Bloodlines are a funny thing.

No matter how much you love them, you can't seem to fight them. Moreover, you can't seem to stand up to them for lesser significants in your life. Although you may try, there are few things more challenging than dealing with a family member.

Especially if it's family you left behind.

Daniel has mixed feelings. He doesn't want to be seen, doesn't want to interfere and spoil his position, or get in my way. Daniel's whole world of internal conflict swirls in his irises before using a few seconds to take the attacker's leg out from under them.

In an assault, buying me even a few moments of thought is a blessing. A factor he surely knows.

That's all he offers before slipping into the shadows.

The shine of his blue eyes casts out as the last thing I see before a sharp blade wraps around the top of my shoulders this time.

Feminine grace and flexibility, a small frame, with protective stances towards two sections of the body instead of one. The seconds were put to good use. A woman, young but trained to fight. Her scythe is bigger than her, bigger than I would expect someone of her size to comfortably wield.

Weapons like this one are crafted from the soul.

Perhaps one might think a scythe more along the lines of Death. The dark hissing and panting in my ears, the taut arms struggling with restraint.

However, Death is something else.

Death is the wicked cackling as their metal phases through my very skin. The weight of her body swings down and back, a flash of golden hair curving through the air. Bitter eyes scald everything as the Demigod hooks the large staff back in an attempt to catch themselves.

I intercept the pole, twisting it and thrusting downwards.

A porcelain pale woman rolls away, kicking up dust and dirt in every direction. Stabbing the knob down her sternum and raking it into her stomach, I flash a fanged smile and bend over.

"What... are you..." she spits, a faint copper bleeding into her breath. Though her saliva is clear, internal bleeding could be a bitch.

Taking my time, I breathe in her scent and smirk. "Another Fate, it must be my lucky day."

If it were possible for her cheeks to pale anymore, the stark white would transcend human emotions. "What-"

"-Am I, I know, I know... Everyone seems to be so interested in that question, but what about me? It's not like I have feelings or anything, you're not asking me who but what. Is anyone taught manners anymore?" I scoff sarcastically. "Let me put this in terms you understand. Your daddy Karma? I'm the demon in his nightmares."

She wriggles around under the weight of her own staff but it isn't fear in her eyes or in the air. Just a ridiculous fighting spirit. Some ingrained protective nature boosting the movements just enough to come loose and escape with a roll to the side.

This dismantles the scythe from my hands.

"Was daddy smart enough to teach you about that weapon you're holding? He at least should've warned you-" my eyes shift into a glowing silver- "not to let a God get a hold of it."

She never acknowledges the statement, never reacts.

When the weapon begins quaking in her grip at my raised hand when it tears out from her palm and hurls into my own, that is the second true fear hits her crisp features.

"I... I am a God..." she stutters.

"No, no Darling," I say, giving a sympathetic pout. "You're a Demigod... Half mortal, with nothing to fall back on when your lengthy clock runs out."

She shakes her head, a snarl curling into her lips. "You're lying, you have to be."

"You must be young," I sigh.

I watch her pick herself up off the ground and regain her bearings. My fingers go slack and the weapon sways back to her. The staff spins a few times and her stance - albeit shaky - is rooted in the ground.

A small sadistic notion takes over, making me wait for her next move. Generally too bored to play with my prey, with anyone at all, I decided to savor this. Without Lindon holding me down, my softer edges would come and go.

But why keep being kind to the people who feel a need to end my life?

Instead of pulling out my own blades or bothering with a single ounce of Mana, I let her take a swing, the sharp edge slicing through my torso like smooth butter. Not a scratch is made, nothing landing on me or leaving any pain in its wake. She tries again and again, thrusting and stabbing, swinging the heavy scythe with sweeping blows.

Sweat beads up on her forehead, time slows.

Through one solid motion, I palm her armpit and use the force to disarm her once more. Loud metal clangs to the ground. Sweeping my feet out, she falls to the ground with a rough groan and some spit.

