Vandala stood by the fire, desperately wanting to fight that scarlet monster. Hope looked as though she was actually teetering on the verge of believing the vampiress’s story and Vandala was idly considering punching herself in the face a few times and claiming Purgatori had attacked her - that might be good enough to throw Hope into a rage that would end w/ Purgatori’s head on a spike. She jumped in fright as she heard one of the castle doors thrown open w/ a loud crash and then slam w/ a louder one. That was one of the doors that lead to the inner courtyard, by the sounds; not where Purgatori had vanished to, but of course there was nothing to stop her moving about. She drew her sword, wondering where Brock had gotten himself to, and at that moment the door to the hall crashed open and Lady Death strode in.
       “Hope!”
        “Where is that bitch?!”
        “What -? Still outside I assume, I have neither seen nor heard her. Why - what’s wrong? Was she just playing us after all?”
        “No, she was not,” Lady Death said grimly. She clawed the wet cloak off and threw it on the floor and Vandala saw the scrapes and dents in the armour underneath, the blood splashes that mottled the metal.
        “Hope! Is any of that yours?”
        “No, though I will doubtless have more than a few bruises.” She breezed past Vandala and opened the front door. The storm had stopped, though the wind was blowing strong and the temperature had plummeted way South of zero. Hah, I hope that bitch freezes - is FROZEN!
        There was a faint glow ahead, where the strange architecture of WinterHaven bulged and jutted. Lady Death skirted a wide buttress that supported one of the high outer walls and saw Purgatori. The vampiress was kneeling on the ground, her back to Lady Death. The candles she had taken had been placed in a triangle around her; they shouldn’t have been lit, not in this wind, but they were and their steady flames burned a warm ruby. Lady Death walked over slowly, careful not to disturb the vampiress before she had a chance to investigate this sorcery. Purgatori was kneeling quite serenely, her hands resting on her knees. Her long hair did not so much as ruffle, and there was no snow w/in the triangle. She looked totally unaffected by the weather around her.
       Truly a dangerous sorceress, Lady Death thought. Perhaps it would be wisest to kill her now. Put an end to her threat once and for all. I know from past experience how dangerous and persistent she can be…she might be here in truce now but I know for a fact that once things get settled she will be back, now she knows where I live. She walked up slowly, what little sound she made being whipped away by the gale. Yes, look at her, vulnerable. I could ram Apocalypse right between her shoulder-blades, sever her spine and let her flop and jerk in the snow for a while, then cleave her nasty head off her shoulders. Finish it. Make her pay for everything she has done. She took another step, her hand going to her sword. The only regret would be that it would be over too quick.
        “It will be over quicker than you could believe, if you draw that blade.” Purgatori made a tiny gesture and the candle flames snuffed out. The wind battered her instantly, whipping her hair and swaying her wings.
        “Get out of my mind you bitch!” Lady Death snapped, taken aback.
        Purgatori stood up and turned smoothly, no trace of stiffness or cramp in her. “I wasn’t IN your mind - that’s not how it works.” She looked Lady Death up and down and if she got any amusement or satisfaction from the battle marks she did not display it. “So now you believe me.”
        “Come inside, we need to talk.”
        They returned to the main hall. Arcane Energy swirled over Lady Death again and clothed her in a flowing ermine robe. Brock had stoked the fire. They gathered around it, the other three keeping their distance from Purgatori.
        “Hope?” Vandala asked, finding it hard to keep her eyes off the vampiress. “What happened? What is out there?”
        “As she said - enemies. I found a strange construction out in the ice fields, a pentagon made of black stone, coated in strange magickal spells.” She looked at Purgatori. “It was a portal, was it not?”
        “Yes. From my world. I got here much the same way.”
        “Your world?” Lady Death raised an eyebrow. “Am I to understand…you’ve been conquered?”
        Purgatori bristled at the humour in her tone. “Yes,” was all she dared say.
        Lady Death grinned widely. “So now the truth comes out. You’ve lost a fight and you run away w/ your tail between your legs, scampering to anyone you think will help you.” She threw her head back and laughed loudly. “And you come to ME! Oh Purgatori, that is so amusing I almost feel like sparing your life!”
        “Not as amusing as your stupidity, brat,” Purgatori snarled. “My empire has been conquered for three years. I didn’t lose a fight, I was betrayed! And run to you? Hah! I would prefer to run to someone who would be useful in battle!”
        “Yet you did come for help!”
        “In behalf of my Goddess, as I said. I have no use for you.” Purgatori arched an eyebrow, one corner of her mouth curving up in a sly grin. “Well, I do, actually.”
        “Indulge your sick fantasies, harpy, they are about to be your last. And to think I almost believed your story!”
        “Fool. You saw them w/ your own eyes, did you not? Doom Magistrates and cat creatures?”
        “Yes. And some of your Blood Warriors, so at least the betrayal part of your story is true. How sad - they must have gotten as sick of you as everyone else does.”
        Purgatori bared her fangs at Lady Death. “You saw them, scouting a new world as I said, and still you play stupid. Will you wait till they hammer on your front door before you take notice?”
        “But they will not,” Lady Death smirked. “I destroyed the portal.”
        “Well done. That will definitely get his attention. Do you think he was only capable of building ONE Gate?”
        “Let him build another. I will destroy that too. And the next, and the next.”
        “Let me spell it out for you, Dope,” Purgatori said, flinging her arms up  in exasperation. “You destroyed his Gate. You have achieved nothing save advertising  yourself as a threat and an enemy. When he completes repairs to the Gate - assuming of course he does not simply refocus one of his other Gates here - the first thing he will do is flood this planet w/ warriors.”
        Lady Death was silent for a long time. “I have defeated armies before,” she said finally. Even SHE didn’t think she sounded convincing.
        “W/ armies,” Purgatori said pointedly. “You have no army now. Or do you have them all hiding somewhere?”
        “And you have no one either, bitch, if they all betrayed you,” Lady Death shot back. “So what was the point in coming here?”
        “Drakkan is a Chaos Lord. They live in a different plane of existence to us. He was able to get here by some twisted little deal he struck w/ Pagan and Seance. He  has created a portal to his world through which he can bring his troops, and he has a Gate to each of the seven other worlds. He has brought some of his forces through and is moving from world to world, ravaging them and destroying all life he does not enslave. He has already taken one world - the more he destroys the easier his task will be.”
        “And your Goddess? Where is she? Why did she not help your world? Perhaps she does not care for you either.”
        Purgatori snarled and took a step forward. Their swords jumped into their hands but Purgatori stopped anyway, looking not the least bit worried. “Drakkan put a magickal shield around my world, whore. My Goddess loves me.”
        Lady Death gave Purgatori a patronising smile. “Yes, I’m sure she does. But tell me bitch, what EXACTLY is this help she is supposed to want? I find it hard to believe she went for help to a woman w/ - as you so gleefully pointed out - no army.”
        “You have powers of your own,” Purgatori grated, still angry. “They will be useful and doubtless she will have plans that she did not have time to tell me - for now I know only of the task she gave me.”
        “Which is?”
        “We must go to my world and destroy his main Gate, the one to his realm.”
        Vandala snorted in disbelief. “Are you really so stupid that you would think Hope would go alone w/ you into your world?!”
        “I could take care of myself,” Lady Death said. “She knows that from the outcomes of our past encounters…don’t you, bitch?”
        “But Hope! Alone! She could have her whole army waiting there!”
        “Hmm…”
        “I have no army,” Purgatori repeated dully. “They betrayed me.”
        Vandala just snorted again.
        “Look,” Purgatori said flatly, rubbing her eyes. “I promised Isis I would come and ask you to help her. I have done that. The decision is up to you. I do not have the inclination to spend the rest of the night arguing if your minds are already closed.”
        “Ah, feeling a little off colour, are you?” Lady Death murmured. “You DO look a little peaked.”
        “I have just escaped from three years of torture brat, and - ” She bit back a comment about losing Wolf. She knew if she told Lady Death she would make some sarcastic or mocking comment about it and then everything would fail because she would paint the walls w/ Lady Death’s entrails.
        “Damn, and I missed it all.”
        “Why Lady Death. If I’d known you were the kind of woman who likes seeing other girls tied up and being punished our relationship would have developed QUITE differently.”
        “Tramp.” Lady Death regarded Purgatori. “You need my powers. What do I need YOU for?”
        “I can travel between worlds. W/out me you will not reach my world.”
