"Scarlett's becoming real isn't she? She's gaining true solid form, even her tears are wet, I mean actually wet enough that they've soaked into my top."

Once again around the table, the eight tired bodies of Guardians and Powers slumped over the sturdy wood. They'd been here since the morning and it was taking its toll.

Sam adjusted his position in his chair. "If that were happening, wouldn't we be able to see her?"

Pulling up his shoulders, Josh shrugged. He didn't know what to think; at the mercy of his frayed nerves and tattered emotions the only constant thought in his head was a worrisome one. As each second thundered by he could only pray for Nikki, hoping against all odds that they hadn't hurt her, at least not too badly, yet. He itched to get to her, every muscle tense with the effort of staying still and keeping calm but rushing in wouldn't solve his problems. He'd tried that approach before and it had driven them apart, he wasn't about to relive the nightmare of losing her forever. So instead he forced himself to remain focussed on the matter in hand. Scarlett. What was she, who exactly she was to Juliet and how could he get her to take him to Latébris.

"I don't know, but yesterday Scarlett wasn't able to touch things and now she can, and this morning her tears disappeared. Just now, they wet my top."

Opening her thin lips, Juliet let out a tired grunt. "I need a drink."

Josh glared at her retreating body with resentment. She was possibly the only person in the room who could realistically help him save Nikki and yet she was being as obstinate as ever. His blood boiled in anger. Taking a deep breath he rolled out the tension in his shoulders, trying hard to cap his volotile temper. To his left, Juliet shuffled to the sink and snatched up a glass before plucking a grimy bottle from inside a cupboard. "Anyone else?" she asked, the suspicious looking liquid sloshing around in the container as she held it up.  When no one took her up on the offer she unscrewed the lid and tipped the bottle to her lips. After swigging a generous amount she cursed the burning liquid and smothered a cough. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand she put down the bottle in favour of the book in the centre of the table. "Josh, have you thought about reading the book now you can understand it?"

Eying the leather bound tome Josh shook his head bitterly. "I can't say I've given that thing much thought since Nikki vanished."

"Well maybe you should." Juliet said, shoving it towards him. "I'd suggest skipping the first few chapters though, I think you've got everything you can from them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a prior engagement with a confused and scared little girl."

"Hang on!" Roxy, who had remained as quiet as she could up until this point, spoke up. "Where are our answers? Am I supposed to just sit here without saying a word just because you told me I have to? I want answers. I want to know what all this has to do with Jake. Why can't we leave?"

"Patience Roxy."

"No! I've run out of any semblance of patience. Stop with the riddles and tell us what you know, because it's clear to all of us that you know a whole lot more than you're letting on."

Juliet sighed, "Let Josh read--"

"No! Tell me what you know now or I leave. As far as I can see there's no reason for Jake to be here and I've got to admit I'd be much happier if we could just go home. I'm tired of putting my Power in danger because I don't know what's going on."

"It would be simpler if you told us what's happening." Mikey agreed.

Sam nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, and the sooner we know what's actually happening the sooner we can go get Nikki."

Josh tensed at Sam's reminder and glanced at the clock. An hour had passed since she'd vanished. Sixty painful minutes wrought with frustration, anger and an overwhelming helplessness.

Slapping down her hand on the cover of the book, Juliet spat out a low feral snarl. "I never wanted to be involved, that's why I turned her away when you first got here. I knew what was coming but you made me, you forced me." Eyes as hard and unforgiving as glinting diamonds speared Josh as he tilted his head to look at the old woman.

"No," he whispered, battling to reign in his rage, "I never wanted this either. I wanted to look after my Charge somewhere quiet where we could live out the rest of her uneventful life together but fate intervened. So I think it's time you stopped throwing a tempter tantrum and realise that we live in a cruel world and no matter how much you whine, it wont change anything. We've all suffered and I'd say more so than you, so stop stalling and spit it out. What the hell do you know?"

