As awareness returned, so did pain. She could feel the tight sting where fire had licked her skin, the throb of bruises, the cramping ache in her neck and shoulders because her arms were manacled wide above her head, the metal bonds cutting into her wrists and numbing her hands.
       Manacles! No! Purgatori struggled to open her eyes and harsh light stung her eyes as she managed to get the lids up a millimeter or so.
        Brutal scalding pain slammed into her like metal stakes, driving deep into every muscle and organ. Purgatori threw her head back w/ a scream, her thrashing struggles doing nothing to help her. Her back arched until it seemed it would break and suddenly whatever support was suspending her vanished and she fell hard, trapping a wing awkwardly and smashing her skull off the stone floor. A big foot stamped on her gut and she doubled up, choking.
        “Wake up.”
        Purgatori snarled and instinctively slashed out at Drakkan w/ her claws. Her coordination was messed up w/ the injuries and pain and she was hampered by the chains and she missed him, but not by much. Drakkan kicked her and Chaotic Energy slithered around her, making her judder and spasm as if she were having an epileptic fit. It stopped just as suddenly and she flopped, moaning in pain.
        “Idiot girl,” Drakkan remarked. “How could you have been so stupid as to return here? You must be as stupid as your mother was to leave me alive.” He watched her jerk and gasp, oblivious to anything but the pain that was savaging her. He made a gesture and a thick tendril of Chaotic Energy wrapped around her chains and lifted her up w/ a yank, leaving her hanging helplessly a foot above the ground. She focused on him as the pain subsided and spat in his face as he regarded her contemptuously. Drakkan wiped the spit off his face w/out comment and slapped her face.
        “What did you hope to achieve? Get revenge?” Drakkan asked scornfully. Purgatori spat at him again and this time his composure cracked and he snarled in anger, sinking his claws into her chest. “Bitch!” He stepped back and watched her squirm. “You will suffer for your impudence, idiot. Concentrate – can you feel the magick surrounding you? The spells in the talisman that I stuck in your chest last time now surround the whole dungeon level. Even if more of your allies get you out of the cell you will not be able to use your powers to teleport out. You are here to stay bitch. I assure you that your last stay here will be like a holiday compared to this time. Now : let us talk.”
        “I’m going to tear your heart out, you rank polecat!” Purgatori hissed.
        “Pitiful,” Drakkan said, sounding faintly amused. “Where have you been? Who were you trying to recruit?”
        “No one, scum. I can best you myself.”
        “Indeed, you’ve done such a good job so far. Where were you, and why did you come back?” Purgatori strained at her bonds, bloodying her wrists, and Drakkan watched her interestedly. “Take your time. We have all the time in the world.” Another burst of electricity made Purgatori howl and kick. “Who did you recruit?”
        “No one,” Purgatori snarled. Her eyes glared at him but her mind was racing. He doesn’t know of Lady Death...why? Where is she? Did she get  buried in the explosion? Or did she recover and leave before I was captured?
        “No on,” Drakkan repeated thoughtfully, walking around her. His claws scraped deep tears in one wing. “No one cared to help you.”
        “No.”
        “And no one helped you by providing weapons to kill me.”
        “No maggot. I would use my teeth and claws anyway.”
        “Hmm. Then what is this?” Purgatori shrieked as Drakkan rammed Apocalypse through her midriff. He left it in and walked around to face her, eyes drinking in the agony on her face. “This had some strange spells on it to protect it from others using it. I removed them. Would you like me to skin you alive w/ your own blade?”
        “Fk you!”
        “Ever the charmer,” Drakkan remarked patiently, walking behind her again. He pulled the sword out slowly and grabbed a handful of hair, dragging her head back. “Ah, Purgatori. How pleased I was when my guards returned bearing you. I thought I had lost my toy forever, and then quite out the blue you return to me w/ new trinkets.”
        “I’ll ram that trinket down your throat, vermin!”
        “I’m sure,” Drakkan said absently. He tightened his grip briefly, making her eyes water, then released his grip. The Chaotic Energy bond vanished and she dropped to the floor again, clutching at her stomach wound. “Lie there a while, toy. You know the ritual – magicks will heal you, then we will play some more.” He stood on her wound and ground his foot, making her scream, then after a few moments seemingly lost interest and walked to the cell door. “I am glad you returned Purgatori. I missed playing w/ you. We have some lost time to make up, and believe me we will address that when I return.”
        Purgatori curled into a ball, teeth clenched in pain. This was all so hatefully familiar. After all that had happened she was now back exactly where she had been, a helpless prisoner. Was Lady Death dead? Even if she wasn’t, was there anything she could do? Was there anything she WOULD do? Purgatori lay and shook in agony, glad that she was the only thing Lady Death had to get her home. She had agreed to come her to help, but Purgatori was still glad there was a reason for Lady Death to keep her alive as she was convinced that white tramp would have been more than happy to leave her to her fate.

        Lady Death finally reached the top of the hill and stood panting, sheened w/ sweat. The sun had been above the horizon for five hours now and the heat was brutal. She had been heading away from the desert in a straight, steady line and the ruins of the pumping station were far behind. She wished she had gone back into the tunnels and drank deeply before setting off. Behind her was a long, shallow incline of rocky ground that had seemed inconsequential when she had approached it, but its subtle grade and awkward terrain of uneven surfaces, stilted rocks and loose dirt had been deceptively taxing in this heat. The grade seemed to go on forever and there was no shade to speak of.
        Lady Death shielded her eyes and scanned the landscape. The land levelled off here and some distance ahead she could see clusters of palm trees. Trees meant shade at the very least, and perhaps water too – unless it was sourced from an underground stream. How far it was to the rebel base she didn’t know, nor exactly which direction it was in – they hadn’t given exact locations or directions when they had been talking in the Way Station. Lady Death was suddenly struck by how futile this venture might be – there was every chance that she could stumble into an enemy patrol, or even scare off the rebels : if they had lookouts who didn’t know her it was entirely possible they might simply hide until she had passed by.
        She shook her head in frustration and set off – what else could she do? She couldn’t wait for Cremator and Brock to get the Gate working and come to rescue her because there were no guarantees they WOULD be able to, and since time passed faster here than at WinterHaven there was no telling how long she would have to wait before they decided something had gone wrong and came looking for her. and THEN, of course, they would appear right in the middle of the city...
        It took a little over an hour to reach the palms, and by that time she was thoroughly frustrated. She paused gratefully in the scant shadows of the leaves cast by the tallest tree and brushed her hair back, lifting her face to catch the tiny breath of breeze that wafted aimlessly by.
        “Hold it right there.”
        Lady Death jerked around at the voice, her hand instinctively reaching for Apocalypse – the blade wasn’t there and she was left grasping nothing but air. There was a man about twenty metres away, down on one knee and half hidden behind another palm. He had a large rifle aimed at her.
        “Put your hands out, away from your body.”
        “Point that weapon elsewhere,” Lady Death said acidly. “If you’re one of Purgatori’s rebels I am here to help you.”
        The man considered that for a moment then stood up lowering his gun. Lady Death glanced him up and down as he came over and was somewhat taken aback to find herself admiring him. He was tall, about six foot six and very well built, his muscles well defined and obviously powerful from a life of hard work rather than gym workouts. He had long brownish blond hair slicked back and he was very handsome, kind of rugged w/ a few days growth of stubble. He stopped a few metres away and looked her over and she was not entirely surprised to see a look of appreciation on his face.
        “We’ve got other weapons trained on you,” he said casually.
        “I told you, I am here to help you.”
        “Yeah, but you haven’t proved it yet. Who are you, how are you related to Purgatori?”
        “I am Lady Death, and I am NOT related to that....woman,” Lady Death retorted, catching herself just in time. These were Purgatori’s allies and she had already put herself at odds w/ Snake Eyes by insulting Purgatori. If he caught it, it didn’t register in his eyes. He was looking at her intently, eyes flicking about to take in all her facial features. She was used to men’s eyes crawling over her body but now she was a bit flustered to discover there was only admiration and attraction in his eyes, not lust. “She came to me for help. We were attacked in a pumping station a few miles away. I think she’s been captured.”
        She saw concern on his face as he considered her story. “We know about the explosion but all we’ve seen is smoke and a lot of bugs and cats – how can you prove you’re not w/ them?”
        “I was w/ Purgatori before that. We met some of you at a way station. There was a man w/ a stripe across his nose and snake eyes, and a blonde demoness.”
        The man considered this then put a hand out and made a signal. Another figure stood up behind Lady Death and moved around, covering her w/ a pistol. “Julie, head up and get the camo nets off the boat, we’re heading back to the Garrison.”
        Lady Death felt a burst of relief at the familiar place name. She was still a million miles from being assured a way back to WinterHaven but it was a start. The man was looking at her again. “Who are you?”
        “Name’s Garryk. What do I call you?”
        “Like I said, Lady Death,” she said, inspecting him for even the slightest sign of amusement or contempt. His smile, however, seemed genuine.
        “Cool name. I take it you earned it.”
        “Most definitely. You said ‘boat’?”
        “Yeah. We’re about five miles from the river. We can drive all the way back to the Garrison, it’s a riverside base. Come on.” He made an inviting gesture and they set off in the direction Julie had taken. Garryk seemed content w/ her story but he obviously didn’t fully trust her yet : he was fully alert and kept enough distance between them to give him a chance to react if she tried anything. He unhooked a large water bottle from his belt and tossed it over. “Looks like you could use this.”
        “Yes,” she said gratefully, surprised at the kindness. “Thank you.” She drank deeply and the cool fresh water was just about the sweetest thing she had ever tasted. She glanced over at him as they walked, taking in his large frame and well-formed muscles and found herself wondering what it would be like to be wrapped up n an embrace w/ him. How long had it been since she had shared the affections of a man? Too long, far too long. She shook her head, mentally slapping herself for having these silly thoughts. If I am going to select any partner, it certainly won’t be a loyal Purgatori follower! Still, he IS handsome, and about the only person I have met so far that has had a modicum of politeness and respect about them. “Garryk, where would Drakkan have taken Purgatori? If she is still alive?”
        “New Necropolis; he controls her city. I guess she’ll be in the Palace dungeons.” He sighed and she could hear sadness for Purgatori in his tone. “Julie said something about rumours of Purgatori having escaped when she came to relieve me. I can’t believe she was recaptured so quickly. It ain’t half fair.”
       Palace, Lady Death thought w/ a touch of jealousy. Purgatori has a PALACE.
        Most of the journey was made in silence. The boat was a small, narrow affair w/ a quiet engine – it cut through the smooth-flowing waters of the tributary w/ ease. They hugged the river bank and Lady Death allowed herself to relax a little, soothed by the gentle rocking of the boat. As Garryk had said they reached the Garrison in under two hours and Lady Death was glad to get into the strange, stilt-based buildings and out of the broiling sun. Why on Earth did Purgatori choose this place for her dwelling? Lady Death thought w/ a touch of annoyance as she fanned her face.  She is a goddamned vampire, I thought she would choose a place w/ far less severe sunlight.
        “Hey Garryk.”
        Garryk turned in the doorway and raised a hand. “Hey Cobra, good to see you again. Got someone here who says they know you.”
        He stepped aside and the smaller, stockier figure of Snake Eyes came in. Whatever he was still feeling towards Lady Death remained well hidden : he just bowed his head briefly. “Yeah, we’ve met. What happened? Where’s Purgatori?”
        Lady Death briefly related the story. She was half-expecting to see some distrust on his face, as if he suspected she had somehow arranged this, but his expression remained unreadable.
