampires."

"You're right. It's all I can sense coming from down there."

We shuffled a little further down and I followed her lead as we stopped by some small shrubs. It became the perfect cover as a white van and a tow truck turned up. The sound of an owl sounded from somewhere behind us, and Meghan let out a small sigh as the five cloaked figures went inside with two rather large vampire guards.

"Nessa has seen the stones," She tells me.

Another call.

"What does that mean?" I ask.

"Just confirming they're there."

The figure on the roof reappears long enough for me to know I wasn't imagining it this time. Was that Nessa? The woman does a series of hand gestures to the left of us and then goes back into the darkness again.

"Watch this," Meghan nudges me and we peer out from behind the bush.

The wind picks up once more, stronger now so that the leaves rustle around us and loose bits of rubbish below are pushed away from their resting places from the force of it. The stampede of litter rushes by one of the vampires who watches it with more interest than I would have done, and kicks a can as it goes by. They all stop to look at him with the sudden noise making most of them jump and he simply shrugs, right before a shadow slips by and all that remains are their guns which are piled up on the hood of one of the cars.

The wind stops.

Two Valkyrie now stand by the gun pile, while another slips around all the cars and checks inside them before giving the all clear. Disarmed, they abandon the weapons just as a scream sounds from inside.

"That's our cue!" Meghan is up and down by the vans before I even process she's moved and I end up cheating and getting myself down there with my powers rather than my legs.

Three others walk in on guard, swords raised and poised to attack. Inside the witches stand separated from the vampires, thanks to the four Valkyrie already inside. One of them is on the floor at their feet, and the youngest looking one kneels down, softly crying as she holds the limp hand of her fallen friend. The blood that appears in front of them tells me enough, while the vampires that now gather around the portal piece get even more tense and eager to fight.

"You are all required to offer your submission to the-" The Valkyrie I recognize from the roof starts to command, but the vampires hiss at her.

One the larger ones that had been in the tow truck moves from the others, glaring at her as he gives her a look over from head to toe. She isn't a big lady, not when compared to some of the other Valkyrie; maybe five foot five and easily a third of his size. If I were him, I'd be stupid enough to think I stood a chance though and that's where his thoughts must go as he runs at her.

"We will not-"

Her sword moves swiftly, her stance not altering as she gives him the same fate as his comrades outside. His words linger in the air a second after his physical form disappears, and the vampires pause, reassessing her and finally noticing the rest of us as we spread out. One sniffs the air, confusion clouds their faces as the study the new species in front of them.

"What are you?" The female asks, her eyes wide with fear and curiosity.

"Valkyrie." The one from the roof answers. "Now, you have two options. Offer your submission and be presented to the Council of the Treaty for your punishment or die."

Her gaze moves to the witches, and I notice the gold cord wrapped around their wrists for the first time.

"This also applies to you." She tells them.

Death glares are all she gets in return.

"You won't get away with this!" The sobbing girl growls, earning the attention of everyone as she stands. "The Prophet will hunt you down and-"

"Oh I'm hoping she does." I tell her, moving closer. "Any chance you know how to pass on a message?"

"You're just a Hunter. Your rules do not apply to her!" She wipes her nose with the back of her hand, which is pointless considering the blood she just replaced her snot with. "Maya did not die in vain. Her sacrifice will be felt by The Prophet. She was get vengen-"

I punch her, perhaps too hard as she falls unconscious onto her dead friend. The other witches now glare at me, but say nothing.

"She talks to much," I shrug, moving towards the smaller Valkyrie to address them all. "Anyone here able to let us in on how to meet this Prophet?"

The vampires laugh.

"She will find you. And she will kill you. The Prophet is all powerful," One starts to ramble and I close my eyes, take a deep breath and shake my head.

"She can try." I tell him. "I've dealt with worse. So what is she really, super vampire with a god complex? Witch, who tells a great story? Clearly she preys on the weak and stupid if you believe what she says."