        Lady Death considered this silently. “And after all that has gone on in the past,” she said, “how am I supposed to trust you?”
        “Or I you?”
        “We can NOT trust her, Hope,” Vandala said hotly. “You would be foolish to go into her world alone.”
        Lady Death locked eyes w/ the vampiress. It was the truth and they both knew it. The sounds of the front door opening and banging against the wall broke the moment.
        “Milady!”
        “Cremator!” Lady Death strode past Purgatori, giving her a wide berth, leaving the vampiress to gaze at Vandala. “I did not expect you back…what is this?”
        Cremator hooked his foot around the door and kicked it shut. A limp fur-draped bundle was cradled in his massive arms and as she got closer Lady Death saw that it was a body. “I returned early because I found this stranger out in the wastes. She was near death and I brought her…” He trailed off in disbelief as he glanced past Lady Death and saw Purgatori standing by the fire, staring at the blonde Valkyrie. “…!…”
        Purgatori gazed steadily at Vandala until the blonde faltered and looked away, using Cremator as an excuse to break away from that icy unblinking gaze. Purgatori gave a tiny self-satisfied smirk and looked around too. As soon as her attention fell on the covered bundle she sensed who it was and her eyes widened. She crossed the room fast, pushing Lady Death aside. Cremator tensed, unable to reach the sword strapped to his back due to his burden, but Purgatori just pulled the bundle away from him and cradled it tenderly.
        “Lexus!” She put her down gently and pushed back the crude fur hood, searching the pale face for signs of wounds or frostbite. Lexus was in a bad way, but what Purgatori could see seemed to be curable. Her skin was red and raw from the sub-zero gales, her lips cracked and dry. Purgatori ran the back of her fingers over her cheek and grimaced at the icy feel.
        Lady Death put a hand on Cremator’s arm and he let go of his sword. “Who is this, bitch?”
        Purgatori ignored her. She lifted Lexus up and carried her to the fire. She stirred weakly as Purgatori pulled away the fur cape and she felt the heat. The soft lips against hers made her eyes flicker half open.
        “P…ur…”
        “Shhh,” Purgatori breathed softly in her ears, hugging her carefully. “Rest.”
        The others looked on, watching w/ surprise this unexpected tender side of their vicious enemy.

        They kissed for a long long time, ignoring the faint tut of disapproval from Vandala who was watching over them from the balcony, and when they broke Lexus cupped Purgatori’s head in her hand, stroking her hair. “I thought I was going to die. I thought I would never see you again.” Purgatori hugged her tightly. That thought was so horrible she did not want to contemplate it. “Where’s Wolf?” Purgatori suddenly broke away w/ a forceful jerk that made Lexus flinch - she could sense the anger and hate in Purgatori. “Wh…what…”
        “He’s dead.”
        Lexus’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Purgatori! How? What happened?” She desperately wanted to comfort the vampiress, but she didn’t quite dare just yet.
        “I…he…” Purgatori stopped, her lip curling in a grimace as though the memory was causing physical pain. “He was killed by someone who led the betrayal against me…I…I should have been watching out for him.”
        Lexus reached out and rubbed Purgatori’s arm. “Oh Purgatori, it wasn’t your fault - ”
        “You weren’t there!” Purgatori snarled, shrugging off Lexus’s touch violently. Lexus saw her talons were out and her heart thumped against her ribcage. Purgatori’s eyes shone nastily for a second then Lexus saw them soften as the vampiress saw the fear in her face. “Lexus…”
        Lexus embraced her quickly. “I’m sorry Purgatori.”
        “No, I shouldn’t have…” She hugged Lexus almost fiercely. “I…got into a fight. I should have left w/ him. I should have been there to protect him.”
        Lexus kissed her several times on the neck and cheek. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know the full story and after the last flare up she had no intention of pushing the subject just now. In all their years together Purgatori had gotten angry w/ her several times but had never hurt her - the only time she inflicted pain was when they were playing in her dungeon - but somehow this seemed like a different Purgatori to Lexus, a one who might just lash out w/ no thought of the consequences.
        “What happened to you?” Purgatori asked.
        Lexus shuddered and squeezed her. “I thought I would just die when the Gate was killed!” she gasped. “I was absolutely frantic. I had no idea what to do and the cold was eating into me - I guess I’ve lost my cold tolerance, having lived on the equator for so long…There were some caves nearby, so I went there for shelter; I wanted to stay nearby in case you managed to reactivate the Gate. There was a big bear living there and he didn’t seem to appreciate my trespassing in his home, but I managed to best him w/ Wolf’s gun. I took his skin and fed off him. I rested there out of the weather and meditated, waiting to sense your sorcery. It was so hard,” she said softly. “I was so frantic. I kept wondering what would happen if I didn’t sense anything. I kept wondering if I didn’t would it be because you couldn’t get here or because I couldn’t sense it?” She sighed deeply and nuzzled into Purgatori’s neck. “Oh sweetheart…you’ll never know the relief I felt when I sensed your magick opening another Gate. I travelled as fast as I could through the night, tracking your magic, but the weather was fierce. I faltered in the outskirts of a petrified forest. The last thing I remember was some huge figure coming out of the blizzard. I didn’t even know if I was hallucinating or not.” Purgatori pulled her away gently and kissed her tenderly. Lexus hugged her w/ her eyes closed and let her tongue explore Purgatori’s mouth, pressing hard against the points of her fangs. “What happened to you?” Lexus asked when they finally parted. “Where are we?”
        “I met Isis.”
        Lexus gaped at Purgatori. I met a Goddess. Spoken so casually, the statement almost didn’t make sense. Purgatori smiled at Lexus’s expression and related an abbreviated version of the story. “And this is her place, this Lady Death person?”
        “Yes.”
        Lexus studied Purgatori’s face. She had known Purgatori a long time and they had an uncanny connection w/ each other. “You don’t like her.”
        “No.” The tone was easy but final - there would be no more discussion on the subject.
        “Then I will not like her either,” Lexus said. “And if we don’t like her, I think we should do something to really annoy her.”
        “Like what?” Purgatori knew Lexus’s tone well.
        “Make love to me. here, in her home.”
        “…that probably WOULD annoy her.”
        “Mmmmm. Sex on a tiger skin rug in front of a roaring fire on a cold night,” Lexus said dreamily.     “How long is it since we did that?”
        “I…” Purgatori faltered and gently removed Lexus’s hands as they searched for her bra clasp. “No Lexus…I…can’t.”
        Lexus stopped and looked sadly at Purgatori, seeing the hurt in her eyes. She knew she was thinking of Wolf, and probably felt that she shouldn’t be enjoying herself while a friend was so recently dead. “It’s alright Purgatori. Just cuddle me then.”
        “Yes.” Purgatori drew her close and they sat together, silently watching the flames dance.

        Cremator stood in Lady Death’s bedroom, his huge arms folded. He shook his head slowly. “I do not like this. You told me about the Doom Magistrates and I have no great inclination to meet them in battle. Especially w/out an army of my own.”
        Lady Death sat opposite him in an ornately carved chair, stroking her wolf’s head. “Mm. I thought it some trap, but the more I think about it the more I am inclined to believe her.”
        Cremator nodded. “Purgatori may have many faults, but stupid is not one of them. She would not come here alone, trying to talk, w/out very good reason.”
        “Then you believe her story about this Isis person?”
        “I do. I know Purgatori. She was a legend in Hell. I have heard many stories about her, from her time in Necropolis and on Earth, before Lucifer took her. She would not have come asking for help from you even if every single person on her planet had turned against her. She is a proud and fierce creature - she would fight them all until she won or they killed her.”
        Lady Death regarded him pointedly. “You talk as though you admire her.”
        “I respect her. I do not care for her, but I respect her capabilities. She is an enemy not to be taken lightly.”
        “Hmm.” Lady Death looked out the window at the sleet that was slashing down at a steep angle. She sighed deeply. “I feel Purgatori is telling the truth too. But she is a devious bitch. We may well work together to fight this Drakkan, but as soon as we are done I suspect she will turn on me.”
        Cremator thought for a while. “No,” he said finally. “She said Isis needed your help for the war, not just this task.”
        Lady Death grunted. “There is much bad blood between her and I. Once she gets what she wants - her world back - I wonder if she would kill - TRY to kill me anyway.”