        “Okay,” he said in his calm voice. “Garryk, ask Demonica to gather the squad leaders and get them in the main hall; we’re gonna have to modify our plans.”
        “Right.”
        “You’re welcome to stay here while we get organised,” Snake Eyes said evenly to Lady Death. “This is my home. The bathroom’s through there if you wanna bathe, and I’ll arrange for some food to be sent over if you want.”
        “I would like to attend any strategy meetings,” Lady Death said, forcing herself to phrase it as a request. “I am an experienced warrior and will be able to help w/ tactics.”
        Cobra studied her for a second, those strange red and yellow eyes unblinking and intense. “We can do that,” he said calmly. “I’ll come and get you when we’re ready.”
        Lady Death nodded and headed to the bathroom as he left, surprised and glad that the meeting had gone w/out hitch or argument. So the next piece is in place, Lady Death thought as she stripped off. Now all we have to do is get into an occupied city, infiltrate the buildings where no doubt the enemy’s leader is resident and break out a prisoner from a probably well-defended dungeon....

        Lady Death walked down the tunnel until she found a ladder that led to an access hatch. She looked back up the pipe, but there was no sign of the rebels in the dim light cast by the ghostly light globes that floated at wide intervals. No sound of movement either – they had left her and moved on. Lady Death didn’t know if they all trusted her – she  strongly suspected that snake-eyed one didn’t – but that didn’t concern her. She would show them.
        She climbed the ladder and found the hatch heavy but unlocked and she exited the tunnels to find the city almost as dark : it was almost midnight and clouds were sailing overhead, obscuring the moon. Larger versions of the globes lined the streets and Lady Death paused for a moment to take stock of her surroundings as her eyes adjusted. The buildings were neat and pleasing to the eye, but had a distinct look of neglect about them. To her left was the edge of a park – the trees and shrubbery were overgrown, the grass was unkempt, and she smirked as she saw a large marble statue of Purgatori w/ its head missing. Still, this was Purgatori’s city, and Lady Death felt a little twinge of jealousy at the fact the vampire bitch had created and ruled this place. I could do this, Lady Death thought resentfully. When I get back, perhaps I WILL. Explore my land, set up a town or city. Show that cow she isn’t the only one who can do such things.
        She turned around and that little twinge of jealousy changed to awe as she saw the Palace, its massive cobra glaring majestically towards her. It was massive, and beautiful too, set in grounds that were also badly neglected. It seemed that although Drakkan had elected to reside here he had no interest in keeping the city maintained – perhaps letting it rot slowly was a last slap in the face to Purgatori. She glanced around and saw nobody in the nearby streets : she had expected vampires to be wandering about at least, but perhaps there was a curfew in force.
        The Palace was like an optical illusion, and seemed to get bigger w/out getting closer – she seemed to walk a long time before finally reaching the wide path that led to the main steps. Good grief, that thing is HUGE! It dwarfs even WinterHaven! Humph, trust that show-off bitch to build something as opulent as this! I wonder how many she killed building it, or how harshly she taxed them...
        Movement from ahead : a small squad of Akerians raced down the steps w/ their guns aimed at her. She stopped immediately, holding her sheathed sword out by the scabbard. They slowed suspiciously and when they were twenty metres away she dropped the weapon. They fanned out in a semi-circle, keeping their distance.
        “What are you?” the big dark-furred one in front growled.
        “I am a warrior, fleabag!” Lady Death flared. “Take care how you address me!”
        The cat snarled at her. “You are an ape, different to the others but nothing more. What do you want?”
        Lady Death held herself back, furious. “I am here to talk to Lord Drakkan.”
        “And why would he talk to you?”
        “Because I wish to join him.”
        The Akerian inspected her w/ mistrust for a long time then held out a set of heavy manacles. “Put these on.”
        “I think not! I am here to strike an alliance, I will not be treated like a captive!”
        The rattle of weapons being primed surrounded her. “Lord Drakkan will decide if you can be freed to join him. Put them on or die now.”
        Lady Death snatched the bonds and clamped them around her wrists. She could sense some kind of spell in them but it was too late to take them off now. “I discarded my weapon – this is unnecessary.”
        “Move.”
        Lady Death bit her tongue and started walking before they got a mind to prod her forward or something. They went up the steps to the main entrance and if the Palace looked impressive before, right up close it was jaw-dropping. The cats led her into a wide pillared hall, opulently decorated in marbles, w/ rich carvings on the wall and a reproduction of the constellations set into the black marble roof  - the stars looked to be huge diamonds. There were more cats roaming around, and several hulking Doom Magistrates – just the sight of them made Lady Death’s lip curl. As they turned into a wide corridor a quartet of Blood Warriors came out of a junction and walked past them Lady Death’s eyes widened as she recognised one of the Blood Warriors from the way station but he was past before she could react.
        “Wait.”
        The leader walked off down a corridor as the others ringed Lady Death. She saw a magickal barrier ripple in front of the doorway the cat went through and wondered if there were any other such barriers or traps the rebels might not be expecting.
        The door opened again. “Bring her.”
        The Akerians pushed her forward. As they walked through the door and the barrier sealed behind them Lady Death suddenly realised she was alone and unarmed, manacled in the very den of an enemy’s palace. The room had once been a private conference room – Drakkan had selected it because it was remote and had only one entrance and no windows – easy to defend, hard to get at. All furniture had been removed and pictures of Purgatori in the murals had been clawed off the walls. Akerian war banners hung around the place and a deep pile of hexagonal cushion-like objects seemed to form his sleeping area. A few bones lay scattered around – some of them distinctly human-looking – and Lady Death wrinkled her nose at the smell – the room was nothing more than a glorified animal’s lair.
Drakkan was standing in the middle of the room, one hand fingering his sword hilt. He inspected Lady Death closely, his red eyes burning in the low light. “Well : what a strange ape you are. You are not from this world.”
        Lady Death seethed at the insult. “No I am not,” she growled. “I am Lady Death.”
        “My, how...pretentious. Why are you here? Am I to believe you wish to forge an alliance?”
        “It’s true.”
        “And why would you?”
        “Two reasons. I know that my world would be at risk if I didn’t. If there is to be a war, I intend to be on the winning side.”
        “Wise. And the other?”
        “You war against Purgatori. I want that bitch dead.”
        Drakkan studied her for a moment. “I assure you I have no intention of letting her die. Well, not until she starts to bore me.”
        “I would settle for torture. I owe that whore some payback.”
        “And how is it you know of her?”
        “She has crossed me in the past. Stole my sister from me.” Drakkan walked around her slowly, eyeing her up and making her nervous. “I came to this world to settle a score and we fought, but some of your warriors interrupted us.”
        Drakkan stopped somewhere behind her. “The pumping station – you were there?”
        “Yes. Your warriors took my sword – I can sense it in this building. I want it back.”
        Sharp claws stroked her hair almost delicately. “Do you now? Orders from an ape in chains; how amusing.”
        “I meant that I need it if I am to fight w/ you. It was crafted for me and we fight well together.”
        Drakkan walked around and roughly lifted her head to face him as he towered over her. “And what makes you think you WILL be fighting w/ me? Why should I even trust you, instead of perhaps feasting on you? You do look quite succulent...”
        “I am a good warrior – I have powerful magicks too. But if you want proof of my loyalty I offer information. Purgatori has a bunch of rebels fighting for her. they have a major base in a river village based near a volcano range to the North-West. Some of her most favoured supporters are there, including a blonde demoness who used to be her aide.”
        “Captain – you know this place?”
        “Yes Lord. We checked it about two years ago. One random patrol went past it about eight weeks ago and reported it still deserted.”
        “Hmm.” The bass rumble was almost a growl. “Send a force – lots of Doom Magistrates. If you find anyone make sure you take them alive. If no one is there, investigate for signs of occupancy before you burn the place to the ground.” He glanced at Lady Death. “If we find proof of people there you may well have won yourself an alliance. If not you shall provide some entertainment before I make you my dinner.”
        “I am not lying, and I have more information for you.”
        “Tell.”
        “The rebels are planning a rescue mission at this very minute.”
        “I think not. They are not so stupid as to attack my city.”
        “See for yourself. There is a group assembling in the wooded area a mile or so from the city gates, led by a man called Cobra.”
        “The snake-eyed one!” Drakkan gestured at a guard. “Send a cavalry patrol NOW And reinforce the main gates!” Drakkan regarded Lady Death as the guard ran off. “How do you know such things?”
        Lady Death smirked. “The rebels think I have sided w/ them to rescue Purgatori.”
        Again, a long studying look. “What an interesting creature you are. I cannot believe you would walk in here unarmed if that information was lies, and yet I am still not fully convinced by you.”
        Lady Death shrugged. “You will see the truth of my words soon. Where’s that bitch Purgatori? I want to see her.”
        “She’s residing in the comfort of her dungeons below us. She is for my personal amusement.”
        “Pity.”
        “Though if your information is good and we capture the snake-eyed one I might let you spend a few minutes w/ her.”
        “I would be indebted.”
        “I’m sure you would. Guard – take her to one of the inner holding rooms until we find out if her story is true or not.” He grinned at her, exposing a lot of big pointed teeth. “I will spare you the dungeons for the minute, but rest assured you will become intimately familiar w/ them should I find out you’re lying.”
        “You won’t.”
        “My Lord!” They turned to see Diabolica in the doorway “We have reports of attacks on the city! Some rebels are skirmishing w/ our troops in the South quarter and sentries have been sniped from the walls in the North-West!” She noticed Lady Death and gazed steadily at her.
        Drakkan snarled. “Sergeant, full alert! Mobilise all troops and flank the South quarter! Send archers to the walls and send Doom Magistrates to hunt the snipers!”
        “Yes Lord!”
        Drakkan regarded Lady Death thoughtfully. “It seems you may have been correct.” He saw her glowering at Diabolica. “Do you know each other..?”
        “Yes Lord,” Diabolica said immediately. “From Hell.”
        Drakkan regarded each in turn. “How interesting. Tell me, Diabolica, is this ‘Lady Death’ a friend of Purgatori’s, do you know?”
        “No Lord, definitely not.”
        “Hmmmm.... Go – organise the troops.” Drakkan folded his arms – the first time his hand had moved from the sword hilt.
       “Now do you believe me?”
        “Almost,” he said finally. “But I think I will detain you anyway, until my last shred of doubt is gone.”
        “Will you at least unchain me? I came here in good faith and I resent being treat like a slave.”  Drakkan thought it over for a while then nodded to the guard who removed the cuffs. “When you decide I am right, I would appreciate the return of my blade. I am anxious to chop up any of that red bitch’s supporters that I can get my hands on.”
        Drakkan grinned. “Take her away. Guard her, but do not harm her. Yet.”
        The guard bowed and led her away. Lady Death strode down the corridor just ahead of him, grinning to herself. Everything had worked beautifully. A squad of Akerians raced past them as they turned up the main corridor that led towards the main hall. She slowed as she approached a doorway leading to a flight of steps, ones Demonica had told her about. “Are the dungeons down there?”
        “Yes. Move.”
        “I want to see Purgatori.”
        “No. Move.”
        “I’m not going to hurt her, I just want to laugh in her face.”
        “Move.”
        Lady Death sighed and walked on. They turned up a side passage that ended abruptly in a plain metal door.
        “Wait in there.”
        Lady Death tried the handle. “It’s locked.”
        The cat growled something unintelligible in its own language and brushed past her to see for itself. The door opened easily and he had a brief moment to wonder if Lady Death was completely stupid before she drove her foot into the base of his spine, breaking it and flinging him into the room and he realised through the pain that it had been a trick. She was on top of him in a moment, slamming the door behind her. She kicked his head to stun him then dragged his sword out and ran him through.