Slipping behind her, I grip her neck firmly. My rapier materializes and I angle it against her neck. My smile grows even more wicked when an idea comes to me. "Why don't you tell Karma I'm coming for him? Tell him I have a score that needs settling, that I don't intend to come quietly either... Better yet, tell him that revenge is on the way."

I feel her swallow on the edge of my sword.

With teeth gritted and a low growl just seconds behind her breathing, she asks the real question. "Who is this message from?"

"Iridian D'Lecross, Goddess of Death."

I shove my boot into her shapely behind and retreat into the shadows, ghosting through every street and finding my way to the rooftop of a building mere blocks from our apartment.

Clouds and thunder churn together overhead, another night of darkness threatening the villagers. Most of them quicken their pace or use their bodies to cover groceries. A few don't seem to mind or even welcome the fresh water. They reach out to touch the falling droplets.

The cursed water pounds my shirt and pants until they're soaked through and worthless. I don't feel the slightest bit happy. The substance doesn't remove my regrets, it does not lighten my load or bring me peace.

This city is a world filled with lies, a planet all it's own.

My eyes flicker to the tall, modern castle. The only building in sight with true old fashioned amenities, safety, and luxury. A home for the pompous decided ruler.

I want to cut him down.

Anger blossoms in my chest and cheeks as footsteps creep up behind me.

"Why won't you leave, Iridian?"

I whip around to stare Daniel down. He tenses instantly.

"What?"

"Why won't you go find, Lindon?"

Puzzled and enraged, my fingers curl into fists. I straighten up and take a step closer, almost challenging him to say it again. "I thought I'd explained this to you already, Daniel."

"You can't take him, you won't win. Not without Lindon. I know what happens next... I have a horrible feeling about you challenging him without your full strength."

A dark smirk passes over my lips. "So you're ready to talk like a big boy now? You're ready to admit that Karma is behind all of this?"

The sadness leaves his eyes. "Ira, you don't understand. I'm not withholding this information from you. Find Lindon before it's too late, come back if you must... But don't get sucked up in grief and hatred."

"He took everything from me!"

"And he'll take it all over again if you go in there," Dan frowns, slowly closing the distance between us and holding my gaze. "I can't watch you destroy yourself, you're going to die in there."

I laugh. A cold, heartless laugh.

"I cannot die."

"Irid-"

"I cannot die, Daniel. That is how we were made. There is only one way."

He sighs and shakes his head. Dan tries to get a grip on the words rolling through his mind but seems to lose all ability to speak as a ripple of wind blasts out from around him.

I close my eyes and feel the roiling of my own flames coursing through my veins and pooling up in the center of my stomach.

Daniel reaches out again, taking my hand and nearly crushing it.

"Go find Lindon."

My eyes narrow in on him. Something tickles, writhing in my gut. "You said you weren't in charge of me."

"You don't understand..."

I feel a burst of heat rippling off of me, steaming the moisture out of my clothing and warming my flesh. Night takes over the oranging clouds, silver and blue flashes creating some of the only light.

Even as his own anger rears up, all I see is compassion and pain in his eyes.

Daniel looks towards the castle and points at it. "What's in there is a nightmare of his own creation!" He has to yell over the sound of the torrential downpour. "Even if you suck Meika dry for Mana, you won't have enough. Not for him. He feeds on the darkness of this world... Fittingly so..."

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"He went by Erebus when I left..."

My mouth goes dry, teeth clamping together.

"The son of Chaos and the God of Darkness..."

Hearing the words is a nightmare. Living in a world where he's created this for himself is something more. Hell or Purgatory. A destination for the damned.

It's just a name.

It's just a name but it means so much more.

There is no life without death, but there is no Death without Life.

And Karma was trying to take everything away.

Straight back to the beginning.

So Welcome Back to me!

Boy, it's time to get back to work and right near the climax too. How exciting. I really couldn't decide whether or not to keep this chapter going or find a way to Cliffy. You know me, I love Cliffy's.

That being said you won't have to hold onto your seat too long! That's right! I'm back! So a gigantic thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through this rough off and on stage and been so patient with me when updates were scarce, but I'm here now and I'm not leaving again.

I love you all! Get ready for an epic holiday season in the ISEA universe!