The Valkyrie near me smirk, one snorts as they seem to find this amusing.

"All you are doing is wasting time," the female vampire smiles, baring her fangs. "Keep talking Hunter and you will experience her powers for yourself. She is coming!"

"Oh shit! Maybe I should have bought her a present." My sword appears in my hand, surprising her, but she stays quiet now. "Like this maybe?"

"Resistance is futile." Another growls, "Submit to us now and she may spare you-"

"You seem to be reading this situation the wrong way. You're not the ones in any position to make the demands." I turn to Meghan. "If she's coming, I want these stones gone. I'm not taking any chances in these going missing again until Julio arrives."

Meghan nods, signals to the others and two come forward. The smaller one ushers the vampires towards the witches, binding their hands with the same gold rope which seems to keep them all in place. Unfortunately it doesn't keep them quiet and as the Valkyrie start to do something with the boxes, the vampires all start to ramble over and over about the Prophet, her great powers, how we're all going to die, and their ultimate plan for world domination. The witches begin to hum, which has the Valkyrie ultimately knocking them all out and then one by one, they get moved into one of the vans outside.

"Be easier to transport them to your leaders this way," One tells me as I watch them work.

"Thank you."

"Your kind think you're so clever. That you're indestructible. That all you stand for is right and will never be defeated. The Prophet knows best. The Prophet knows all." She rambled.

I rolled my eyes. "You do realise you sound like a brainwashed puppet sprouting that crap right?"

"The Prophet will-"

"No she won't."

"You are nothing to her!" The vampire was getting annoyed now. "Weak. Insignificant. Useless. You are powerless against her. Feel her wrath and-"

I had enough.

"The next one to mention this fucking Prophet without it being because you're giving me the details on how to find her, will feel my wrath and I promise you, it make you wish you'd never been born, let alone followed this bitch's crap!" I yelled, as another Valkyrie appeared with four more vampires from somewhere down the back.

"Found these hiding in a storage room." She shoves them towards the others who are all laughing at my words.

"Nothing you do will make us turn against our saviour. The Prophet-" This vampire didn't know when to shut her mouth.

The cool night air suddenly grabbed at what skin was exposed, the sand and grit on the warehouse floor rough against my feet. I don't know why I chose the outfit or even went back to this, but it felt right. All of it felt right, even the headdress with that small, crocodile skull sitting in the middle of it. Someone gasped. I felt my hands getting hot, and looking down they glowed, pulsing with their power before it returned within. Everything stopped, even the Valkyries froze and looking at the vampires now, their mouths literally hung open.

"Your Prophet will die at my hands, just as you all will!" I held my hands up, the vampires all going with them as their bound hands not struggled at their throats as I applied pressure. "One, last time, before I decide you truly are worthless to me. Where is she?"

"Great goddess!" One of the witches mumbled from the floor, moving so she was down on her knees, she bent forward as if in prayer. "Have mercy."

"Elise?" Meghan whispered, cautiously coming towards me, yet her eyes didn't leave those in my grasp.

"Would your Prophet have mercy?" I growled at the witch.

"Elise, please-" Meghan started, a little louder this time.

"No great goddess," She sat up, her head dipped low so she only stared at the ground. "She would not."

"Then thank your lucky, fucking, stars, that I am not her!" I send the group flying, smashing into the side of the warehouse with a big bang, the walls shaking from the impact so the roof trembled and what birds rested up in the rafters took flight.

"Who are you?" The witch asked, her aged face now daring to look my way.

"The God Killer. You, you will stay here with a message for your Prophet." I tell her.

"You need to calm down," Meghan softly commanded and turning her way, I'm not sure what she saw, but now her mouth dropped and she didn't come across as one to easily spook. "What, you, you really are one of them, aren't you?"

"A Power?" I ask her, and she nods. "No. I'm not one of them. They don't belong in this world, and neither does your Prophet."