        “Idiot cat!” She opened the door a crack and listened. A Doom Magistrate pounded down the main corridor and when its echoes died the place was silent. She slipped out and moved to the junction, still wary. She listened for a moment then darted out and made it to the dungeon stairwell w/out being seen Sorcery...I can sense some kind of magick down below...like those cuffs. Must be a spell to nullify power, just in case that bitch manages to get out of her cell.
        Lady Death padded down the steps, the large sword held in a reverse grip behind her. there was a Blood Warrior waiting by the elevator doors, his back to her. Lady Death moved fast and silently, ramming the blade straight through his heart to put him down quick and quiet. It didn’t work. The soldier roared and flailed behind him, catching her unprepared. His armoured gauntlet clubbed her across the temple and she fell back. The warrior turned w/ a snarl and as he drew his pistol she saw the white eyes and long teeth and realised her error. She dived at him, taking his legs away, and they fell w/ a crash, the gunshot hitting the opposite wall near the ceiling. She scrambled over him, punching his head and trying to retrieve her weapon which was still jammed through him. He writhed and elbowed her hard in the chest. The pistol slammed again and her hair yanked as the bullet sped through a tress. She hit his throat hard and he flopped as his neck broke. She had barely put her hands on the sword hilt when hands grabbed her cape, hair and shoulders and dragged her roughly off. She fell badly, her grip dragging the blade out as she fell. There were three of them, well-built Blood Warrior guards, all of them vampires. One picked her up and threw her hard against the wall, cracking her head w/ a hollow smack. She landed on her feet w/ a wobble and as he came at her again she managed to drop under his blow and shatter his kneecap w/ a well-aimed kick. A heavy mace crashed into her shoulder armour, jarring her bones, and a mailed fist punched her squarely in the mouth, bloodying her lips and nose. Lady Death fell, eyes watering and kicked at the mace warrior. She twisted to get her feet into the gut of the other, driving him back far enough to allow her to snatch the sword up. As he came at her he ran onto the blade but it barely slowed him – his momentum drove them to the ground and Lady Death snarled helplessly as she tried to kick him off. A shadow fell over her and she moved her head just in time  : the mace crashed into the floor an inch from her skin. The fallen warrior’s pistol lay nearby – she snatched it up and cursed as the impaled vampire grabbed her wrist, preventing her from aiming. She drove her other elbow into his jaw, stunning him, but by then it was too late – the other was right over her w/ the mace raised.
        Someone charged into him w/ impressive velocity, driving him away. The mace fell from his grip and Lady Death flinched as it dropped close to her head. Someone grabbed the other vampire and pulled him off her; she squirmed to her feet ready to attack, and saw them pull the sword out of the warrior’s body and hit him across the temple, knocking him out.
        “Lady Death, isn’t it?”
        She turned to the other, who had subdued the last warrior. “Yes. You : you were at the way station were you not?”
        “Yeah. Severin.”
        “What are you dong here? Have you converted many?”
        “A few yeah. Heard the gunshots – you after the Empress?”
        ‘Empress’ – bah! “Yes. The attack has begin, Garryk and some others should be here momentarily.”
        Severin pulled some keys off the body and tossed them over. “Here – go get her. We’ll guard the door.”
        Lady Death went into the long passage that led to the cells. I’m going to rescue Purgatori, she thought w/ a sense of incredulity. I’m risking my life to rescue PURGATORI from torture...
        It smelled bad down here. As she passed one cell she saw a tangled heap of bones covered w/ rancid strings of meat. It looked as though perhaps Drakkan had gotten peckish during a session w/ Purgatori sometime in the past and had snacked on one of the prisoners. The stuff in some of the rooms made her skin crawl. Gods! How typical of that sadistic harlot to have equipment like that! Hah – what sweet irony that she got to taste it for herself!
        Purgatori was in the last torture room. She could see a hunched shape in the gloom through the small window in the metal door. She got the right key on the third try and pushed the door open, wrinkling her nose at the smell of blood.
        “Purgatori?” She stepped aside to let light come in through the doorway and grimaced despite herself. Purgatori was on her knees, her head hanging low w/ her matted hair obscuring her face. Her arms were stretched up and behind her, at an angle that emphasised the fact that her shoulders had been dislocated. Her arms were secured w/ large hooks that were hung from the ceiling, their barbed tips punched through her forearms. Her wings were a crumpled, broken mess – it looked as though someone had spent a couple of hours stamping on them. “Gods. Purgatori?” A faint moan. Lady Death crouched beside her and raised her head by a horn, recoiling as she saw the damage to Purgatori’s face, the ragged empty eye sockets and the wickedly spiked metal plate that was jammed in her mouth to stop her biting – not that there were many teeth left anyway. She looped an arm under Purgatori’s armpits and dragged her up. “Severin!” The Blood Warrior ran in and cursed when he saw his Empress. “Help me – get those hooks out her arms.”
        He obeyed fast, trying to ignore Purgatori’s moans of pain and the squelching sound of metal pulling out of her flesh. “Drag her out here, quick.”
        Lady Death laid her down in the corridor, and in the clear light she could see the huge welts and bruises, the lumps under the skin where broken bones jutted out of place. There were deep ragged craters here and there that looked horribly like bite marks. Severin pulled the gag out and slashed his wrist w/ it, letting the blood flow directly into Purgatori’s mouth. She jerked and gulped. “Lady Death – get that guard you downed, the one w/ the broken neck.”
        Lady Death hesitated, not liking the near-order, then went. As she returned she heard a wet crunch and Purgatori jerked as one shoulder relocated itself. She was still blind, but that hand snapped up and unerringly grabbed Severin’s wrist, pulling it closer.
        “Hold up, Empress,” he winced. “Got you something better here.”
        Lady Death dropped the unconscious body beside her and Purgatori hissed – in hate or delight she couldn’t tell. She watched Purgatori push herself over and fall on the body and shove his head back w/ her good arm. Purgatori gasped and arched back as the rich blood went into her – her mouth opened in a groan that sounded half pleasure and half agony, and Lady Death saw sharp new teeth push out of her gums. She dipped her head again and Lady Death grimaced in revulsion at the wet crunching sound and the spurt of blood that splashed over Purgatori’s neck and shoulders. Purgatori gulped deeply and despite her distaste Lady Death watched closely as her wings began to straighten out and her other arm relocated itself w/ a crack that made Purgatori grunt in pain : she had seen Purgatori heal herself before, seen her transform herself into liquid blood and back, but every bit of information she got about an enemy’s talents and weaknesses was valuable.
        Purgatori drank him dry, and when she finally dropped him and raised her head she looked at Lady Death w/ bright, cold eyes. Her skin, face, wings, even her tattered leather – all were renewed and repaired. “You don’t look pleased to see me.”
        “I’m not, bitch. Just remember that I came to save you.”
        “Like you’d let me forget.”
        “Empress,” Severin said, tying off a bandage. “Are you well enough to move?”
        “Yes,” Purgatori said as she stood. “Thanks to your blood. What’s happening?”
        “The attacks have started,” Lady Death replied. “We need to get out of here, there are spells blocking my magick.”
        “I know,” Purgatori said. She lifted the fallen warrior by his neck and dragged him out to the elevator, acknowledging the bows of her fighters. “What plans have been made?”
        “Several groups are making their way into the city – we’re going to attack the Gates to make him divide his forces. A large squad are hidden outside the city and I pretended to align myself w/ Drakkan and got him to send a force out to attack them : they will be walking into a trap and it will reduce the forces in the city. Another group is coming her to help get you out – I ran into these fighters by chance.”
        There was a flurry of movement at the stairs and they all tensed, but the Blood Warriors guarding the entrance were standing back w/out fighting to let someone through.
        “Garryk!”
        “Empress! Good to see you well.”
        “’Well’? Hardly! Where’s Drakkan?”
        “Dunno, we’ve been in the tunnels. We should get out right now.”
        “We will. You will, anyway – go back the way you came and take Lady Death to the WinterHaven Gate.”
        “Well, which one’s that?”
        “The damaged one.”
        “I know it,” Severin said. “Near the barracks.”
        “Yeah, okay, I know the area.”
        “Take these out and convert them when you go,” Purgatori said, gesturing at the other enemy Blood Warriors.
        “I’m not leaving w/out my sword,” Lady Death said flatly.
        “Where is it?” Purgatori snapped.
        “Above us, somewhere.”
        “’Somewhere’? We haven’t got time for a search!”
        “I can track it, vampire! I will not leave it behind!”
        “I can go w/ her,” Garryk said, jumping in before the argument could get out of hand. “We can do a quick search, if we don’t get it we an come back later – once the Gate is destroyed he’ll probably pull all the troops out to attack us.”
        Purgatori punched the elevator button, seething at Lady Death’s obstinacy. The car was already there and the doors opened immediately. Purgatori threw the warrior’s body inside. “Alright,” she grated. “Look QUICKLY and leave it if it is well defended.” She glared at Lady Death. “Heed that, woman : don’t be reckless – if you risk my people needlessly – ”
        “You’ll do nothing. You need me.”
        “As you need me to get you back to your world, brat!” Purg spat. The others subtly backed off from the two women. “And Isis might want you alive, but I can’t recall her mentioning anything about your other playmates back home – if you get any of my people killed because of your stubbornness I will even the balance.”
        “Bitch, if you - !”
        “Get in the elevator, woman, we’re wasting time.”
        “Don’t order me around – ”
        Purgatori grabbed her and threw her in the elevator. She stumbled over the body and banged against the wall w/ a howl of fury. Lady Death lunged at the vampiress but Garryk darted in between them, blocking her exit.
        “Get out of my way boy! NOW!” Lady Death snarled, wondering why she hadn’t just punched him into the wall.
        “Chill out lady, we – ”
        A loud energy blast slammed out from up the stairs and the smoking ruin of a body bounced down the steps in pieces. Purgatori was at the stairs even before the Doom Magistrate came into view. She rocketed up the stairs and rammed it hard, knocking the big bug off balance. Its limbs flailed wildly and it cried shrilly as it toppled over. Purgatori grabbed one of its long limbs, snapped long spiky arm off and rammed it through the creature’s skull. It stiffened and froze, its cry stopping dead as though a switch had been flicked.
        “I said get out my way,” Lady Death snapped, oblivious to the action.
        Garryk backed up, his hands held up placatingly, but he didn’t stand aside. “Look, cool it okay?” he said quickly. “You’re supposed to be on our side you said. You ain’t helping by antagonising Purgatori, and these people are HER warriors : if you give her sht they’ll kill you just for being disrespectful.”
        “Nobody handles me like that!”
        “Give her a break, lady. She’s just been tortured, she’s bound to be a bit cranky.”
        Lady Death clenched her fists, her eyes burning. She could almost sense her mother holding her breath. He’s right. Just...let it go...for the moment. Let’s get this sorted out, and when we have some time alone, w/out her warriors to spoil things, we’ll have a little ‘discussion’ about her attitude. She slowly unclenched her muscles and saw Garryk relax too. Gods, if he wasn’t so handso – I mean, if he wasn’t the only one who has been nice to me since I got here, he would be in pieces by now.
        “Okay, let’s just do this,” Garryk said easily. “Let’s just keep her happy. Once the Gate’s destroyed and Drakkan’s dead we’ll have all the time in the world to look for your blade.”
        “Yes.” And the first thing I will do w/ it is cleave her nasty head off!
        “Garryk.”
        “Yes Empress?”
        “Get in the elevator. Your troops are heading out for the WinterHaven Gate.”