"I--" Juliet's downturned mouth opened but she quickly snapped it shut. Walking back to the sink she snagged the bottle again. "Listen up and listen good because I'm not going to be around much longer." She gulped another mouthful of the liquid as she landed in an empty chair. "What Nikki read is the truth. The Prophets killed their sister, which started this never ending war. The Dantisticia were exiled but before they left, they put in place what I guess you could call a safety measure. A link to this realm if you like. One of the most powerful of all the Dantisticia cursed himself in order to remain here. He turned himself into a wraith and hid in solitude, undiscovered, somewhere between the realms of birth and death. He watched in silence, undetected and reported back. When the spawn of those first beings grew into humans and started to evolve the Prophets and Malus Deamn saw an opportunity. They saw bodies to use and use them they did. Mílectun the cursed, and the Dantisticia began plotting, seeing this new species as a way to end Malus and the Prophets but it soon became clear they simply weren't strong enough to fight the demons alone. That's when the Dantisticia began taking souls and using them for good, turning them into Guardians. But the Guardians were insufficient as the demon hoards grew to unmanageable levels and all they could do was identify the most targeted humans and try to protect them. To this day, the Guardians are grossly outnumbered by demons which is why the Dantisticia never waged a full out war, that, and they are afraid that eliminating one side would leave the other free to claim the world. So they watched and waited and did what they could. Years ago they watched as Latébris and Mortemb began lining pieces up to play in generations to come, they watched and they plotted.

If what is written in this book is to be believed, Nikki is most likely one of the centrepieces in the downfall of the demons. It was foretold by Mílectun the Cursed, the first in the line of Hunters, that the first being to be simultaneously human, demon, Guardian and Dantisticia will hold the power to end the suffering--"

"Demon and human I get but how can Nikki be classed as a Guardian or Dantisticia?" Jake's question halted Juliet's explanation.  His curls bounced as he gesticulated between the Roxy, his Guardian and Juliet.. "I don't get it, what is she?"

"She's ... " Roxy grimaced.

Josh cleared his throat, "She was born a human, but her father was a demon so she's technically a hybrid of both. And continuing on technicalities, she has both Guardian blood and Hunters blood running through her."

"I don't get how she's Dantisticia though." Jake pressed.

"Mílectun the first Hunter is a cursed Dantisticia ... "

Sam looked at Juliet in surprise, "Is?"

A dry chuckle echoed in her chest. "Yes, is. He lives in the darkness between worlds, welcoming each new Hunter to his fold. He gives them eternal life through his tainted blood. So each Hunter carries the blood of the Dantisticia, Nikki has consumed the blood of Hunters. That mighty potion is pumping through her veins, strengthening her, changing her."

After a beat, Jake shifted uncomfortably in his seat to get a better look at Josh. "But didn't you drink from Nikki?"

All eyes turned to Josh, some full of pity others accusation. Only Juliet ignored him, choosing instead to attack her bottle once more.

Josh squirmed under the scrutiny. "Yes, but I don't have any powers, I don't have her flame."

A spray of liquid showered the table as Juliet spluttered. "Sorry," she wheezed, "it's a bit potent."

With a loud huff, Jake screwed up his face. "I still don't get how you can be so sure it's Nikki."

"Dear boy!" Juliet scorned. "Where ever the demon goes there is trouble and strife. She has this inexplicable ability to draw danger towards her like a magnet and do you know why that is?"

Dumbstruck, Jake shook his head, eager for the answer.

"Power." Juliet sighed, finishing her drink. "The demons can sense it, they are drawn to it like a moth to a flame. When she became a full demon her power weakened and she was able to live in relative peace but with the blood of the Guardian and Hunter running through her she's going to find her ability hard to contain."

"So what does this all have to do with me or Jake?" Roxy snapped. "I've heard all about Nikki and I understand that we're part of the path that led her here, but what other role do we have to play in this?"

Flipping over the book, Juliet thumbed backwards through the pages, licking her digit periodically to garner purchase against the old pages. Eventually she stopped and shoved the book to Josh. "Read it," she commanded gruffly.

Perplexed and agitated at the colossal waste of time, Josh grit his teeth and began grumbling the words.

"The endless call will cease to be, 

As unwilling they band; and all will see, 

A child not dead but not of life,

With desperate warriors fused in strife.

Together awaken the beast of flame,

Called to the throne from once it came.

And persecuted blood shall flow,

Yet salvation within will grow.

And bathed in fire, finding those it seeks,

A mind of fury, bent and meek,

Will waver through night's darkest hour,

As those who served, no longer cower.

Thus bended knee will stoop no more,

When death knocks thrice upon the door.

A place of sacred and curséd ground,

Familiar and foreign, never to be found,

Where once it started, so shall it be ended,

Forever cursed. Forever mended.

When those rivers run red and demons lay slain, 

Perished by bounds of love, innocence will reign.

Streaked with blood, in arms they lie,

Tied by fate, alone they die.

Not mortal, nor everlasting, yet eternal still,

The Angel, the Demon, the urge to kill.