        “I think not,” Cremator said slowly. “She was very respected in Hell for her devotion to her Goddess. She was so devoted that Lucifer once considered her for his game.”
        “Game?”
        “Taking a devoted mortal and tempting them or tormenting them until they turned against their deity.”
       Just like me. “And why did he not?”
        “She…turned bad. Lucifer became interested in her for…other reasons.”
        Lady Death got up and walked over to the window. She stood looking out into the night w/her hands on her hips. “I trust your judgement, Cremator. In all the years I have known you I have never known your instincts to fail. But still, I find myself unwilling to go into the vipers’ nest w/ that bitch at my side…”
        “I shouldn’t worry too much milady. We have out own insurance against any treachery.”
        Lady Death turned around w/ a frown. “Insurance?” She paused and then smiled. “Yes; insurance.”

        The storm had blown over, taking the clouds w/ it. The night was bitterly cold but a lightening of the Eastern horizon bore the promise of warmth. Lady Death stood near Purgatori’s Gate, looking over the black triangle w/ a mixture of curiosity and awe. What type of magick must it take to create doorways to other worlds? she thought uneasily. W/ my sword I can cut through reality and travel from place to place, but that is only on the same world. “Cremator.”
        “Milady?”
        “Study this if you have a chance. Try and find out what you can about the sorcery that makes it work.”
        “Yes milady. Brock can help me.”
        “Yes, but make the reinforcements of WinterHaven your priority. Whatever happens, we must be prepared for an assault. I can only hope Vandala is able to raise an army for us. She has travelled these lands extensively and is well respected, but time is short and I have no idea of the fighting capabilities of the people.”
        “Any forces would be a help.”
        Lady Death turned to look at Purgatori and Lexus who were hugging some distance away. Lexus was clad in her fur cloak and Purgatori had her hands inside it, and judging by the look on Lexus’s face Purgatori was doing something to take Lexus’s mind off the cold. “Well?” Lady Death said tartly. “We do not have time to waste while you molest your whore.”
        “That’s all I would expect from her,” Vandala sniffed. “It’s disgusting.”
        “If it’s so disgusting, sugar,” Lexus said, her eyes flashing but her tone honey-sweet, “why can’t you take your eyes off us? Jealous?”
        “How dare you!” Vandala cried hotly.
        “Look sweetheart, she’s gone the same colour as you.”
        “You…you disgusting tramp!”
        “Activate this thing,” Lady Death commanded, breaking in before things could degenerate further.
        Purgatori kissed Lexus tenderly and the brunette got a sudden jolt of panic. “Purgatori! What…what if this is the last time I see you?!”
        Purgatori brushed a strand of her hair back, her eyes calm and serious. “Then know I died loving you above all things.”
        Tears welled up in Lexus’s beautiful black and white eyes. “I can activate the Gate. I could slip away and follow you.”
        “No. That would turn them against us, or at the least destroy any trust they might have. If I do not return, it will be up to you to try and carry on the fight.”
        Lexus just hugged her - if she opened her mouth she thought there was a good chance she would just bawl instead.
        “Well?” Lady Death said impatiently.
        Purgatori kissed Lexus one last time and walked over, veering around the place where Wolf had fallen. The storm had erased all traces of his murder, but Purgatori saw the blood anyway. She stood beside Lady Death, her eyes glowing softly in the gloom.
        “Remember our deal, vampire - we destroy the Gate to my world too, before he has a chance to rebuild it.”
        “As I said,” Purgatori said flatly. “He can refocus other gates, but if it will keep you happy…”
        “I want it destroyed,” Lady Death said bluntly.
        “As you wish - but the main Gate is the priority. Be prepared, in case anyone is there.” Purgatori cast her spell and the Gate flared into life. She looked into the room and saw w/ relief that there were no enemies there. “Hurry!” She stepped into her world and a second later Lady Death joined her, a look of trepidation on her face giving way to surprise at the shocking temperature change. She turned around to look back at her sister one last time but Purgatori deactivated the Gate before she could look.           “Drakkan may have sensed my spell - we must get out of here fast.”
        “How? Where?”
        “I will cast a minor transvection spell. We will end up about two days travel from the city. It will give us time to assess the situation and plan. We will slip in stealthily, destroy the Gate and leave.”
        “What about Drakkan himself?”
        “We will plan that later.” Purgatori bit her finger and cleaved a rip in the air. Lady Death saw a dark desert panorama, dusted w/ moonlight. “Come here, this spell is fragile.” Lady Death stepped closer, a look of distrust on her face. “Closer. We need to be touching.”
        “I don’t think so, bitch. I know transvection sorcery and -”
        “I care not how YOU teleport, brat, this is MY sorcery and a weak version at that. Come here!” Lady Death glared at Purgatori and stepped right up to her side. “Hold onto me. We must go through at precisely the same time.”
        “Bitch, if this is one of your stupid tricks - ”
        Purgatori grabbed her and pulled her tight. “Hold on!  We don’t have time to discuss this!”
        “If I ever find out you - get your hand off my backside!”
        “Hold me!” Lady Death ground her teeth and put her arm around Purgatori’s waist. “Walk.” They stepped through the rip together and Lady Death pushed Purgatori away as soon as they stepped onto sand. “Stupid girl,” Purgatori said. “You know nothing about my world, or Drakkan. Do what I say next time.”
        “You do not order ME around, vulture.”
        “Idiot. I act to keep us out of danger. The delays we spent w/ your petty arguments may have given Drakkan time to detect us. We might just have lost the element of surprise.”
        Lady Death glowered at Purgatori. “I cannot help being repulsed by you. If you come up w/ any other plans make sure they do not involve us having to touch.”
        “Gladly, brat. I have a girlfriend and you are too snotty for my tastes. Come, we need to find cover - the sun will be up soon.”
        “Then lead the way bitch. I know nothing about your world, remember?”
        “I remember,” Purgatori said, striding away from her. “I remember all your other failings too.”
        Lady Death followed a few steps behind, thinking how wonderful it would be to take Apocalypse and ram it right through that impudent wretch’s throat.

        Lady Death sat comfortably against the wall of the cave, looking at Purgatori. They had walked for less than an hour through the shallow hills where they had appeared before finding this deep cleft in the rocky surrounds. They had decided to move at night and hide during the day, and agreed to take shifts to watch for danger. She had taken the first watch simply because she was still too untrusting of the vampiress to lie down and go to sleep around her. Sunlight gradually lit the world outside and Lady Death stretched her long legs and yawned. The sand floor of the cave was very comfortable and the rapidly growing heat of the day was making her drowsy. Purgatori was lying on her side facing the wall, some ten feet away.
       Look at that bitch, Lady Death thought.  How is it we are sitting in the same cave in her world, working to destroy an enemy that tortured her and destroyed her empire? Empire. She did say ‘empire’ did she not? What has that harpy been up to? What has she achieved for herself? A small touch of jealousy pricked Lady Death. Purgatori had an empire; she never had. She had thought she had ruled Hell, but that had turned out to be one of Lucifer’s games. Well, she USED to have an empire! she thought humorously. Purgatori’s wing twitched and Lady Death wondered briefly if the vampiress was resting or sleeping - if she needed to sleep, that was.
       Gods, I hate her. Repugnant bitch. How can she make love to other women. Ugh, the time she was on top of me, when we battled by Styx. Horrid. Styx…that whore was back in Hell because she had used my mother’s soul to get there. A flare of hatred blossomed inside her. You utter whore! You captured my mother’s soul and held her captive for over four hundred years. You BITCH! she thought, glaring at Purgatori as the vampiress shifted position. Gods, what did that depraved slut do to my poor mother? Knowing her, I bet she tortured her - by the Abyss, if she performed any of those, ugh, obscene sex acts on her… Lady Death watched Purgatori shift position almost angrily and realised every one of her muscles was clenched w/ fury. That bitch. Oh gods, my poor mother. When I think of her in that loathsome whore’s clutches, being tortured and probably raped and -
        “I did NOT torture or rape your mother,” Purgatori snarled w/out turning around. “What do you think I am?”
        Lady Death jumped in surprise at the voice, then her fury took over again. “I think you are a depraved pervert slut! You miserable whore, I swear I will avenge what you did, I will make you pay a hundred times  over! And I told you before, stay out of my mind!”
        Purgatori sat up fast and turned to glare at her. “And I told YOU before, that’s not how it works, brat. You broadcast your thoughts, I do not go looking for them in your idiot head. You pathetic brat! So loving women is repulsive to you is it? Perhaps if they had been the rotting corpses of girls it would have met w/ your approval.”