The witch was back down on the floor again and I had to shake my head. Talk about loyal followers. Next best thing comes along and she's all, yes great goddess, no great goddess. How would her Prophet feel about that?

"I think we should go." Meghan swallowed nervously, looking around with her, the Valkyrie had the boxes of rocks gone and were moving the last of the vampires into the van with speed and ease that I wasn't expecting of them.

"Was she coming here, tonight?" I ask the witch that remained.

"Yes. We had not yet told her we lost half of the sacred stones needed to create her portal, she is coming to collect them." See, life is so much easier when you cooperate.

"Rise." I tell her and she stands quickly, keeping her head bowed. "You will stay here to meet her. Tell her nothing of the Valkyrie, understand? You will tell her that I am coming for her, that I will find her and destroy her, as well as all she stands for."

"Please goddess. She will surely kill me!" She cried, launching herself forward to grab my hand as she pressed it against her forehead.

"Then I guess you better be more careful when choosing Prophets."

"You bare the mark of Hecate in your crown. Have mercy for a daughter of our queens magic!" The witch begged.

I laughed, reaching up the remove the triple moon symbol. "Hecate, The Fates. Ironic how they share this. I was once the Maiden, stood beside the Mother and Crone and held the very thread of life. I have stood beside your great mother, the goddess Hecate and heard her wisdom. Yet I answer to no one. Witch, you will die tonight. The Fates and the goddess will not save you."

"Elise, this isn't-" Meghan started but I held a hand up to silence her.

"In return for your services, I say now, that your death be in sacrifice to Hecate and you shall join her garden in the after life." I promise, pricking my finger on the sharp edge of my headpiece and wiping a light trail across her forehead.

"Oh thank you, for your kindness and blessing!" The witch cried.

"It is not a blessing or a kindness." I tell her before walking towards the exit with Meghan and producing my phone. "This is Julio's contact. Please make sure he gets all of this."

The Valkyries have the cars and vans loaded and Meghan frowns as the small one comes up to us. She gives me a cautious look, and Meghan hands her the phone telling her what I just did.

"Thanks Ness." She says before turning back to me. "Aren't you coming?"

"I'm not missing a chance to get a one on one with whoever this Prophet is."

"On your own? I will stay with you and-" she starts.

"No. I'll be fine."

"Elise, I don't doubt that you will be. We are all fine on our own, yet look at how well we work together too." She frowned. "I can't leave you to face this, thing, alone."

"I don't want anyone knowing you're involved. It could reflect badly on you, especially when we're dealing with those from the other realm."

"Too late." A voice says from behind us.

We both turn, and I barely get time to raise my arms and shield us from the ball of light sent our way. Looking now, the witch is already dead and the cloaked figure has her face hidden by a black veil just as the fae described. In seconds my dress up has gone, and I'm ready to fight, sword in hand I watch as she now appears in the same get up as she had in the underworld.

"So I was right. It is you!" I move forward, keeping Meghan behind me yet I hear the others return, the unmistakable sound of swords unsheathing following.

"Do you think that makes you smarter than the other fools that reside here?" She taunts. " No one will save you, girl. I intend to finish what I started."

"Funny, I could say the same thing." We start to circle one another, just as the sounds of a car alarm going off and a howl comes from outside.

A quick look to Meghan and she nods, reluctantly moving with the rest as they go to handle whatever is outside. Now it's just me and this so called Prophet and she makes the first move, charging forward the two daggers she holds come my way swiftly. I feel the energy of the sword in my hands, the anticipation of the fight runs through my blood and I focus only on this moment. Yet somewhere in my brain is thinking about Apollo; he would be super annoyed to see me here, with her, doing this. I hate that Meghan was right, that having someone, if not all of the Valkyrie out there handling that was a huge help. What even was happening out there?

Her blade grazes my bicep.

Focus.