        “Sure. We’ll catch them up no problem,” Garryk said following her in. the doors closed and the car began to rise swiftly. Garryk could feel the tension and hate as he stood between the women and he desperately wanted to be anywhere but trapped in a confined space w/ them : all it would take would be one wrong comment from Lady Death and he would probably get smeared over the walls in the ensuing catfight. As they cleared the dungeon level Purgatori gestured at the warrior, liquefying his Blood Armour as her powers returned. She gulped the blood and felt the increase of strength immediately.
        “Where are you going?” Lady Death growled as the car slowed and stopped.
        “I’m going to cause a distraction. If I can find Drakkan I will kill him, otherwise I will head for the Gate.” The doors opened and Purgatori looked out into an empty corridor. “Garryk : take a quick look. Don’t take needless risks.”
        “I won’t.”
        “Once the WinterHaven Gate is down, concentrate on the main Gate. Once that is gone, retreat out the city and regroup. Once they are stranded we can pick them off at will.”
        “Sure.”
        Purgatori stepped out w/out further comment and Garryk heaved a mental sigh as the doors closed.  “Okay – where do we go? Is it near or far?”
        Lady Death stared daggers at the door a moment longer then took a deep breath to calm herself and concentrated briefly. “Fairly close. A hundred yards or so, perhaps.”
        “We’ll go up a floor at a time then. Shout when we get close.”

        Demonica watched from the elevator as the others slipped into the dungeon stairway then hit the close button. The elevator took off for the viewing gallery and Demonica drummed her fingers against Mr Head Burster’s stock nervously as she approached her apartment – would Diabolica be in there? Her finger hovered over the button to stop the car but caution took over and she let her hand drop – Cobra had warned her that Drakkan might sense the conversion spell and they didn’t want to chance alerting him until they got Purgatori out.
        The doors opened at the top of the Palace. This level had been made – at her suggestion, Demonica thought proudly – into a large viewing gallery to impress and entertain guests. Situated just below the gold cap of the pyramid it was plushly decorated w/ floor-to-ceiling  polished crystal windows that opened onto a balcony that ran around the edge of the pyramid. Stairways linked the restrooms and catering areas – Demonica checked them both cautiously before pulling open one of the windows and slipping out onto the balcony. The breeze ruffled her hair and she leaned out over the railings happily – she adored it up here, loved being high up and being able to see for miles. It reminded her of a similar gallery in Dis, where she and Diabolica regularly took boys to make out w/. Sometime after they won the  war she intended to bring Snake Eyes up here. Several times.
        The pyramid wall stretched out below her like a mountain slope, and way down at the bottom, almost lost in the darkness, she could see figures milling about. She rested Mr Head Burster on the railing and put her eye to the scope. The magick in it saw through darkness and lit the image in arcane green, she could see cats running about in different directions, responding to the many attacks. Demonica wondered if Lady Death had been believed, if Drakkan had weakened his forces by sending some out in response to her story. Imagine that, going face-to-face w/ Drakkan. That would be scary! Heh, what if he didn’t believe her? She might be in the dungeon w/ Purg now! Oooh – or eaten! That would be funny!
        The faint sound of fighting drifted up to her; gunfire, voices, and energy weapons. Get high and keep reinforcements at bay long enough for them to get Purgatori – that was her mission. The huge cobra hood blocked her view of the main entrance but she could see movement elsewhere on the Palace perimeter. She scanned the main road and acquired a pair of Doom Magistrates hurrying in the direction of the main Gate. She tracked, compensated for their movement and fired. The suppressor worked well, and no one on the ground would hear a thing, but the weapon’s kick was still brutal. It was a good pain though, because every time she felt it another enemy was dead. She got the scope back on the target and saw a splattered mess on the ground a few feet away from a twitching corpse. The other bug was gazing in perplexion at his friend who had just exploded for no apparent reason – Demonica squeezed the trigger w/ a grin and ended his confusion.
        A flash of light caught her eye as she scanned the area and she got the scope on it : high on the roof of the workers’ accommodation blocks was an Akerian sniper, using the palm trees of the rooftop garden as cover.
        “Bad kitty,” Demonica whispered, lining up. There was magick in the scope that could measure distances – the emerald display that floated under the crosshairs said 1027 – her longest shot yet. The little furry bugger moved behind a tree, crouching down to fire again. Demonica lined up on the palm and fired w/ a grin : that won’t help you, pussycat. The big bullet tore through the slender trunk and the tree toppled w/ a muffled thud. The cat recovered from its shock well, and jumped out the way as the tree fell down where he had been crouching. Demonica killed it before it had recovered its balance. She snatched up the hot shell casing w/ a quiet whoop of pleasure, kissed it and stowed it in her cleavage, as she always did when she made her longest kill. She grinned happily into the darkness, relishing the feel of the  hot metal between her breasts. 1027, that’s awesome! Wait till I tell Snakey!
        There was a pair of cats patrolling along the base of the pyramid towards the main entrance. Demonica fired and the bullet punched through the lead cat’s helmet, went through his entire body, and thumped into the ground. His partner leapt back, roaring in his strange guttural language for support. He craned his head up, scanning for the assassin, and Demonica got a beautiful portrait shot of him in the scope just before she squeezed the trigger and Mr Head Burster lived up to his name. Five or six cats ran around the building in response to their comrade’s colleague’s cry. Demonica jumped back out of view – there were too many to kill and she didn’t want to risk getting trapped up here. Time to bail I think! Won’t take them long to realise where the shots came from!
        She ran back and hit the elevator button. Come on, come on! You daft bint, why didn’t you lock the doors open when you got out?! It seemed to take forever for the car to arrive. She levelled the gun in readiness but the car was empty save for a dead Blood Warrior and she dived in gratefully, pressing the button to express her to the dungeon level. That’s a Blood Warrior – where’s his armour? Is he one of ours, or Drakkan’s?
        The elevator stopped and she edged out into the dungeon, wrinkling her nose at the dead bug. The place was empty, the door to one of the cells open – there was no sign of Purgatori and Demonica felt a burst of exultation. She bounded quietly up the steps. They had Purgatori and it looked like the rebels had made it out safely – all she had to do now was get out via the tunnel and rendezvous w/ them at the WinterHaven Gate, or the main Gate if they had already moved on. Demonica paused to listen by the top of the steps, slinging Mr Head Burster over her shoulder so she could run easier. She could hear frantic fighting somewhere, the echoes and reverberations making it impossible to pinpoint the direction. Is that Purgatori doing her stuff, or has Garryk’s team gotten jumped? If they have I should go help them if I can...bet that’d be real dangerous... She chewed her lip for a moment. I’ll head for the tunnel access – if I can tell what’s going on and where I’ll go, otherwise I better just head out.
        Demonica stepped out into the corridor still wrapped up in her decisions and squealed in shock as she bumped straight into someone w/ an Akerian bodyguard.
        “D – Di!!”
        Diabolica recovered her own surprise and grabbed Demonica as the cat drew its sword. “Well, a rebel tramp!” She slapped Demonica’s face and grinned at the cry of pain. “Won’t my Lord be pleased to meet YOU?!”
        The mention of Drakkan gave Demonica the flash of clarity she needed to realise that this definitely wasn’t the sister she knew. She punched Diabolica in the stomach and jerked back, trying to get clear. Diabolica grunted and grabbed a handful of Demonica’s hair. Demonica stumbled and fell, dragging Diabolica on top of her. Diabolica cursed as her sister slapped her and locked her fingers around Demonica’s throat. Her eyes bulged almost immediately as Diabolica crushed her windpipe mercilessly. Demonica’s scrabbling hands grasped Diabolica’s temples and she felt her sister stiffen and arch back as the spell flowed into her. a second later her sister was gone, yanked off by the Akerian guard who grabbed Demonica’s jacket and pulled her up. She struggled frantically, digging her nails into his had as she saw him raise his sword.
        “No!”
        The cat paused, looking over at Diabolica as she got up shakily. Demonica hung helplessly in his grasp, her feet almost a foot off the ground, unable to reach Mr Head Burster.
        “Take that bitch to the dungeons,” Diabolica hissed. “Drakkan will want to interrogate her, but I am going to teach her some manners first!”
        “D-D-Di! N-no!” Demonica choked as the cat hesitated a moment then carried her effortlessly to the dungeon. It stopped at the bottom of the steps w/ a growl as it saw the Doom Magistrate.
        “I must report this.”
        “Lock her up first,” Diabolica snapped. “And get that Scorpion off her, idiot!” The cat pushed Demonica into a cell and dragged Mr Head Burster off her shoulder. “Give it here!”
        The feline roughly shoved the gun into Diabolica’s hands, thoroughly annoyed at this red-skinned creature bossing him around. He had just finished securing Demonica’s wrists in a pair of manacles when a large bullet blew his chest open and buried itself in the wall beside Demonica.
        “Damn sis, that kicks like a unicorn!”
        “D..Diabolica? Are...are you...you?”
        “Yeah. What did you do? A spell?”
        “Yes! Purg’s spell – she escaped...before I mean. The first time. Um, are you sure you’re alright?”
        “Yes, I think so...” Diabolica frowned. “Can’t seem to remember much though.”
        “Well, are you gonna untie me or what?”
        Diabolica grinned wickedly at her sister. “Ooh, chains suit you!”
        “Bint! Unlock me!”
        “I thought you liked being tied up? I remember that time we were out w/ all the girlies in Dis and we ended up at Scarlet and Sheba’s House of Pain and you vanished and when I went looking for you, you and Selina were – ”
        “Diabolica! Untie me dammit, we’re in the middle of a war!!”
        “Sheesh, alright,” Diabolica grumbled, unlocking the cuffs. “I was ONLY pointing out that when I found you she had you tied down over a – ”
        “Give me my gun! Tramp!” Demonica said hotly, snatching her rifle back. “Anyway, she tricked me     into...into that.”
        “Oh. She must have tricked you into giggling excitedly and calling her ‘mistress’ too, from what I heard.”
        “Ooh! That is SO not true!”
        “Wh-atever!” Diabolica said, picking up the cat’s sword. “Tch, I want a gun too.”
        “Anyways, YOU can talk, after what you got up to w/ Torment! If daddy had seen those pictures he would’ve had a heart attack!”
         “They were posed! I swear!”
        “Pff! Not judging by the marks on her butt! And in one of them you even had your hands on her – ”
        “Didn’t you say we had to get out of here?”
        “Um, yeah. We need to get into the water tunnels through the maintenance room – d’you think there’ll be more bugs wandering the main corridor?”
        “No idea! But we can pretend I’m taking you to see Drakkan if anyone stops us.”
        “Kewl! Let’s go then!”
        “Gimme the Scorp, then. Ooh, and it would be more realistic if you had handcuffs on...”
        “Shaddap!”

        “My Lord!” The Akerian raced up and bowed quickly. “The apes are attacking our Gates, Lord! The minor skirmishes around the city appear to have been diversionary tactics!”
        Drakkan swore venomously and stormed past the soldier. “What of the force outside the city – is THAT a diversion too?”
        “I do not know Lord – it’s too early for our team to report.”
        “If it is, I’ll skin that white freak and make her eat her own eyes,” Drakkan growled under his breath. “How are our forces?”
        “Diminished Lord! The amount we had to send to the South to repel the Saarga left us under-powered and w/ the Blood Warrior allegiance still dubious...”
        “You! Ape!”
        The Blood Warrior stopped and bowed. “Lord?”
        “The reconverting of the Blood Warriors – how far on is it?”
        “When I left it was going slowly Lord, but we should have things sorted soon.”
        “I need them sorted NOW, monkey! Get back and speed things up!”