        “You slut!” Lady Death snarled, somewhat taken aback by the scalding brightness of Purgatori’s eyes.
        “I did NOT torture your mother or harm her at all, brat. That is the truth whether you care to believe it or not.”
        “I am supposed to believe YOU of course!”
        “Ask her yourself.”
        Lady Death leapt to her feet w/ her sword half-drawn, bristling w/ rage. Purgatori was on her feet in a blink, her talons extended. “You maggot! How dare you make a joke like that! My mother is dead and I will skin you alive if you dare try and make jokes like that again.”
        Purgatori snarled and took a step forward, making Lady Death draw her blade fully. “You are the stupidest dog I have ever come across! Have you forgotten that you yourself absorbed her spirit? She is forever part of you, cretin.”
        Lady Death’s snarl froze on her lips. “I know she is, bat. So what?”
        Purgatori looked at her w/ contempt. “So talk to her, moron.”
        “And how am I supposed to do that?”
        The contempt gave way to amusement. “Are you telling me that you have been carrying her around w/ you all this time and never even knew you could contact her? Hah! That’s delicious!”
        “You miserable cow! I ought to cleave your head off! If my mother was inside me I would have known! She would have contacted me!”
        Purgatori shook her head w/ exaggerated despair. “And I thought you had studied sorcery. How pitiful.” She sat back down and looked pointedly out of the cave entrance.
        Lady Death stood indecisively, completely stalled by the conversation. She sheathed Apocalypse and sat down, her mind reeling.  My mother’s soul…could it be true? Could she possibly be…existing w/in me? She saw Purgatori turn her head and regard her expressionlessly. Bitch! She is just waiting for me to ask her how to do it! Well, I’ll show that tramp. I HAVE studied magick, I will contact my mother if possible. It will…it will be a self-examination spell, such as you use to check your body for injury or enchantments. Yes : minuscule amounts of power because it is kept w/in the body - Drakkan will not be able to detect it.
        An hour later Lady Death opened her eyes to see Purgatori lying down again, facing her this time. Nothing. Was I doing something wrong, or is that whore lying? Probably the latter. “Wake up bitch. You’re supposed to be keeping watch.”
        “I am awake, sow,” Purgatori said w/out opening her eyes. “YOU agreed to take the first watch - why should I take over if you’re irresponsible enough to go off casting spells…especially since you didn’t have the courtesy to ASK…?”
        “So you decide to put us at risk simply because you weren’t asked? You idiot.”
        “My, aren’t you grumpy? I take it you failed.”
        Lady Death bristled. “I failed because you lied, bitch.”
        Purgatori opened her eyes. “Did I? What sort of spell did you use?”
        Lady Death hesitated before replying, not wanting to continue the charade if she was just going to be the butt of one of Purgatori’s jokes. Eventually though, hope won out. “A self-examination spell,” she said flatly, trying to keep the longing out of her voice.
        “Hmm. And I bet you were looking for your mother.”
        “Obviously,” Lady Death said bitterly.
        “And how are you going to find someone ELSE when you are examining yourSELF, exactly?”
        Lady Death sat sullenly, trying not to take the bait. “But if she is in me - ”
        “You absorbed her. She became part of you. Look for that part of you which glows w/ her spirit, not a SEPARATE spirit. Her soul, essence, whatever you want to call it is PART of you, she is not a parasite living w/in you. Look for the source of the angelic powers you use.”
        Lady Death sat in silence, wondering if Purgatori was just making it all up to extend the joke as long as she could. The vampiress merely lay down and closed her eyes again. When she was sure the vampiress wasn’t paying attention and would see that Lady Death had fallen for the joke - if that’s what it was - she settled herself down, relaxed and tried again.

        “ -ope?! Hope my darling!”
        Mother!
        “Oh my sweet child! After all these years!”
        Mother!
        “Sshh, stop sobbing my child.”
        I c-can’t! I-I-I missed y-you so m-much!
        “And I you. being so close, being w/in you and yet not having you hear me was unbearable.”
        I want to hold you! I need to hug you so badly!
        “I know child. I would like nothing more.”
        I have so much to talk about, to tell you.
        “Then talk darling. After all this silence your voice is like sweet mead.”
        Yes…
        “What? What troubles you child?”
        I…I am here w/ Purgatori…
        “Yes Hope. I know.”
        I need…I need to know what she did. If she hurt you or…or…
        “Shh, honey. Purgatori did nothing to me but detain me in her realm.”
        In chains?
        “No nothing like that Hope. Purgatori is a lonely and bitter creature. In many ways she reminds me a lot of yourself.”
        Don’t say that.
        “I merely meant she was an innocent girl who had everything ripped away from her and reacted by embracing hatred and anger.”
        How do you know this?
        “She told me her story.”
        What?!
        “Listen. When she first snared me, she was a cold and remote person. She had been trapped in a place called Necropolis by Lucifer many centuries before. When I arrived, most everyone was dead. They had used Purgatori as their plaything and when she had finally triumphed over them she slaughtered those who had humiliated her. Being a vampire, she fed on others over the course of her stay. She wanted to study my spirit to find out how it could pass through the Nexus. She was a frightening woman, but she never hurt me.”
        Probably because she was afraid she might damage that which she needed!
        “Perhaps…After a few years she gradually began to talk to me and we built a…well, we had a rapport, rather than a relationship. I don’t think she ever allowed herself to fully open up. But, I was always polite and kind to her and tried to be helpful. I think she was surprised and suspicious at first - she had spent so long w/ people who only tormented and despised her, and feared her, that she didn’t seem to know quite how to handle someone being friendly. She never acted less than commanding, but I felt that was more for show than anything else - I suspect she thought that if word got around that she was being friendly to a ‘prisoner’ it might be taken as a sign of weakness that could put her in jeopardy. Still, we talked. I taught her bits of our language, and taught her the mythologies of my Viking heritage and stories from my Christian teachings. I told her about you and Matthias and I think that further helped us make a connection. Near the end though, she began reverting back to her old self. She was nearing an answer that would release her, and she was becoming more and more nervous about Necropolis being attacked by the Fallen Angels. She came across evidence of you in Hell and realised you were my daughter - she divined my memories and realised she might be able to use our relationship to trick you in order to snatch Lucifer’s soul from your body : she was fanatical about repaying him for what he had done. I lost her then, she became totally fixated on you. I was trying to win her back, to persuade her form going after you, when Necropolis was attacked.”
        I still hate her.
        “I dislike her too, for what she has done to you. Hate is a bad emotion Hope, but I fancy my mere words will not be able to remove it from your heart. But rest assured my love - though she is a savage and brutal creature she did not hurt me. If you must hate her, then at least hate her for a reason, not an assumption or misunderstanding.”
        As long as I CAN hate her.
        …mother? What’s wrong?
        “I just…you were such a dear sweet child. I wish you would not…revel in hate.”
        I don’t! But Purgatori - she has done nothing but torment me. And she trapped you. Kept you from your final rest for over four centuries!
        “Hmm. After seeing Heaven when you attacked it, I’m rather glad she did. After what I saw, I wish I had never renounced my Viking heritage and adopted Christianity.”
        …
        “Never mind child. I wish to talk of us, of you, rather than her.”
        Yes.
        “Talk to me child. It makes my heart sing to hear your voice.”

        When Lady Death opened her eyes the sky had turned the bruised purple of twilight. The cave was hot and she was sheened w/ sweat, but she felt so relaxed and at peace it surprised her. Had she been subconsciously carrying all the worry and concern about her mother all these years? If so, she could finally let it go now. She could let go of that subconscious stress and perhaps it would allow her lighten up a bit and relax. She  could contact Marion whenever she needed to, talk to her beloved mother -
        All because of Purgatori.