For one to live, the other must fall,

Ashes to ashes, they answer the call."

Josh pushed the book aside. Some of the ancient text rang warning bells and he couldn't ignore the ominous shiver that had run the length of his spine. Was it possible that they were all part of a bigger picture, one that had been painted long ago? Was fate and destiny dictating the paths they chose and was Nikki really some sort of chosen one whom the poem had been written around? But as ridiculous as it sounded he couldn't forget all he had witnessed and learned. But still, even after everything, he couldn't walk blindly towards the idea that everything rested with Nikki. Surely if there was some great plan, those who had perceived it wouldn't leave it to one single person to right all the wrongs. That would simply be madness.

For a while, Josh sat in silence, mulling through the questions, neither noticing nor paying attention to anyone else. Thoughts as incredulous as they were possible weaved between belief and scepticism creating a dizzying array of ideas. Eventually the weary words of his hostess cut through his private debate.

"Many pieces are in play in each of the worlds involved, this isn't only about you or your demon or your Charges, it's about everyone in their respective corners."

Outside the kitchen window the sky darkened with threatening looking storm clouds. Inside the glow from the fire lit the room casting misshapen shadows and throwing a demonic orange glow over the faces around the table. Suddenly, Roxy stood up sharply, her chair clattering carelessly to the floor. "More riddles and confusion and still no real answers." She jerked her hand towards her Power, grabbing him roughly by his shoulder and hoisting him up. "C'mon Jake, I've heard enough of this bullshit now, we're going home."

Swaying with the affects of the home brewed alcohol, Juliet rose to face the female Guardian. "I strongly advise against this, Roxy. It's not safe for either of you to leave the confines of the house."

"Save it, I've heard enough. I'm sorry Sam, but I won't have anything more to do with this. She's not my responsibility, she never was but I welcomed her anyway and I swore to fight for her, but that was then, that was back when she was Josh's Power. Roxy's eyes lit up as a flash of lightening streaked across the sky. "And I'm sorry, Josh, but it's time to let go. The first Charge you've had since Nikki is now following in her footsteps because you didn't do your job. And why didn't you do your job? Because once again you were too busy chasing her. How much longer is this going to go on? I know it's shit, I know it hurts, but Sam managed to move on, why can't you? Let go, be free and maybe then you can finally start to live again."

"Roxanne! That's enough!" Red faced and furious, Mikey jumped up. "Your lack of empathy is quite astounding and I'm appalled at your blatant disrespect. In my eyes what you did was worse than Nikki, at least she had an excuse, she wasn't herself, but you, you knew exactly what you were doing. And yet not once have we held it or used it against you." Stalking around the table, he headed slowly towards the woman at the focus of his attention. "It's time to put your personal feelings aside and understand that we have a very real chance of ending things."

Roxy huffed. "Says who? Her?" She glared through hateful eyes at Juliet. "If she's such an authority on what's about to happen, why doesn't she just tell us instead of hiding behind her riddles?"

"I'm sure she has--" Mikey began but Roxy had struck a chord with Sam.

"You know what, Roxy's right." His hand raked through his ebony hair as the soft light flickered in his eyes. "Tell us everything Juliet, not just what you think we need to know. I believe what you're saying and I know there's more to it."

"No. Let us go. You don't need us so let us leave. I want no part of this and I won't let you use Jake again." Roxy dug her heals in, refusing to be swayed.

"Use him? It was Nikki who unlocked his ability."

"I said no! Nothing you say or do now will change my mind. Come on, Jake, we're going. Now!" The small Guardian, marched from the room, dwarfed by her Power who shrugged apologetically before obediently following after her.

"Jesus, Rox, you can't be serious?" Throwing his arms up in defeat, Sam made it to the door just in time to catch it before it closed.

"Sam?" Mikey was next to follow the growing group out of the room.

Josh grit his teeth and grabbed tightly to the edge of the table. More time had sped by with Nikki in the hands of demons who wanted to hurt her and all his companions could think of was the petty Guardian throwing yet another hissy fit. "Let her go, she's more trouble than she's worth."

"Do you really want that?" Juliet paused in the doorway, turning her body back to face him.

Thinking through his comment briefly, Josh nodded. "Yeah I do, all she's ever done is get in the way."

"Roxy perhaps, but what of Jake?"

"What of him?"

On a whisper, Juliet let the door close behind her as she slipped out but not before quietly calling, "Nikki and Jake are tied, remember?"