        “At once Lord!”
        “Send each warrior out the instant he is ready to fight.”
        “We will Lord,” Webster said.
        As Webster ran off towards the stockade Drakkan paused in the main entrance. “Is that red bitch secured?”
        “Still locked up Lord.”
        “And guarded?”
        “Four warriors Lord.”
        Drakkan grunted, wondering if that would be enough. She was well damaged and strung up on hooks in a magickally protected cell. Take no chances. “Arrange for a Doom Magistrate guard too, just in case. And ensure that white creature is secured too.”
        Drakkan walked out onto the entrance stairway and listened angrily to the faint sounds of fighting. “Lieutenant – recall the force I sent to attack the rebels outside the city – we’ll deal w/ them later. Seal and guard the gates when they return : NO ONE enters or leaves the city.”
        “Yes Lord.”
        He pointed at one of the guards. “You : gather all troops in the Palace and secure the entrances. The rest of you come w/ me. If those talking apes think they can come into MY city and attack MY Gate they are very much mistaken!”

        “There’s the signal.”
        Cobra glanced at Shrapnel as he lowered the binoculars and quickly flashed an acknowledgement signal back w/ his torch.
        “Looks like she did it.”
        “Uh huh.” Cobra cocked his crossbow and loaded an arrow. “Signal Kev’s team to move into the city. We got a size on the patrol?”
        “Sixty or seventy cavalry he says.”
        “Sht.” The rebels had split into groups. Half were hidden near a tunnel access hatch to enter the city as soon as the patrol came out. The others had been split again  : Cobra’s team formed the larger part and were spread out around the perimeter of a clearing where they would ambush the patrol, and a smaller force had been sited nearer the city walls to signal Cobra’s team and to follow the patrol and cut off their retreat, ambushing them from behind. The problem was, they were on foot and would not be able to keep up w/ the cavalry.
        Shrapnel stowed his binoculars and steadied his rifle on a rock, making a slight adjustment to the sights. “Sixty or seventy. This is gonna be fun.”
        “About three each : we hit them right and they’ll be down before they know it.”
        They could hear the rumble of hooves already. The patrol galloped into the clearing on their big reptilian mounts. They slowed as they saw the carefully prepared signs of a camp and as they did five of the felines at the rear fell w/ arrows in them. Gunshots slammed out and three of the lead warriors fell, making the others scatter and falter as the bodies fell in their path. As they slowed to a virtual stop more of their number fell as they became easier targets. Gunfire and energy blasts flashed in all directions as the Akerians returned fire. Shrapnel fired as Snake Eyes reloaded and one of the big mounts reared back w/ a shriek, toppling the rider. One of the cats at the back wheeled around and raced off, galloping hard for the city. Snake Eyes fired but it was a long range shot at a fast moving target and the bolt missed.
        “Fkr’s going for reinforcements – I hope Kev’s team gets him.” A blast blew smoking earth up into the air a couple of feet from his head and he ducked down. “Move it, they got a bead on us.”
        He and Shrapnel scrambled in opposite directions, keeping low. By the time he got to another good position behind a large sandstone boulder the noise of fighting had noticeably decreased. Snake Eyes eased his head up and saw that there were less than a dozen cats left, two of them wounded. He nailed one w/ the crossbow and four more fell as he reloaded.
        In the flames from the various burning plants and trees Snake Eyes saw several other rebels moving in, tightening the circle around the few remaining cats. The firing stopped and he heard a few whoops and cheers in the dark as the battle ended.
        "That was fun," Shrapnel said, coming over w/ a grin. "Let's head into the city, I wanna do it again."
        Snake Eyes smiled briefly. "Feels good, don't it? When we finally get them on our terms they ain't so clever." He headed quickly down into the carnage of the clearing. "Listen up!" he called and they fell silent immediately. "Grab any cat weapons you can, we move out NOW. Access hatch for the tunnels is one hundred and seventy metres that way - we're gonna have to move fast."
        "Here's Kev," Shrapnel said.
        "Good. Team looks intact too - did WE lose anyone?"
        "Er…nope, don't think so."
        "Sorted. I'm gonna collect my arrows. Get everyone moving."
        "Right."
       So far, so good, Snake Eyes thought, pulling an arrow out of a corpse. Let's hope the others are doing as well.

        A pair of Akerians strode past not five metres away, their shadows sliding over the low wall that bordered the plaza that abutted the Temple of Anubis. Anton lay on his back, almost feeling the shadows, a knife in each hand. The crunch of their footsteps on the gravel faded rapidly and Anton rolled into a kneeling position, signalling his vampire companion, Diamondback, to get up. She raised her head warily over the top of the wall and quickly scanned the area. She crouched down again and nodded at Anton, who in turn gestured to his team to come up one by one. There were twenty of them in total, four vampires and sixteen normal people. They had followed the pipes here and had come up via a maintenance hatch near the back of the temple. Cloaked in shadows and out of general sight he and Diamondback had come up for a quick scout of the area.
        Anton sat down w/ his back to the wall, sheathing his knives and drawing his bow as the others began joining him. “Okay – keep in pairs. Gate is that way; you can’t miss it, it’s fkn huge. Spread out, find a good position, wait ten minutes to let us all get in place then start shooting. You three w/ the cat guns – use full power and shoot only at the Gate structure, don’t waste the power on troops. Focus all your shots in the same place – say, the lower right hand beam. Those guns should do the job, but they might have some kinda magick shielding – if you don’t destroy the Gate you should at least damage that, I guess. Everyone else – pick off personnel. Soon as that Gate goes, bail. Get the fk out as fast as you can. Get into the tunnels and head home. And remember,” he added as they began to split up, “we’ll all be heading in the same direction so check your fire!”
        Diamondback nocked an arrow and her eyes flicked back and forth, checking windows and doors. “Will Purgatori be turning up?”
        “Sure, if they get her out,” Anton said, his back to her as he checked the opposite direction. “You know how she likes to play around. Depends what happens at the Palace, I guess. If she kills Drakkan there she might not have to.”
        Diamondback just nodded. The last pair of fighters slipped around the far corner of the Temple and vanished from sight. “Where do you want to go?”
        “Temple roof?”
        “Sounds good.”
        They moved off together in a crouch, moving as fast as they dared. Anton reached the corner, peeked around, then darted along the side of the building into the shadows of the portico that covered the entrance. Diamondback grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down. He froze, hearing the heavy thump of armoured feet on the pavement : a Doom Magistrate strode past heading for the Gate. Its head swung briefly in their direction but it didn’t break stride and Anton heaved a sigh of relief, blessing the heavy shadows in the entranceway. Diamondback slipped past him and tried the doors : they opened, creaking softly from disuse. She signalled Anton to stay put and vanished inside for a quick look, taking nothing for granted : despite appearances, the Temple might have been requisitioned for a barracks or something. It hadn’t, and she reappeared a few seconds later and waved him inside. They moved fast, closing the door behind them before making their way into the priests’ quarters that ran up each side of the temple. In one of the store rooms that housed the cleaning equipment the found a ladder that ran up the wall to a roof access panel. Diamondback went first, climbing rapidly. The bolt on the hatch gave way under her strength and the splintering crack sounded unnaturally loud in the silent temple. The roof was wide and flat, edged w/ an ornate railing that was supported by carved sitting jackals. They edged up to the railing and Anton peered at the Gate, still slightly awed by its size. There seemed to be troops everywhere, patrolling the Gate itself and in the nearby buildings : Diamondback pointed out several watch posts at various windows and Anton hoped none of his groups ran into an occupied building by mistake. All was silent so far though, so he assumed they were safe.
        “No shortage of targets.”
        “No,” Diamondback said. “Quite a few Blood Warriors though. Hope we don’t have to kill too many.”
        Anton just shrugged. “How are you for shooting from this position?”
        “Bit awkward. Be easier w/ a crossbow.”
        “Yeah, bitch innit? Okay, let’s give it a go – cats only, these arrows will just bounce off the bugs. Pick ones on the perimeter so the others don’t see them go down.”
        “Yeah…there’s one, by that palm.”
        “Cool – you want him?”
        “Aye.” Diamondback gauged the distance, drew and fired from an awkward  sitting position. The arrow whispered through the air and thudded through the Akerian’s neck – from the way it fell bonelessly Anton knew the arrow had severed the spine.
        “Excellent!”
        Diamondback nocked another arrow. “Wish we had Blood Arrows, reckon we could take a bug out w/ them.” The pointed into the darkness. “There. In the doorway.”
        “Got him.”
        “Sure? That’s about a hundred and fifty metres.”
        “Watch.” He drew, lowered his breathing and aimed carefully, adjusting for breeze.
        Three high-powered Akerian weapon blasts screamed in from the darkness and hit the Gate in a blinding yellow flash, and all fkn Hell broke loose.

        The Akerian jogged down the Palace corridor, heading for the stairs that would take him to the level that had been allotted to the Palace guard. As he passed a junction, something grabbed him and yanked him off his feet. He lost his grip on his spear in surprise and it clattered to the ground as he was flung against the wall w/ stunning force.
        "Where's your maggot leader, scum?"
        The cat blinked at Purgatori, his surprise at her strength matching his embarrassment that a creature this small and slim could handle him so easily. He pushed off from the wall w/ a snarl, cat-fast but slower than her. His clutching hands got empty air and somehow she was behind him. He squealed as her talons tore out his hamstrings and as he fell to his knees Purgatori grabbed him in a headlock.
        "Drakkan," she snarled into his ear. "Where is he?"
        The clatter of armoured figures running. She turned, dragging the Akerian w/ her as a shield, and saw four Blood Warriors and two Doom Magistrates crowding the corridor. The cat growled something in its own language that sounded like a cocky comment to Purgatori - he obviously thought he had been saved in the nick of time. Purgatori squeezed and pulped his neck, flung the still-twitching body at one of the bugs and vaporised the blood of the other, all in the blink of an eye. The bug swatted the corpse aside, inadvertently hurling it into the way of two of the Blood Warriors. The blast from its bio-cannon scorched past her shoulder and the huge insect barged forward, clicking and stuttering in its own alien language. It moved fast, closing right up as she backed off to one side, making the bug move in front of the Blood Warriors to follow her. Her sword flicked and sliced the bio-cannon in two. The bug dropped the sparking remains and batted her w/ one of its long limbs. Purgatori crashed into the wall and fell, rolling instantly - the Doom Magistrate's arm thunked into the floor, missing her head by an inch or so. Purgatori twisted up to her feet and lunged under another sweeping blow, driving her katana deep into a joint in the Doom Magistrate's armoured carapace. The insect reared back w/ a shriek as violet fire burst out of its mouth and eyes and a moment later it was ash.
        A bullet punched into Purgatori's torso, shattering her right collar bone. She staggered back w/ a grunt, Kintaro slipping out of her grasp w/ a ringing clatter, and backfisted one of Blood Warriors as they rushed her en mass. Her blow knocked him twenty feet down the corridor but the others didn't hesitate. A pistol butt slammed into her temple and Purgatori flopped. A warrior grabbed each arm, pinning her to the ground as the other raised his gun again. He kept clear of her feet, but Purgatori didn't need her limbs to fight w/ : the Warrior's blood armour suddenly liquefied and long tendrils wrapped over his face, blinding him. The other two howled in pain as the blood of their armour began to boil and let go of her, desperately trying to claw it off. Purgatori grabbed them by the necks and cracked their heads together, stunning them. As they fell, their armour reverting to its normal state, she converted them and kicked the gun out of the other's hand. He stopped struggling and stood in almost comical puzzlement as Purgatori converted him and his armour reformed itself. Purgatori converted the unconscious guard she had hit first and crouched down, her head hanging.