        Lady Death stood up and walked to the mouth of the cave, stretching languidly and relishing how refreshed she felt, as though she had spent the day in a deep serene sleep rather than in a magickal trance. After the stifling heat of the cave the gentle breeze across her face felt wonderful, even though it was fairly warm itself. The scenery was beautiful. The cave was set about halfway down a small crumpled hill on the fringes of the true desert. Everything was coloured in tones of russets and red/browns, a beautiful but somehow hostile colour scheme. Most of the hills were covered w/ scattered rocks and boulders, interspersed w/ dark green scrub and the occasional palm tree. To her right, past the shallow valley between this hill and the next, Lady Death could see the desert stretching off to the horizon; flat, featureless and lethal, its shimmering red sands being slowly swallowed by the dusk. To her left the hill descended in an undulating path to scrublands that looked bleak but pretty. The path zig-zagged between the rocks and boulders, nothing more than a slightly flattened swath of sand and pebbles that had been created simply by generations of passing feet, rather than by any construction process. If there was any water in the vicinity, Lady Death couldn’t see it. The sun was already below the horizon and above her the sky was a rich fresh-blood red that was gradually darkening to a deep plum as the last of the  sunlight ebbed away. Purgatori stood a few metres away, still as a statue, gazing off to the South-West. She looked around briefly as Lady Death emerged from the cave; Lady Death readied herself for some comments about how she should thank the vampiress, or about how HER magick had worked when Lady Death’s hadn’t, or maybe just a tart ‘told you so’ comment, but Purgatori just regarded her for a second then turned back to the landscape. Lady Death watched her for a moment. If any other sorceress had put her in touch w/ her mother she would have rewarded them w/ virtually anything they asked for, but w/ Purgatori she couldn’t even bring herself to thank the vampiress. Lady Death thought back to some of the things Marion had said, about giving up hatred and returning to being the innocent child of light she had once been. Lady Death doubted that was possible any more. If it involved giving up her hatred of the scarlet vampire it was entirely out of the question. How could she, after all she had done? Now this is a dilemma to ponder : would I give up my hatred of Purgatori to please my mother?
        She didn’t even want to think about that one. She walked over to Purgatori and stood by her, looking over the same landscape to see what was holding Purgatori’s attention. “Well? What is our plan?”
        Purgatori shifted but remained silent and Lady Death wondered if she was preparing some barbed comment about taking the entire day’s watch while Lady Death was off in a trance, but after a few seconds Purgatori spoke. “My city is that way. So far as I have been able to tell we have not been detected. There are no patrols in the vicinity.”
        “How can you tell?”
        “I have been flying.”
        Lady Death heard the tone in her voice. The vampiress sounded angry about something and Lady Death wondered if it was at herself. “So? What do we do? How do you propose we get into the city to attack the Gate?”
        “We have a tunnel system that carries fresh water to all parts of the city. We should be able to sneak in that way.”
        Definitely angry. Lady Death turned to Purgatori and wondered if she was about to spark off another fight. “What’s the matter w/ you?”
        Again that strange indication of rage : the momentary brightening of her eyes. “I united a world of feuding wanderers. I gave them a home and most everything they could ask for, and they betray me and torture me,” Purgatori said bitterly. “What could be wrong?”
        Lady Death had to agree that that was a fairly legitimate reason for anger. “Tell me something Purgatori,” she said, hoping to divert the vampiress’ attention and allow the anger to dissipate.
        “Yes, you ARE the greatest creature that ever existed.”
        “Sarcastic bitch. No - how long have you been here?”
        “About forty years, give or take. After Armageddon died I appeared in this continent and found the remains of a great civilisation that seemed to have perished due to war and famine. This world was in a state of anarchy : it was made up of tribes and clans and scattered cities and everyone seemed to be at war w/ everyone else. The country was decaying. I saw an opportunity to unite them, to rebuild the civilisation in my image and make a great country.”
        “To make yourself absolute ruler, you mean,” Lady Death said mockingly.
        “Yes,” Purgatori said simply. “A goddess needs worshippers.”
        “’Goddess’?! You’re just a vampire w/ delusions of grandeur!”
        “Really,” Purgatori grated. She seemed on the verge of adding something but stopped herself and Lady Death knew she was fighting to keep Isis’s mission alive.
        “Come, lead the way,” Lady Death said levelly. Marion had told her how proud she was that Hope had put aside her hate temporarily to team up w/ Purgatori in order to save countless lives, and she wasn’t about to provoke a fight that might ruin everything. Funny that - she teams up w/ a hated enemy and will do anything to succeed all for the love of her Goddess. I team up w/ a hated enemy and will do anything to succeed all for the love of my mother. Well, as long as she does not know about it I can keep the upper hand and get her to behave herself. “You said we would be about two days’ travel from the city : where do we head for?”
        “There is a small tributary of a river near a market place about six hours from here. We will rest in the nearby hills.”
        “A river. Good, I need to bathe.”
        “If no one is around, yes.”
        “Why would anybody be around at this time of night?”
        “There are a lot of vampires around here.”
        “Of course. I should have guessed.”
        Purgatori smiled thinly and set off down the twisty dirt path that wandered down the hill to ground level. Lady Death took one last look over the terrain from the elevated position and followed the vampiress, picking her way carefully in the dark.

        She knelt in the training hall. It was warm, but comfortable. The mats were laid out, the walls gleaming w/ the fresh paint that Glenn had put on, its smell still haunting the room. The curtains were drawn, and the hall seemed darker than usual. Glenn knelt before her in the stiff white jacket and flared black hakama he wore when teaching her iaido and aikido. He had his back to her; he was facing the shrine. She knelt in the same position, knees slightly apart, toes touching, back straight, palms on
thighs. She was at peace, calm. He raised his hands, clapped, and bowed to the shrine. She did the same. He turned, pivotting smoothly and gracefully on his knees, and the whole world seemed to lurch around her. His chest was a gaping ruin, the jacket stiff w/ deep scarlet liquid. His eyes gazed blankly from his grey face.
        "Glenn," she whispered. The dry word echoed as though they were in a cathedral.
        "Bitch."
        That dead voice made her scalp prickle. Once again she seemed to have lose control of her limbs. "Wolf, please…"
        "Look about you, Purgatori. This is my place. I nursed you here. Fed you."
        "Yes, I know…"
        "I saved your life. Trained you. Helped you. Obtained a weapon for you."
        "Glenn…please…"
        "This hall was everything to me. My passion. My life. I gave it up for you."
        "I know…" She looked around her and wasn’t particularly surprised to see that the hall was now a charred wreck, nothing but carbonized timbers and blackened concrete.
        "You killed me."
        "No! Glenn no!"
        He raised his hands and pulled his jacket slightly open. "Look at me."
        She hung her head, her eyes slithery w/ tears. "Glenn…"
        "Look at what you did."
        "I didn’t! Glenn, I didn’t kill you! It was Pagan!" she stared at him earnestly, beseeching him to believe her.
        Wolf closed his jacket and resumed his calm pose, regarding her w/ those lifeless eyes. "Everything I was. Everything I loved. I gave it up for you. You betrayed me. You killed me."
        "No!"
        "You traitorous slut." He drew his sword.
        "N-

        -OOO!” Purgatori woke up w/ a jerk, sitting bolt upright in the cave. She heard movement by the cave entrance and saw a shadow cut across the golden strip of sunlight that angled into the fissure. Purgatori brushed her hair back and saw Lady Death, hand on sword, looking in at her.
        “What’s wrong?”
        “Nothing,” Purgatori said gruffly, stretching her arms.
        “Bad dreams?” Lady Death asked, wondering what sort of thing it would take to frighten a creature like Purgatori.
        “What are you doing outside? I told you to keep out of sight.”
        “You don’t give me orders, bitch,” Lady Death said dismissively. “I got bored of watching you toss and turn and mumble about wolves so I decided to get some fresh air.” Purgatori said nothing. She just stood up and stretched her wings as far as she was able to in the cramped cave. “Sun’s going down.”
        “Yes.”
        “So? When do we move off? Where are these tunnels we need?”
        “Underground.”
        “You just can’t help yourself can you? Awkward bitch.”
        “About five miles from here there’s a pumping station that will give us access. From there we head into the city.”
        “And then?”
        “We find the Gate and destroy it. It should be fairly easy to sense and pinpoint its location…”
        “What’s that look for?”
        “Your blade : it has Chaotic properties. I hope he doesn’t sense it.”
        Lady Death arched an eyebrow. “If that was a subtle hint for me to leave it behind you can forget it.”
        “It wasn’t. I have long given up the hope that you might listen to reason.”
        “Pah. Like I would believe you anyway. If you told me my skin was white I would have to check.”
        “How hurtful,” Purgatori said, not sounding the least bit distressed.
        Lady Death walked into the cave, inspecting the vampiress as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re off on another world. Still upset over your dream?” she couldn’t resist adding.