The look of triumph in her eyes makes me want to rip them out, and we square off against each other as I manage to kick her in the stomach; it must have hurt or at least been enough of a warning to back up as the space between us slowly grows. It doesn't last, as one again she is coming forward and I race to meet her. Sliding down on my knees, I drop, spin and manage to return the gesture by slicing the back of her thigh. I had been going for her back, but I'll take it.

I move fast, back on my feet, raising the handle of my sword and smashing it down hard between her shoulders before she gets her balance back from the cut on her leg. I kick her while she's down, yet she manages to block my sword with a new one of her own. Her foot comes up, I dodge it, but lose my position and as she vanishes in a blink and is back up, I'm there.

We fight hard, harder than before. It helps that I'm actually of my body and not just - spirit, or whatever that whole thing was about. I relish feeling the blade making contact as does she and throwing in a few kicks, punches and whatever else, neither of us is starting to get the upper hand. This infuriates her as much as it does me as we keep at each other. We're thrown into the walls, the floor, the rafters. We hit each other with all we have.

"Enough of this!" She roars as yet again my blade slices her cheek and her face mask. A new one appears, but I see the blood on her cheek, up under her eyes.

Her weapons disappear and she takes off her gloves, her hands glowing in a similar way mine do.

"You really want to go there?" I taunt, mimicking her actions. "I'm not in the Underworld anymore, I'll bite back."

"You're right, you're not. And none of those Powers are here to save you now, are they?" She narrowed her eyes on me and I didn't need to see under the mask to know she was smirking. It was all in her tone. "Where is your Golden God? I didn't think he would be so foolish as to leave you unguarded, and alone."

"You seem to think I need them, but I don't."

"Are you naive enough to believe that? From what I've heard, they've had enough of your primitive earth ways, insignificant little problems," A ball of light appeared in her right and hand she tossed it between the two casually as she spoke. "And of course, you. You really are the problem for everyone aren't you, human, your kind, power; it doesn't matter who you meet, they all seem to hold some regret."

"So how did you get the blood suckers to join your cause? You're not great with this whole motivational speaking thing."

She laughed. "Keep talking little girl. It amuses me how even now, moments from your end, you seem oblivious to it. Die knowing that you are the problem. Apollo left you because he finally realised you are not worth his time or love. Those you think are your friends, already fear you, and what you can now do as you aren't like them anymore. All the Powers you think stand by you, only did so out of a deeply planted seed of loyalty to Apollo. Now he is gone, so are they. Maybe once I kill you, he will be so thankful of ridding him of the burden you are that I will have him on his knees and-"

She is the one talking too much, and the blast I send her way has her flying across the room. Breaking through the wooden paneling that was still standing, I follow, not expecting her to be quick to recover, I'm knocked onto my back as I don't quite dodge the return blast she sends my way.

"Did I find a sore spot?" She leers, suddenly standing over me.

"Did I?" My hands spark as I grab hold of her ankles.

With a scream, she vanishes and I manage to block her next attack and the next. Magic fights magic. If this building is still standing by the end, I'll be surprised. The hits get harder to ignore, the cuts from earlier sting, we're both starting to feel it. I know what she said was to get a bite from me. It worked, but not how she intended. It made me more determined to prove that I didn't need any of the Powers to help me. These were my own powers now, and used them.

The current that ran through me made me calm, alive. I blocked whatever she sent my way and focused everything I had into my breathing and clearing my mind. I remembered how good it felt that time with Hades, and instantly lightning began to rain down around us. I opened my arms and felt my energy return. I felt the electricity in the air and inside of me. Looking at her now, she was on the defense rather than the attack. The tide was changing.

"Who are you?" I demand, those tiny volts coming together in a rope that trapped her legs and started to spiral up her body.

She fought it as best she could, but it wasn't enough.

"The one who will defeat the God Killer!" She growled back.

"You really are delusional, aren't you?" I move closer, so aware of every single part of the space around me, it was as if I was everywhere all at once.