        "Empress? Are you alright?"
        "No," Purgatori grated as her collar bone mended noisily. "Where's Drakkan?"
        "I...I think he went to the Gate."
        Purgatori growled and stood up, retrieving her sword. "Head there. My rebels are attacking the Gate to destroy it and trap him here - be careful who you shoot at."
        "Yes, Empress!"
        They moved quickly to the main entrance, Purgatori taking the lead and using her senses to scan for danger. "Move fast," she said as they stood at the top of the main steps. She scanned the clouds above, wondering if she had enough power to do what she wanted to try. "You have my magick to convert others. Do what you can to increase our forces."
        "Where are you going, Empress?"
        "To cause a distraction."
        "Empress, a lot of Blood Warriors are being held in confinement - we could get them, I think."
        "Jailed? Why?"
        "Someone named Pagan had been converting troops to his own side and they turned on Drakkan's troops."
        "Hooker, isn't it?"
        "Yes ma'am."
        "Are they well guarded, Hooker?"
        "Not too heavily, no," Hooker said. "Once they were locked up it wasn't necessary, the cells are secure enough. I reckon w/ the fighting some of the guards might have left."
        Purgatori considered. "Go, but be careful. If it looks good pretend to be relief guards and you should get the jump on them. Convert who you are able then arm them and get them to the Gate."
        "Yes, Empress."
        "Our objective is to destroy the main Gate - any others that fall as a distraction are a bonus. Once it is down, leave the city and we will regroup at Mill Haven or the Garrison, is that clear?"
        "Yes Empress.
        "Good. Go." Purgatori took off w/out waiting for a reply, powering up into the cool darkness.
        "Sht Hooker, what's been going on here?"
        "Dunno Max. Whatever it was, I hope Purgatori doesn't hold it against us."
        "Sht!"
        "Come on, we'd better hurry before the cats get organised."

        The elevator doors opened. Nobody entered so Garryk risked a look and saw the corridor was empty. "Clear."
        Lady Death stepped round the side of the door and pointed. "That way. It's close."
         The corridor was short, ending in a T-junction. There was a door on either side : the one on the left was closed, the one on the right was ajar. It smelled strongly of cat.
        "Sht, I think we just walked into the lions' den," Garryk breathed, echoing her thoughts. "Literally. Whoah, slow down!" Lady Death strode off w/out waiting. She paused by the open door, listening for movement. Hearing nothing she moved on, leaving Garryk to mouth a curse of frustration. "Dammit, slow down!"
        Lady Death reached the junction and saw the left hand fork was short and ended w/ a door. The right hand passage ran on quite a distance before making a right-angled turn but it was empty - Lady Death suspected most of the Palace cats had been called out to fight in the city. She walked up to the door and yanked it open. The room looked like a reinforced holding room of some sort : the walls were bare stone, undecorated, and the door was heavy wood w/ a steel core. The room was fairly large, square and empty apart from a metal cabinet and three Akerians. They whirled, startled by the intrusion and she vaporised the two closest w/ her Arcane Energy. She dropped to her knee as the last one fired at her and the bullet zipped overhead, sparking off the stone wall. A volley of shots slammed from behind her as Garryk returned fire and the cat flew backwards as bullets blew chunks out of his head and chest. Lady Death stood and strode over to the cabinet, stepping over the body w/out paying any attention to it. She raised her hand and a crackling wave of energy scalded her skin as her Arcane Energy blew away the magickal bonds protecting the container. Lady Death wrenched the door open and grinned a hard grin as her eyes fell on Apocalypse.
        "Happy now?" Garryk asked testily.
        "Very," she responded, picking up the blade and inspecting it.
        "Good, then let's get the fk outta here before someone comes to see what that bang was all about." He had barely taken a step down the corridor when a pair of cats raced into view at the far end. "Motherfk!" Garryk threw the rifle to his shoulder and rapid-fired, nailing one of the felines and making the other dive back around the corner for cover. Garryk moved for the junction fast, gun levelled, flinching as Lady Death cast an energy blast past him. It hit the wall at the far end of the corridor w/ a vivid blue flash and he heard a howl as the cat got injured, but he heard more growled shouts as reinforcements arrived. "Get the elevator!"
        As she passed the open room the door crashed fully open and a cat pounced at her, it's pistol blowing a hole in her stomach.
        "NOO!" Garryk whirled and fired. The first bullet missed, the second hit the Akerian's shoulder and knocked it around to face him, and the third went into its mouth as it yowled in pain and blew the back of its head off. He raced frantically over and skidded to a stop beside her, but by the time he arrived she had already healed the wound. "Goddamn...are you alright?"
        "Yes," Lady Death said, standing up. She paused a second, her legs momentarily wobbly. I feel weak. The explosion at the pumping station must have injured me more than I thought. I'd better be cautious about using more magick.... "You look concerned," she said, eyeing him up w/ a slightly wondering expression.
        "Horus...I thought you were dead," Garryk said w/ relief. "That’s some magick."
        "Yes. Let's go."
        Garryk ran and hit the button. The doors opened straight away and he dived in, rapidly stabbing at the 'main level' button. Lady Death shoved him aside hard and a pair of arrows sliced between the closing doors and thumped into the rear wall.
        "Thanks, I owe you," Garryk said, wincing as he flexed his shoulders. "You, uh, you're fairly strong for your size, aren't you?"
        Lady Death grinned at him. The elevator began to descend and they heard a few more muffled thuds as arrows hit the closed doors. The car dropped swiftly and smoothly, gliding to a stop at the main corridor level. Again they stood aside as the doors opened, but again they were lucky and no one was in the vicinity.
        "C'mon," Garryk said, dragging the body Purgatori had fed on into the way of the doors. "Tunnel access is down that passage."
        "We can go out the main entrance."
        "Look, I know you wanna kill things but the Gates are our objectives we ain't got the time to fight every single thing between us and them. We gotta do this fast, okay?"
        "I suppose."
        "Look on the bright side - there'll probably be cats guarding the Gate : you can kill them before destroying it."
        "A fair alternative! Let's go!"

        "You - out."
        Rourke stepped back and the Blood Warrior edged out the cell, keeping a prudent distance from Rourke. Four others escorted him up the stairs to the ground floor level of the cell block as Rourke locked the cell door again.
        "This is unnecessary," one of the Blood Warriors in the cell protested angrily. "We are loyal to Lord Drakkan."
        Rourke ignored him and scanned the other cells. They had been working fast and a lot of Blood Warriors had been reconverted, ensuring no trace of Pagan's spell was left. Rourke hoped that Drakkan would organise a hunting party for that turd - Rourke liked tracking and hunting. Then there was the problem of the other Blood Warriors outside the city - when the Saarga had started threatening the borders Drakkan had sent out the Blood Warriors to quell them : while he was here he didn't want any more distractions or threats so he needed to fight them off before they began getting a little more adventurous and perhaps decided to march on New Necropolis itself. He didn't like the apes, so he sent Blood Warriors, keeping his own cats in the city : Rourke had no idea how many of them might have been affected by Pagan, and that could cause problems, since the majority of those that went were Jackals.
A faint sound broke into his thoughts. The cells were underground, but the high ceilings were just above ground level w/ a narrow slit of a window for ventilation, and through them he heard the unmistakable noises of fighting.
        Rourke ran up the stairs and the guards, for some reason, looked at him warily, almost guiltily. "What's going on?" he growled. "Where's the prisoner?" His gun swung to point at the nearest Blood Warrior. "Where's Vyrryn?"
        Vyrryn came fast from behind the door, kicking him behind the kneecap to drop him and grabbing his head. Rourke reacted instantly , twisting his body aside and ramming his rifle butt back into Vyrryn's ribs. The vampire lost his grip and Rourke spun and punched him, knocking him out of sight over a desk. One of the others smashed a chair over his back as the other grabbed his weapon. The blow barely phased the big warrior : he let the weapon go and used the free hand to chop the throat of the woman, killing her instantly. A spinning kick smashed the other one away and as Rourke snatched up his gun again Vyrryn kicked him in the head, stunning him. As he staggered back Vyrryn kicked him hard in the gut for good measure and managed to grab his head long enough to burn out the conversion spell. Rourke grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself and shook the hair out of his eyes to see Vyrryn pointing his own weapon at him.
        "...What the fk?"
        Vyrryn grinned and lowered the weapon. "Welcome back bud. You been entranced for a few years and I just kicked your head - you alright?"
        "Yeah - you kick like a girl."
        "Considering our Empress, I'll take that as a compliment."
        "Purgatori - where is she, is she alright?"
        "Well...I dunno. From what I been told, and vaguely remember, she got captured and tortured for a few years, but we're breaking her out right now. It's a longer story than that but we ain't got time for it. Come on, you're gonna have to help me convert the rest of the Blood Warriors."
        "No - I have to see Purgatori."
        "Rourke, I know how you feel about her but we need forces - people are already helping her."
        "I gotta see her man."
        "Rourke, we ain't got time to debate this!" Vyrryn saw the look on his face and sighed resignedly.    "Okay, look - help us get another three converted then go, okay? We're under strength since you killed Linda."
        "Did I? I never liked her anyway."
        "Charming. Hey Zevon, y'alright?"
        The other Blood Warrior stood up groggily. "Yeah, I think."
        Rourke was already heading for the stairs. "Hurry up then."
        Vyrryn followed him, grateful to have reacquired the big warrior. He knew Purgatori and Rourke's relationship and how he would feel about people having hurt her and turned him against her. Vyrryn was extremely glad he wasn't a cat.

        Purgatori swept through the sky w/ strong wingbeats, speeding away from the Palace to the next-tallest building : the Temple of Ra. She wanted to cast a spell, and the Palace still had cats in it that might distract her, but the Temple would probably be deserted : Drakkan had forcibly stopped the worship of others - especially Isis - as soon as he had established his reign. She glided down and landed nimbly on the platform of the tall spire. She knelt, bowing her head slightly and trying to calm herself down. She relaxed, slowed her breathing and closed her eyes : she didn’t realise it, but this was part of Glenn’s legacy – his martial arts meditation techniques she had pulled from his mind. Wrapped up in her anger and focussed on the mission she never thought to question where the information came from. She reached out w/ her mind, feeling the air around her – the wind, the pressure and the humidity. In all her years of flying she had felt the wind and rain on her skin but this was like feeling the sky itself, being a part of it. She was looking for something in particular, and she found it to the North-West : clouds. Big fluffy cumulo-nimbus, stacked up and heavy w/ moisture from the sea, drifting along the border of the desert. She reached out, touched them. Gentle wind breathed on her wings, wind that blew on and gained a bit of strength over the flatlands outside the city and wafted the clouds on their way.
        She pushed.
        Wind blew across her face, startling her w/ its force. My power – I’m much stronger than when I last used – when DRACULA used this magick. It was a monumental effort for him – almost child’s play for me. The wind was beautiful, fresh on her face. She could feel the clouds slowing to a stop, reversing their direction to start advancing towards her. She pushed harder, felt them respond, and then she reached INTO them, letting her power flow directly into their huge bulky bodies. The responding rumble came almost immediately. She opened her eyes and could see the clouds, flickering like Chinese lanterns in the dark as the lightning jumped around inside them. She stood up and grinned, feeling the electrical power growing inside them : by the time the clouds reached the city the storm power in them would have multiplied considerably and would be just right for her needs.