        “Yes,” Purgatori snapped. “Get out my way, scrubber. We have distance to cover.”
        “The sun’s still up, trollop, I thought you couldn’t - ”
        “You thought wrong. AGAIN.” Purgatori pushed past her rudely. “Let’s go.”
        Lady Death punched her shoulder angrily as the vampiress barged past her into the golden light of the late evening. Mother…I’m trying, I really am.

        “What d’you see?” Cobra said softly.
        “Not much,” Anton said. He lowered the binoculars and shuffled back from the ledge, down the sloping shelf of rock that jutted out from the hillside overlooking the way station. It was the perfect observation platform. He rolled over onto his back and grinned. “There’s two Blood Warriors, doing slow circuits outside. Doors are open so the rest must be inside - only two horses out there, but from the tracks in the sand I’d say there’s maybe eight or so altogether.”
        “Uh huh.” Cobra scratched his throat, thinking. Demonica was lying w/ him, draped over him w/ her arms wrapped around his chest and waist. A year ago they had jumped a patrol that had a pair of Jackals for escort and had managed to acquire one of their large Scorpion sniping rifles. Demonica had fallen in love w/ it when Snake Eyes had brought it back and had taken it on their next patrol, simply because they were low on weapons and that was all they had for her. To the surprise of them all, she had turned out to have a natural sniping ability - her aim was terrifyingly accurate. Up to that time, Cobra hadn’t particularly liked taking her along on missions - she was prone to fret about her clothes or the state of her hair, or seemed to be more interested in making out w/ him rather than concentrating on the mission details. Now though, she was a definite asset and a reassuring back-up, especially since Snake Eyes had fitted a home-made suppressor to the gun.
        “Two outside Demonica. Think you can get them?”
        “Yep,” Demonica said, burrowing her face into his neck and feeling his biceps.
        “You ain’t even looked,” Anton said.
        “Can you see them?” Demonica asked.
        “Yeah.”
        “Then I can hit them.”
       “Go on then, smart ass.”
        Demonica grabbed another feel and slithered off Snake Eyes and scooped up the weapon. “No cats?”
        “Can’t see any.”
        “Pity. They’ve got bigger heads, so there’s more splatter.”
        Anton shook his head w/ a grin as Demonica crawled forward to the ledge. “You certainly pick ‘em Snake Eyes - she’s fkn weird.”
        “She’s a demoness.”
        “Well, aye.”
       Thump. Thump.
        Demonica skidded back down the slope of rock. “There you go.”
        “Nice one Demonica,” Anton grinned.
        “Not bad for a wierdo,” she said haughtily.
        “Er, aye. I meant that in a nice way.”
        Demonica tossed her head. “I’m sure you did. The fact that I’ll be tracking you all the way down doesn’t have anything to do w/ your sudden change of opinion does it…?”
        “Heh! I love you Demonica, you’re cool as fk.”
        “Yep!”
        “Okay, let’s move,” Cobra said. He snatched a kiss from Demonica. “Cover us darlin’.”
        “Yep! Take care sweetie!”
        “’Sweetie’!” Anton laughed. “Man.”
        “Shaddap,” Snake Eyes said. “Take point, asshole.”
        “Sure, sweetie.”
        Cobra narrowly missed him w/ a kick as the team made it’s way quickly down a dried up river path. Demonica crawled back up to the ledge and peered over anxiously. The sun was resting on the horizon, casting long, broad shadows. The light was dimming rapidly but Demonica wasn’t too bothered. Her rifle had a magickal scope that could see through darkness and showed everything in shades of arcane green. She laced her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands, waiting to see the dozen dark shapes run across to the way station. The night was utterly silent, broken only by the burring of various insects. Be careful Snakey, Demonica prayed as her sharp eyes scanned the station. In, kill em, out. Just go in and kill ‘em all, grab the supplies we need and get out. Don’t mess around w/ anything or -
        “Demonica.”
        Demonica screeched w/ fright and rolled fast, snatching up the rifle and bringing it up at the voice. A strong hand pushed the barrel aside.
        “Don’t point that thing at me girl, it might go off,” Purgatori said.
        Demonica gaped at her. “M…M...M...”
        “Yes.”
        “M…Mistress!”
        “Yes.”
        Demonica jumped up w/ joy and flung her arms around Purgatori. “What are you doing out here?! When did you get out?! HOW did you get out?!”
        “Quiet girl - one question at a time,” Purgatori said, rubbing Demonica’s back. “Some friends helped me escape. I -”
        “How?! They got INTO the dungeons?! How?!”
        “I’m not sure, honestly. One of them was Lexus so I assume she used a transvection spell. I have returned w/ an ally. I see you - ”
        “Ally? Who?”
        “Lady Death. I see you have - ”
        “Lady Death!! You brought HER?! I thought you hated her!”
        “Will you stop interrupting me?” Purgatori grated. “Yes, I don’t - ”
        “Sorry, I just - ooh! Sorry. Again.”
        Purgatori clenched her teeth, but it was more to stop herself grinning rather than from exasperation. “Yes, I don’t like her but I was sent to her - she is a powerful ally.”
        Demonica waited a beat. “Can I speak?”
        “Yes, Demonica.”
        “Sent by whom? Where is she? Where’s Lexus?”
        “Lady Death’s down below. What are you doing here? Are you alone? I sensed others - are they w/ you or are you hiding?”
        “Both! There’s my group, and people in the way station.” Demonica said, pulling away. Her eyes sparkled w/ excitement. “You know you said go and find Snake Eyes and raise an army? Well I did! We’ve been fighting all this time for you! We - uh, actually we should get down out of sight just in case, Miss. We’re about to attack the way station.”
        “Attack?”
        “Yep! We need supplies and stuff.”
        “Hmmm.” Purgatori crouched down, gazing at the station. “What is your team like? I need to get into New Necropolis.”
       “Into the city?! What for?!”
        “I am going to destroy Drakkan’s main Gate,” Purgatori said, her tone distant and cold. “And then I think I’ll burn the entire place to the foundations. W/ everyone inside.”
        “Uh…oh…um, er why Miss? That’s your city!”
        “A city inhabited by traitorous scum who betrayed me to Drakkan,” Purgatori hissed. “I’ll teach them to betray me!”
        “But they didn’t. I think. Um, Snakey should be about to - ”
       “What did you say?! What do you mean?”
        Demonica twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Well…we were fighting a few months back, right? And one of our team got like separated and captured. And they did this magick thingy w/ him and he stopped fighting and seemed to join them. Snakey reckoned it was a like, conversion spell or something. Miss?”
        Purgatori felt light-headed. Oh Goddess! Could it be true? Could my people have been taken by force? “I need one of them. I need to check them over - if it IS a spell I might be able to counter it.”
        “Kewl! There’s some in the way station. Ooh! Except they’ll all be dead soon. Unless you can get there before Snakey - ” Demonica found herself alone as Purgatori took a running leap, swan dived off the ledge and swooped silently into the night. “Way cool! I’d love to be able to do that!”

        Anton eased the door open an inch or two and waited for a reaction. None came so he slipped through the door quickly, dodging to the left and pressing himself against the wall. He had been in a few way stations over the years and they were all of a generic design : little more than a rectangular one-storey block of adobe bricks attached to a small corral, they were designed as a resting place for travellers crossing the large distances between cities. When Purgatori had started adopting the Marshals she stationed a couple of Blood Warriors in various way stations to help secure the trade routes. Anton crouched in the short passage that led from the door to the living area. On either side of the passage were doors that would lead to a washroom and a storage room. He edged forward, beckoning the next person forward. He could hear low voices from the common room - four people : he had reckoned on maybe eight or so - two were dead already so that meant a potential two others somewhere else. He listened again but couldn’t hear a thing. If there were another two, he thought wryly, they would make their presence known fairly sharpish once the fighting started. He drew his machete and hefted a throwing knife. Hand signals to the girl behind - I’ll go left, you go right.
        The double doors that opened onto the corral crashed inwards in an explosion of wood splinters and glass shards. Anton jumped in fright, as shocked as the yelling Blood Warriors ahead of him. Something big and fast and red and black landed in the middle of the mayhem and Anton gaped in stunned surprise as he saw Purgatori.
        “Holy sht!”