She stopped her fight, closed her eyes and before I could do anything, it all disappeared into blackness. My ears were ringing, every inch of me burned and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a part of my body that didn't just break and reassemble itself as I was buried in the sand. Slowly my eyes could focus, the concrete of the warehouse floor was beneath me, but it was wrong. Reaching out an aching arm, sand met my touch and I slowly realised I was in a hole.

The haggard form of this, Prophet, peered down. Her mask was gone, and she was surprisingly beautiful if not for the two deep red marks on her cheek I had gifted her with. Her eyes were full of hate and I couldn't move, could fight as she was clearly straining herself to lift me from the pit she had just blasted me into. I couldn't make myself disappear. I thought of Alfie, home, the Academy, the bar, everywhere, and I stayed suspended in the air until she dumped me onto the floor in front of her. If she looked as though she had just been raised from the dead, what did I look like?

"You may have your power, but you are still young and with that comes inexperience. Foolish, insignificant little, girl. Tonight, you die. Tomorrow, they will speak your name, maybe the day after they will whisper it, but then you will be forgotten. Worthless, weak, human who thought she was something special." She leered.

Her breaths were shallow and fast, her clothes torn and bruises were already appearing on her face. Shoulders hunched, she was struggling to stand, while I rolled slightly, coughing up blood which I managed to spit out. Then I laughed, rolling onto my back which sent a million stinging needles all over, but still I laughed.

"What?" She huffed, her hand out as if waiting for something to appear.

"You're not going to, kill me." I wheezed.

She closed her eyes, and then her sword finally appeared in her hand. "Good riddance."

My own sword appeared as hers came down, dangerously close to my neck. She knelt, putting everything she had into this as I returned the gesture and pushed back. Fire ripped through my abdomen, my bones crumbled yet stayed in place; we both screamed in a mixture of rage and agony.

"Just, die!" She wailed.

She slipped first, slumping over me before rolling back, yet as her weight lifted, so did my arms; my sword slowly cutting deep into her side as I pushed as best I could. Now she screamed, but it wasn't in far enough and she pulled away. Blood poured from her side, covered her hands and the floor.

"Elise!" The familiar voice of Apollo called out, and I looked her sword, tempted to throw myself at it.

"This, isn't, over!" She huffed; then she was gone.

I closed my eyes, dropped my sword and heard the rush of footsteps.

"Fuck!" Apollo yelled, "Elise, Elise answer me?"

"No. Go away!" I managed to snap back.

Opening my eyes, and looking up, the Valkyrie had gathered with him and all looked me over with frowns and concern.

"I'm okay."

"I do not think you are!" Meghan was quick to say.

"I shouldn't have left you," Apollo started.

"It's fine!" I groaned, forcing myself to sit, kind of, and with the help of Nessa and Meghan, I managed to stand or more like, they held me so it looked like I was standing. I refused to look at him. "You can go now."

"No, you know I still love you and there is no way I am leaving you in this state. Let me heal you." He insisted.

"Elise, what I said before. If he can do that for you, maybe you should let-" Meghan started.

"No."

"Don't be stubborn." He huffed.

"Julio is nearly here, we can handle this. Go back to our clubhouse, heal, rest, the battle is over for today." Meghan said softly.

I looked at the small group of concerned faces and caved. "Fine."

Nessa and Meghan half pass, half throw me at Apollo and then we're at their bar. Eric lets out a very loud whistle the second he sees us, and three Valkyrie rush down from their space to take me up the stairs. Kara stands close by, eyeing Apollo warily but says nothing, guiding the new group down a small passage that opens up into a more secluded room. They gently help me to sit, and then leave without another word.

"Bathroom is in there. Let us know if you need anything," She says as the others leave, leaning in close to me as she helps me sit on the lounge. "I feel your pain. I can make him leave?"

I shake my head. "It's okay."

"As you wish."

She leaves so then it's just us. We don't say anything, and as he looks me, I look away wishing to be anywhere but there. Of course, just when I think things can't get any worse, they always seem to have a way of proving me wrong.