        Purgatori walked to the edge of the platform and looked down at the streets. Ahead of her was Osiris Park, and in its black unlit expanse she could sense one of Drakkan’s Gates. She was too far away to decode the spells on it, but she could sense only four or five Akerians around it – it must be one of the Gates Drakkan had not yet used : if it led to a world he had invaded she reasoned that it would be much better guarded, to prevent it being taken and risk enemies materialising behind his forces.
        The door to the platform opened and the priest ran out, brandishing a silver naginata. Purgatori tensed in readiness but as soon as he saw her he faltered to a stop and gaped.
        “E-Empress?! Is it truly you?!”
        “Yes.”
        “But…we heard Drakkan had – ”
        “I have no time to discuss what you have heard. How many people in the city are still loyal to me?”
        “Most of the civilians, I should think Empress, but the Blood Warriors – ”
        “We are recovering the Blood Warriors. They were enchanted w/ a spell that I can counteract. I need help – can you convince anyone to fight for me?”
        She could see the excitement and hope on his face. “I believe so Empress! The people have been treat badly but were unable to do anything because of the Blood Warriors. Now you are free and the Blood Warriors are w/ us again I think they will act.”
        “Excellent. Do what you can. And hurry.” He bowed quickly and ran off, his cape swirling and flapping around him. My people – my people still want me. She still felt a wave of relief when she reminded herself she had not been betrayed.
        Rain drops fell on her wings and she looked up to see the first small cloud outriders of the storm almost overhead. Another drop fell on her face as she jumped nimbly onto the narrow railing. As she stepped off the railing she heard thunder rumble above her. She dived w/ her wings fully spread, accelerating into a fast glide and levelling out a dozen metres above the ground.

        Drakkan stalked angrily towards the Gate, eyes flashing w/ fury. His acute hearing could pick up skirmishes from all directions. These ape vermin had sneaked into his city as were infesting it. He would sort this out. His cats were more than a match for these rebel scum, and when it was all over he would take out his frustrations on that red bitch. Two of his escort had been downed already, which didn't improve his mood, and as he reached the structure he saw gun flashes and heard fighting from several points around the perimeter : the monkeys were surrounding him, determined to destroy the Gate and trap him here. Could they actually do it? They don't have the numbers...do they? MY army is depleted here, the Blood Warriors are scattered to various outlying places and those I have left are suspect. An arrow streaked out of a darkened window and hit one of his bodyguards, jamming into his armour but not felling him. The others opened fire and the combined blasts virtually demolished the wall of the building.
        As he strode past the Temple of Anubis Drakkan saw the Gate guards scattered about, keeping low behind the scant cover of the wide open area. The Gate was larger than the others, more solidly built to contain the powerful spells needed to link to his plane of existence. He had built it in a wide open space so large amounts of his Akerians and Doom Magistrates could come through at once but he had never considered that these puny apes might infiltrate his city and attack it. And they were being clever - instead of engaging his troops hand-to-hand they were staging hit-and-run tactics, sniping his numbers down and staying hidden. It was entirely possible that they could severely deplete his numbers if this kept up. Should I bring troops back from the other worlds? No...the wars are going well, I don't want to weaken our impetus. If the enemy sees me reducing my forces it could give them the encouragement they need to make a thrust. I could lose one of the worlds. The other option was to bring more troops from the home world, but he did not want to risk activating the Gate whilst it was under fire : the powers needed to open a portal to his plane of existence were awesome, and if the Gate was destroyed whilst activated there was no telling what might happen. It was possible the Gate would short itself out and blow, severing the spell and closing the portal. It was also entirely possible that it might cause a rupture that would tear into the fabric of the reality rift itself, unleashing that power - if that happened, there would be very little left of himself, this world and indeed any nearby planets. Personally, from what he had learned about these kind of spells, Drakkan thought that latter option was unlikely...but there was a large difference between 'unlikely' and 'impossible'. The best bet was an additional protection spell to keep the Gate safe until this little uprising was quashed : the Gate's existing shield spells seemed to be holding up so far, but Drakkan thought additional spells would not go amiss, just in case.
        An Akerian energy bolt flashed out from one of the buildings and Drakkan winced as it hit one of the Gate's beams w/ a yellow crackle. "You two," he snapped, gesturing at a pair of cats. "Clear out those perimeter buildings. Burn them or level them if need be, but I want every stinking ape out of them! We should have some of our own sentries in some of them so be careful what you shoot at!"
        The cats ran off eagerly and Drakkan strode on w/ his guards taking pot-shots at muzzle flashes. "Captain!" The Akerian scrambled to his feet and limped over, the broken shaft of an arrow jutting out of his hip. "Stop loitering in the dirt captain, get on the offensive! Get those buildings cleared!"
        "Yes Lord!"
        "Rally the others! I will protect the Gate, you go and exterminate those vermin!"
        As the captain ran off another energy bolt streaked out and  hit the Gate and this time Drakkan retaliated himself, casting a huge ball of Chaotic Energy at the building. The entire row of windows blew out and belched fire into the night and Drakkan grinned nastily. One more cooked ape. An arrow sliced past him, invisible in the dark w/ only the whisper of its passage to betray it. Drakkan scanned the area w/ a scowl but couldn't see his assailant.
        Something brushed at his senses like a breeze on his whiskers. Magick. Some distance away, but fairly strong. He frowned in its direction, trying to analyse it. He didn't recognise the type and wondered who could be casting it. One of that bitch's mages? Perhaps, they had lain low since her capture and some had been converted but he had no doubt some of them had evaded him. The only other people he had sensed great powers in were Purgatori and that strange white woman - could it be her? Fighting Purgatori's troops like she said? Or... a nasty premonition wafted over Drakkan. No. She's locked up. Guarded. VERY damaged. A soft rumble made him look up. He could see clouds gathering overhead, big black storm clouds frosted by the moonlight and building seemingly far faster than they should. The wind had shifted direction and the few clouds overhead were slowly reversing their paths and they seemed to be rising and darkening too. A spot of water fell on his muzzle and again unease stole over him. He pushed the senses of battle away and concentrated in the direction of the magick, but whoever had been casting the spell had stopped. He pushed the doubt away angrily, wishing he had a spare warrior to send back to check on her just in case and hating himself for having those doubts. Enough! Cast the spell then I can go and check myself. And when I find her still there I will punish her again, just for making me have these doubts. Brightened a bit by the thoughts of inflicting more pain on Purgatori, Drakkan closed his eyes and concentrated on his spell. Chaotic Energy began to channel through him as he recited the guttural spell, beginning to wrap the Gate in a web of sorcerous protection.
        An arrow slammed into his back between his shoulder blades, the force of the impact knocking him forward a step. His spell shorted out w/ a crackling snap that jarred electrical pain through his entire body. Drakkan tried to curse and coughed up blood instead. He looked down and saw the head of the arrow jutting out of his chest, its evil broadhead dripping w/ his blood. His scrabbling fingers grabbed the arrow and he pulled it through his body w/ a grunt. Chaotic Energy slithered over the wound and healed it and he turned, glaring at the secretive darkened buildings in a vain attempt to see who had shot him. He hesitated a moment in indecision : his Gate was potentially vulnerable but he couldn't risk trying to cast another spell - another backfire could hurt him or damage the Gate and he wasn't about to chance either. As he paused, the sky flashed white and thunder rumbled. Again, there was something about that thunder that made him wary. There was a loud bang and flash of fire from one of the roads that led to the Gate and Drakkan heard human screams. A fleeing figure was momentarily backlit by and explosion fireball and he saw it disintegrate from a direct hit from a bio-cannon. A mixed group of cats, Blood Warriors and Doom Magistrates came up the road, covering their retreat. There were about twenty in all, well armed by the looks. One of the Blood Warriors noticed him and ran over and bowed.
        "Report - why are these monkeys still in my city?!"
        "They are hard to fight Lord - they are not engaging us directly, for the most part."
        "Then YOU engage THEM! Idiot!"
        "We're trying to defend the Gates Lord! If we chase the rebels the Gates will be unprotected!"
        Drakkan snarled a curse and almost tore the head off the warrior. "Unprotected?! Where are my forces?!"
        "We are depleted as it is Lord, but the rebels have struck in multiple places simultaneously! Our forces are scattered in small groups and it is hard to organise! And Lord - some of our warriors have turned against us!"
        "I know! Pagan's little game!"
        "No Lord - they fight for Purgatori!"
        Drakkan froze. "What?! That...bitch!" She had obviously come back to this world w/ a couple of new tricks and had been slyly busy before being recaptured. This was a horrendous turn of events - dealing w/ Pagan's half-assed effort had been bad enough, but the Blood Warriors were fiercely loyal to Purgatori - which was why he had had to convert them in the first place - and if some of them were back on her side it could totally change the complexion of the battle, especially if the rest of his fighters didn't realise. How many had she won back, Drakkan wondered frantically? More than he had recovered from the reconversion program? ...Reconversion... Drakkan's eyes bugged out. What if some of HER troops were involved in the reconversion? Reconverting the Blood Warriors to HER side instead of his? The thought was too dreadful to contemplate. "Send runners," Drakkan said distantly. "Gather everyone you can and bring them here. This Gate must be defended at all costs."
        "But the others - "
        "Are disposable! I can construct others if they fall, but this Gate needed magicks and spells Séance gave me - that power is in that Gate : if it is destroyed the power is lost!" The words made him suddenly realise how precarious his position was. "GO! RUN you idiot!!" The Blood Warrior ran. Drakkan stood, momentarily flustered, then drew his sword as he heard voices. There was a group of humans by the Temple of Anubis, caught in the open and engaging some cats in swordplay. Drakkan strode towards them, ordering his guards to stay and protect the Gate. He was worried and p*ssed off, and right now a bunch of puny humans was exactly what he needed to work out some of his frustrations on.

        "Which way?" Lady Death asked impatiently. The access tunnel had brought them up close to a hospital - the building was locked up and dark, providing plentiful shadows for them to hide in.
        "That way," Garryk motioned. "Lot of open ground to cover." The sound of fighting came from all around, mostly gunfire and energy weapons but here and there was the ringing clash of hand weapons.
        Lady Death moved off immediately, ignoring Garryk's curse. "You are the one who said we should hurry, Garryk - we cannot loiter in the shadows all night." Lightning went off overhead like a giant strobe, illuminating Lady Death like a spotlight as she stood in the middle of the wide street and at that very moment a cavalry patrol rounded the corner at a gallop.
        "Shtfire!" Garryk threw the rifle to his shoulder and fired a volley, hardly able to believe that Lady Death was just standing there waiting for them w/ a cold grin on her face. His shots missed the fast moving targets and as he readjusted his aim a bullet hit his rifle and tore the scope off, flinging glass and metal shards in his face. Garryk swore and jumped back and by that time the riders had already reached them.
        Lady Death took a ready stance, hefting the comforting weight of Apocalypse as the riders bore down on her at impressive speed. She didn't know what their mounts were : they were reptilian, roughly the size of a Shire horse w/ a mouth full of steak knife teeth. The lead rider bulleted towards her, lowering his lance. Lady Death side stepped at the last possible moment and thrust hard. The blade went into the side of the animal and its forward movement dragged the blade most of the length of its body, amputating the cat's leg at the knee at the same time. The animal fell in a squealing kicking heap and Lady Death spun to slash aside the next rider's spear. The mount skidded to a stop and reared up w/ an angry howl. Lady Death slashed at its underside but it's pawing legs kicked Apocalypse out of her grip.   A burst of gunfire hit the cat in the chest and it fell w/ a choked screech. Lady Death dived for the sword and snatched a glance at Garryk. He emptied his clip into one of the animals and it crumpled, spilling the Blood Warrior rider. She saw him jump over the body and convert the Blood Warrior before he could free his foot from the stirrups. Lightning stuttered overhead, brilliant white, and its light saved her - she saw the spark of polished metal and hurled herself backwards. The big barbed spear thumped into the ground between her legs, pinning her cloak. The animal snapped at her, its three rows of dagger-like teeth clashing together a few inches from her face. She punched it hard, hurting her knuckles on its stone-hard skull and as it jerked its head back she rammed Apocalypse up through its lower jaw and into its brain. The creature stiffened and flopped suddenly, throwing its rider as he fired his sidearm. She ripped her cloak off and fried the cat before he hit the ground. Garryk and the Blood Warrior ran over as she stood and flicked the blood off Apocalypse.