        Two of the Blood Warriors were down already and she was working on the third. A door crashed open behind Anton and he spun, expecting a Blood Warrior from the restroom or storage room but it was only Cobra, who obviously thought the noise from Purgatori’s entrance was Anton getting into trouble. The three of them ran into the living area and Cobra’s reaction at seeing Purgatori was much the same as Anton’s had been. All four of the warriors were down and Snake Eyes, having fought alongside Purgatori on many occasions, was surprised at the lack of blood. A figure skidded into the doorway that led to the bedrooms and Anton’s knife thumped into its throat. The Blood Warrior choked angrily, pulled the blade out and flung it back hard. Purgatori snatched the blade out of the air and his blood armour liquefied, coiling around him to bind him tightly. It was all over w/ surprising suddenness.
        “Goddamn vampires,” Anton said. “No offence, Empress.”
        “Purgatori.” Cobra dropped to one knee and bowed.
        “Snake Eyes,” Purgatori smiled. “I knew I could depend on you.”
        Cobra shrugged. “We tried to get you twice. We didn’t stand a chance.”
        “You do not need to justify yourself to me, Snake Eyes. Once I realised the scope of the betrayal I knew there would be little you could do to help me personally.”
        “So how are you here? What happened?”
        “I will tell you everything in due course. Let’s get everyone together first : go and fetch Demonica - ”
        “Bitch! What the Hell are you doing?”
        Purgatori looked at Lady Death as she stepped in through the shattered remains of the door.
        “ ‘Bitch’?” Cobra repeated coldly. “Watch your tongue - ”
        Purgatori waved him silent. “I had to stop them killing the Blood Warriors. I didn’t have time to wait for you.”
        “Who’s this?” Cobra said. Purgatori could tell by his tone that he wasn’t impressed by Lady Death’s attitude.
       Hmmm…this might prove amusing. I don’t think she fully appreciates that we’re on MY planet. That these people are loyal to ME. All the times we’ve met in the past she has been surrounded by her friends, and now SHE is the odd one out. “This is an ally. Don’t worry about her attitude, she is always like this.”
        “Harlot! I am only like this w/ YOU!” She looked down at the unconscious Blood Warriors. “Still alive?”
        “Yes. I need them. Snake Eyes - go and bring Demonica. Get your team in here : we might as well take advantage of the amenities…if you are satisfied the area is safe…?”
        “Reasonably, Highness. Drakkan hasn’t been too fussy about keeping the trade routes open - everything’s been cut back to the bare minimum and the only stuff that comes through is stuff that will benefit him. Patrols are scarcer out here.”
        “Good. Sounds like he is not treating the civilians well : that means they will be more likely to rise up against him and help us, unless he’s converted everybody…?”
        “I don’t think so, just the troops. A few fled the city early on, then he put a stop to that by crucifying the ones he caught. A couple still sneak out now and again, but not many.”
        “What do you mean, ‘converted’?” Lady Death asked. “What are YOU gawking at?” she snapped at Anton.
        “Your cleavage.”
        “You insolent dog! I should put your eyes out for that!”
        “Hey, I’m not the one flouncing around in a tight skimpy leather costume.”
        “He has a point,” Purgatori murmured. “Lady Death is our ally,” she said in a louder tone. “Treat her courteously…I’m sure she will reciprocate,” she said pointedly.
        “I will if your people don’t treat me like a piece of meat!” Lady Death shot back, turning her back on Anton and thereby inadvertently giving him an unobstructed delightful view of her firm and well-shaped backside. “Converted : what do you mean?”
        “Demonica thinks a spell was used on them to turn them against me. If she’s right I might be able to counter it.”
        Lady Death raised an eyebrow as Purgatori crouched over one of the fallen Blood Warriors and placed her fingers on his temples. Lady Death saw him twitch as Purgatori went into him.
        Nothing! Purgatori felt a momentary panic : what if Demonica had been wrong - what if what she had seen had not been a conversion at all? What if they all HAD betrayed her? No! No I…wait. Maybe the magic is of a different constitution…a type that just doesn’t register? That I'm just not seeing...? She looked down at him unseeingly, mind racing desperately. Wait…my search spell is geared to normal sorceries : Drakkan is a Chaos Lord, and Chaotic magicks have a distinctly different…TASTE…to them. She looked inside herself and sampled the Odin power that was burning deeply inside her. Yes : it tastes quite different. She slipped back into the soldier and there, almost immediately, she saw it : fine gossamer strands of yellow magick cobwebbing his brain.
       YES!!! Again, fierce exultation. She pressed her fingers to his forehead and concentrated. Her own magic flowed. The Blood Warrior gave a spasm of pain and his eyes flew open. He gasped in air and blinked at Purgatori.
        "Empress! What - ?"
        Purgatori jumped up w/ a whooping laugh of joy. The soldier pushed himself up into a sitting position, wincing at the pain of his injuries. “What’s going on, where am I?"
        “Lie back, lemme check your wounds,” Cobra said. “We’re out in a Way Station. We been invaded.”
        “What?! But…what happened to me? I can’t remember…I can…"
        "You were hypnotised, kinda. Purgatori freed you."
        “Holy sht,” Anton said. “I wish we’d known how to do that three years ago.”
        Purgatori barely heard him. She was still in a state of what might legitimately be called euphoria. “Anton,” she said distantly. “Organise some food for your people. Sort out any supplies you want to take so you’re ready if we have to move fast.”
        “Right.”
        “Meantime, we have a home for the night. Make yourselves comfortable.”
        Lady Death watched them hustle and organise themselves w/ the hard experience of years of guerrilla warfare. She was beginning to feel what Purgatori had sensed - the feeling of being alone in a roomful of strangers. It should have been somewhat comforting - they had come to this world expecting to have everyone aligned against them, and now they had found a bunch of allies, no matter how ragtag they might seem. Lady Death was far from comforted - all these people were Purgatori’s allies : they were obviously devoted to her and remarkably loyal, having spent these past few years fighting for her, and she had probably just gone and made a few enemies by calling Purgatori a bitch and disrespecting her. That strange snake-eyed one w/ the same facial tattoo as Lexus seemed particularly unimpressed w/ her behaviour.
       Bah. If he wants to argue w/ me he’s welcome to try! But…for the sake of my mother I had better mind my manner and try to be civil to that winged tramp. I can do that. I can be civil, for my mother.
        “What can I do?” she asked Purgatori, and she could just see some sarcastic comment brewing.
        “Help search the place, see what weapons you can find,” Purgatori said, upset at having to bite back her comment. As Lady Death moved away Purgatori went over and converted the other Blood Warriors, hoping the magick, slight as it was, would not be detected.

        “So, what’s the plan?” Snake Eyes asked.
        It was early morning, perhaps an hour before dawn, and they had spent a comfortable night in the Way Station. Between Cobra’s assurance of no patrols in the immediate vicinity and Purgatori’s uncanny senses, they had felt fairly secure. They had a roof over their heads, a fire to ward off the chill that breathed in through the doors Purgatori had demolished, hot food and a place to rest. Anton had arranged a rota and four of the team were sleeping now, having just replaced the first four.
        “We need more allies,” Purgatori said. She had been given the best seat, closest to the fire, and - for the sake of diplomacy - she had given the seat opposite her to Lady Death. Her wings were draped awkwardly over the back of the seat but her mind was racing in too many other directions to notice the discomfort. “We’ll send the Blood Warriors back to New Necropolis and they can begin converting the troops there - I can give them the spell to burn out the conversion magick, and in turn they can pass it on to others.” She looked over at the two Blood Warriors who were sitting across the room - their companions, more injured than them, were resting w/ Cobra’s people. “Are you up for that?”
        “Of course Empress,” Severin said. “Anything for you.”
        “Will you be at risk? I will not send you back if you might be killed on sight.”
        “Nah, we should be okay,” Webster said after exchanging glances w/ Severin. “We sometimes get into fights along these routes w/ bandits and whatever who are taking advantage of Drakkan’s disruption, so that’ll explain the two you killed. I dunno what sort of chance we’ll have to convert people though.”
        “Just have to do what we can,” Severin said.
        “Yes…Lady Death and I will travel to the Tupelo pumping station while you return to the city then make our way in via the tunnels. That should give you one, perhaps two days to do what you can.”
        “Ain’t gonna be much of an army to help you,” Cobra said.
        “It’s not supposed to be. I just want my people in place. All we are going to do is get in, destroy the Gate and get out. That will isolate him and disrupt him. We can attack later, when his is confused and his forces are scattered. I hope to be in and out, and hopefully he will follow us - ME - out into the countryside, splitting his forces.”
        “So what about us Miss?” Demonica asked, sitting on Cobra’s knee and using the tip of her tail like a pen to trace patterns on his chest. “Can we come w/ you?”
        “No. I need you to gather whatever rebels you can and prepare for a war. If Drakkan follows us out you will need to be ready to meet him. If he does not, I want you to be ready to move in to attack him.”
        “We better get moving then,” Snake Eyes said. “We’re scattered pretty wide.”
        “Aye,” Anton agreed, standing up. “We can split up and move in pairs for speed. You wanna head South-West w/ Demonica, Cobra?”
        “Yeah, we’ll get to the Garrison, get it evacced just in case.”
        “Good call. We’ll take Mill Haven.” Anton bowed to Purgatori. “Empress. Good to have you back. Come on people, let’s move.”
        “How far to the pumping station?” Lady Death asked as the rebels began organising themselves.
        “Five miles almost. We can wait here till nightfall, give our people a chance to get started. Once we’re in the tunnels it will take us a few hours to reach the city. We will wait till the following night to attack.”
        “Fine. Then I will rest. You can take first watch.”
        “Yes. Get your beauty sleep - you need it.”
        Purgatori took no notice as Lady Death snorted and got up - she had already decided to stay awake to think over things that had been bouncing around in the back of her mind. She busied herself w/ passing her spell onto her troops and instructing them in its use, and then watched them split up and leave in the growing light of dawn. There was a larder in the centre of the Way Station, where simple foodstuffs were stocked for travellers to use free of charge. It had no windows, and was therefore perfect for Purgatori’s needs. She sat cross legged on the floor, relaxing in the utter blackness and silence.
        Power. It had all started w/ something Isis had said to her, though at the time she had been so fixated w/ being in the presence of her Goddess that the information had been pushed almost to her subconscious. Isis had said that she had been turned into a vampire so that she could absorb the powers of others through their blood. She could take their talents, abilities. Yes…Gorge told me the same thing, though after what he did I merely wrote it off as one of his petty tricks to try and gain my confidence. But I could taste Armageddon’s Chaotic energies. And Drakkan : he said “ALL my powers” - he said that talisman he stuck in me would block ALL my powers and magicks. He knew.
        She let her mind tour her body, instructing each part to relax, and slowly let herself slip into a calming trance.  She sank slowly deep w/in herself, searching, and there sitting w/in her like her own memories were the talents and powers and abilities of those she had fed off and killed. It was almost like they had always been part of her, were her own powers and memories. She found Kabala. She remembered fleeing Alexandria w/ Jade, remembered giving birth (ugh!) to the creature
that was Gorge. She knew how to shapeshift into a weretiger form, and how to contact other vampires telepathically. That would come in useful. She found Pope Stephen. She found the owner of Isis International and suddenly realised that most of her decisions running the company had been based on his expertise. She found Dracula. Ah yes, hadn’t he had some powers she had coveted? She sank into him, and remembered how it felt to have her teeth ripped out by herself, how it felt to burn in the sun. How it felt to make love w/ herself. That was a weird one. She shied away from the memories and inspected his talents and powers, and right there was something so wonderful she had thought it was just a rumour, some romantic idea grown up over the centuries to glamourise the legend : the power to control the weather.
        She remembered how to do it, like she had done for centuries. How could she have forgotten? Yes, it seemed easy enough and she yearned to try it out : nothing dramatic, just maybe raise a small breeze or something. But no, even the slightest twitch of her power might alert Drakkan. Purgatori grinned in the dark, the sudden knowledge of how powerful she could be making her breasts tingle. And yet, she would have to be careful. Magicks and powers could be dangerous for the user if used carelessly or ignorantly. She had potential here, but she would need to study them all carefully before using them. She would have to study herself carefully, to find out exactly what she had inside, make a complete inventory of the powers she had. But for now she had a few hours to kill, she might as well get started. She floated softly down into her memories and came across what she needed to know about weather control. It was fascinating. She inspected, absorbed, learned.

        The pumping station stood on a flat and dusty section of pebbled ground that overlooked a tight bend in one of the tributaries of the Nile that meandered across the country and eventually fed the lake that had enabled the market to flourish. Purgatori and Lady Death followed the river course, staying low on the shallow banks to try and keeps themselves out of sight as much as possible. Purgatori slowed her step as they approached then finally stopped altogether, frowning at the shadowy silent building.
        “Is someone in there?” Lady Death asked quietly.
        “I…” Purgatori cocked her head to one side. “I don’t think so. I thought I felt something, but I cannot lock on it.”
        “Something what? Magick? People?”
        “I don’t know. Something just momentarily felt strange.”
        “Well that’s helpful.” Lady Death appraised the building. “So? Do we retreat or continue? We cannot stay here all night.”
        “Continue,” Purgatori said, setting off. She stepped up onto the level sand and walked towards the pumping station, her head held high as though she was scenting the air. Lady Death looked around them warily, cursing the heavy blackness of the night. Purgatori was unsure of their safety, and that in turn made Lady Death nervous.
        Purgatori reached out and snapped the chain that secured the door. The chain slithered to the ground w/ a metallic hiss and Purgatori paused, waiting to see if there would be a reaction. There wasn’t. She pushed the door open and stepped inside silently. The women walked into a broad entrance way w/ doors that led to an office, a control and monitoring room, store rooms and a staff room. Purgatori ignored them all and headed into the pump room. It was large and dark, the shadows clinging like thick cobwebs to the dead machinery. Lady Death found it somehow ominous - she didn’t like machines, didn’t trust them. She had grown up before there were such things and none of the ones she had come across had done anything good.
        Purgatori walked across the open space to the hatch plate that was set into the floor. The two doors that lead to the pump maintenance and monitoring rooms crashed open and Lady Death saw Akerians in the low light, carrying big ugly devices that looked like the projectile weapons humans liked to carry.
        “You!” the first one into the room growled in surprise. “Surren - ”
        Purgatori made a grasping motion and the cat spasmed as its blood burst out of it. Bright yellow energy bolts sizzled through the air at both Purgatori and Lady Death - none hit their target. Purgatori was gone in a blink, jumping to one side and racing fast at the cats that were rushing through the narrow doorway nearest to her. The lead cat stepped over the body of his comrade and levelled his gun at the vampiress. She shoved it away, her powerful grip crumpling the barrel and foregrip. She tore his throat open and kicked him back into the warriors following him. Lady Death ducked smoothly under one of the blasts and heard it impact somewhere behind her as she drew Apocalypse and stabbed the cat through the chest w/ a powerful lunge. Another Akerian fired at her and hit the dying warrior as it staggered aside, splattering chunks of cooked cat all over her. Purgatori concentrated hard and the nearest cat’s blood slammed out of her in hard needles that pin-cushioned the other feline behind her. One of them fired reflexively in his pain and the wild blast sliced between the two women and hit the pumping machinery. A huge ball of blue sparks belched out from the impact as something inside the mechanism exploded and burning liquid splashed out onto the ground.
        Purgatori snarled in fury and punched the cat she was fighting w/ an uppercut that broke its neck. In the orange light of the fire she saw Apocalypse flash in a dull pewter arc and bisect another cat. She saw Lady Death sizing up another cat and grabbed her shoulder pad. “No! We have to get out!”
        There was a heavy metallic bang from the machinery and a blossom of fire rolled up the bank of wide pipes and spread out across the ceiling, bathing them in fierce heat.
        “Where?” Lady Death cried as another explosion rocked the room, pushing at the air in her lungs. The cats had backed up from the doorway and Lady Death sheathed Apocalypse, flinching as a large jagged piece of metal whispered past her left ear.
        “Into the tunnels!” A large chunk of concrete crashed down in front of Purgatori. She saw Lady Death point at the fire-covered hatchway, saw the cover cartwheel up into the air leaving a black rectangle surrounded by flames, and then an Akerian saw her distraction and leapt out of the doorway and drove her to the ground. Purgatori punched her hand into the cat’s chest and it shuddered, flopping heavily on top of her. A fusillade of gunfire crackled overhead and then a huge explosion battered her into the ground, the blast wave crushing her head against the cement before the scorching wave of heat rolled over her. She heard feline yowls, a shriek from Lady Death - of rage or pain she couldn’t tell - and the noise of falling masonry, and then another bigger explosion roared from somewhere to her left and blackness enveloped her.