        "Dammit woman, I told you we ain't got time for this sht!"
        "We're alive, they are dead, and you have a new recruit : what's your problem?"
        "I almost got my fkn face shot off, that's the problem!" Lightning flashed and sudden rain stopped his argument. "You gotta be kidding me!"
        "More," the Blood Warrior said, gesturing down the street. "Your gun still work?"
        "Yeah. Only got a couple shots left though. What's your name?"
        "Tripp." He pulled a short sword from a saddle scabbard and stuck it in the ground. "Use that."
        "Ta. Careful w/ that axe Tripp - try and keep the Blood Warriors alive so we can convert them."
        The warriors fanned out on the darkness, coming warily as they took in the trio and their fallen comrades. Two of the Akerians were carrying energy weapons. Garryk dropped to one knee to steady himself, blinked rain out of his eyes and fired twice. The gun jammed on the second shot and he dropped it w/ a curse and snatched up the shortsword. His aim had been true and one of the cats doubled over and fell. The other returned fire and Garryk and Tripp jumped aside as the energy blast sizzled between them. The cat fired again and blew a smoking crater in the ground by Tripp's feet as he dodged the shot w/ his fantastic vampire speed. Blue fire split the air and Arcane Energy incinerated the feline before it could correct its aim. W/ both of the gunners down the remaining troops ran at each other and Garryk found himself left behind by Lady Death's and Tripp's supernatural speed. By the time he caught up Lady Death had gutted a cat and was engaging another, and Tripp had pole-axed one of the Blood Warriors. Another cat slashed at him and Garryk blocked the cut. The strength of the blow staggered him and he slipped on the wet ground. The cat moved in fast, thrusting and slicing. Garryk parried, still on one knee, and the cat kicked out and caught him solidly on the chin. Garryk dropped his weapon and flopped onto his back, limp and helpless. The cat raised its scimitar and as it began its downward stroke an axe twirled through the rain and cleaved its arm off. The dripping limb fell on Garryk's stomach but he didn't react.
        Lady Death beheaded the Akerian and looked around for her next victim w/ a savage grin. It felt good to be in battle again, letting the bloodlust take over. She desperately wanted to take out some of Purgatori's troops but she couldn't risk that at the moment. After the way that vampire bitch had treated her - after SHE had rescued her, if you please! - she would start by killing one and then not stop till every single one of that bat-winged bitch's followers were in pieces. There you go bitch, what are you going to do about it? Oops, nothing of course, or you might mess up your precious goddess' plans. Of course, she couldn't do that because everything would fall apart and Marion would be so disappointed in her. Never mind, there were plenty of cats around at the minute for her to play w/. One of them came at her, its cutlass striking sparks off her shoulder armour. She slashed back, cutting its chest and kicking it in the crotch. They must have been built differently to other males because she didn't phase it at all. She batted his thrust aside and speared him on Apocalypse. The blade went up under his ribs and came out by his neck - the cat wilted instantly and slid limply off the sword.
        Tripp seemed to be doing well - he was massively muscled and augmented w/ vampiric speed and strength, making him a fearsome opponent. He wore the skull shoulder pads of the Jackals, a symbol that marked not only great fighting ability but seemingly an enthusiasm for killing. And a love of that red harlot too. Lady Death flicked the wet hair out of her eyes and scanned the area for more foes. She saw Garryk lying still in the mud of the grass verge by the pavement and her heart jumped.
        "Gods no!" She was a dozen metres away when a dark winged shape dropped soundlessly out of the sky and landed agilely near his body. Lady Death slid to a stunned halt and gaped at the figure. "Vulnavia!" The Valkyrie looked over, her eyes cold and blank, inspecting Lady Death but showing no reaction. Her sword was drawn and Lady Death could see blood on it. "Vulnavia...it's me, Lady Death."
        "I know who you are." Still no emotion. She looked down as Garryk moaned and shifted as his sensed gradually returned. "You fight w/ these rebels?"
        Lady Death hesitated, knowing the wrong answer could be fatal. Had Vulnavia been converted? She had been Purgatori's lover or concubine or something, hadn't she? Surely she would still be loyal - if she had been converted first Purgatori would have noticed. If she WAS still loyal, the last thing Lady Death wanted was to get into a needless fight w/ her own sister. "Yes, I do."
         "I thought as much," Vulnavia said. And drove her blade down into Garryk's chest.
        "NOOO! Garryk!"
        Vulnavia moved to her side w/ incredible speed and when she snarled at Lady Death she could see her long teeth. She hit Lady Death four times before she could react, powerful blows that stunned Lady Death and broke bones. "Rebel scum! I'll keep YOU alive for my Lord to interrogate!" Her blade cut Lady Death's sword arm deeply and she dropped Apocalypse w/ a howl of pain. Her armoured boot smashed into Lady Death's midriff like a cannon ball and as Lady Death crumpled to her knees she drove her mailed fist into her temple. "Alive, but not intact," Vulnavia grinned.
        As she raised her sword something blurred into her, driving her a dozen metres back. Her sword cartwheeled into the darkness. She twisted around and got to her feet in an instant and her face betrayed her shock as she focused on her assailant. "You! B-but -!"
        Purgatori hissed in hatred, the katana level and rock steady in her hands. "Come, harlot. See how well you do against me!"
        Vulnavia apparently already knew the answer : she vanished skywards w/ a flap of her wings.   Purgatori glared after her for a second then whirled and dived to Garryk's side. She cradled his juddering body, feeling his life ebb away. "Garryk," she said softly.
        His eyes flickered open and managed to lock onto hers. He gazed into those beautiful glowing jewels and read her unspoken question. "Y-yes," he croaked, blood running out his mouth.
        Lady Death pushed herself up dizzily and forced her Arcane Energy through her. It took a monumental effort - her head hurt so much it was hard to concentrate, and again she became aware of how drained she felt. Garryk! She clawed her muddy hair out of her face and froze as she saw him in Purgatori's embrace, his legs kicking and his back arched in spasm. A big hand took her arm and fairly yanked her up. She clung to Tripp as a waved of nausea made her reel and when she could focus again Garryk was sitting up of his own accord and his eyes were blank white. Lady Death slumped despairingly as he stood and bowed to Purgatori.
        As Purgatori went w/ Tripp to convert the fallen Blood Warriors Garryk came over but stopped a few feet away when he saw her expression. "What's wrong?"
        "Nothing," she said dully.
        "You don't look well."
        "I'm fine," she said shortly.
        "Uh huh." He regarded her silently for a while, quietly resigning himself to the fact that whatever bond had existed between them was now gone. "Don't like vampires, huh?"
        She could see the disappointment and sadness in his eyes and it hurt her slightly but she was unable to help her feelings. "No," she said. She wanted to add more, about how maybe Purgatori wasn't indicative of how all vampires were, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.
        "Garryk!"
        "Yes Empress?"
        "The WinterHaven Gate is still standing," Purgatori said, coming over. "Take these troops and destroy it."
        "Where's Drakkan?" Lady Death broke in.
        "At his Gate," Purgatori snapped back.
        "I want his head."
        "Go and destroy your Gate."
        "I've told you before; I don't take orders from you, bitch."
        "Shut up brat - YOU wanted to come here to destroy the Gate, so go and do it. People are dying to secure YOUR world so do something to help instead of standing here puling."
        "Whore!"
        Tripp moved forward w/ his axe raised at the insult but Purgatori motioned him back. "Slut! Stop wasting everybody's time and do what needs to be done!"
        Lady Death ground her teeth, torn between going after Drakkan and destroying his passage to WinterHaven - one of the main reasons she had come here, as Purgatori had annoyingly pointed out. Purgatori walked over to Tripp and said something to him and Lady Death saw him nod and look over at her. Obviously an instruction to keep an eye on me, Lady Death thought. Hah! Like he could stop me!   Purgatori unfolded her wings and flew off swiftly into the night, the darkness rapidly swallowing her flitting form. Lady Death wiped her sword on the tunic of a nearby corpse and looked over at Garryk.    "Let's move on. Rift will need our help."
        "Yeah, cool." He signalled the others and they moved off quickly in the direction of the Gate. Lady Death took the lead, ignoring Tripp who fell in directly behind her. Her eyes glittered as she walked. She would destroy the Gate to WinterHaven and kill any cats and bugs nearby, and then she would head straight to the main Gate and kill Drakkan. And if Tripp looked like he might have a problem w/ her doing that, she would just have to kill him too.

        Diabolica peeked around the building's corner and looked up the street. "Looks clear," she said. "I think we can make it to the bridge steps."
        Demonica took a look and wrinkled her nose. "No. Cross straight over to the shops and we'll move up the side of the row of buildings."
        "Why? It's only a couple hundred metres or so."
        "You can get shot in that distance. It's too open - we can use the shadows of the shops and dive inside one if we see anybody."
        "Wow, aren't you the urban warrior? How'd you learn all this stuff?"
        "Heh, I'm shagging Snake Eyes."
        "No way! He's such a hunk! What's he like then?"
        "Fantastic!" Demonica giggled. "You wouldn't believe his - "
        An Akerian tore Mr Head Burster out of her grasp and smashed her to the ground. Another cat grabbed Diabolica and threw her against the wall. "Traitor!" It slashed at her and the demoness wailed as its claws tore deep trails down her chest. The feline grabbed her and yanked her close as the other stood and Demonica and pinned her down, pointing the Scorpion at her. "How did you break the conversion spell?"
        Diabolica pointed at him and a bolt of power jabbed into his eyeball. The feline squawked and fell instantly. She landed on her feet and gasped as the other cat swung the big rifle at her.
        Another huge shape smashed into the cat and the two giants crashed to the ground. Diabolica dived over to Demonica and helped her up quickly, hardly taking her eyes off the fighting figures. "Demonica! You okay?"
        "Where's my gun?!" Demonica coughed. "Get my gun you doof!"
        Diabolica snatched up the cannon and flinched as a shriek wavered from the cat's throat. The other figure kicked the animal away and Diabolica saw blood dripping off a Mamba combat knife. The figure hunched over for a moment, panting, then straightened up and looked over.
        "Diabolica. Are you on our side too?"
        "Rourke!" Diabolica gasped. "Yes, we are."
        "Rourkey!" Demonica crowed, snatching her gun off Diabolica. "We got you back! Kewl! Um, what happened to your face?"
        "Cat."
        Diabolica pushed past and stood on tip-toe to look. "Oooh! Shall I lick it better?"
        "Er, no thanks."
        She tugged her brief top down and thrust her chest out. "I got hurt too! Look at my chest!"
        "Damn, Diabolica, are you okay?"
        "Well it's VERY sore," Diabolica said sadly, batting her eyelashes. "Maybe if you rubbed it better..."
        "Di, be serious, I'm busy."
        "Tch! Charming, that!" She pouted. "It IS sore, but we demons heal fast. Shouldn't even scar. Which is more than I can say for you."
        Demonica grimaced as Rourke walked over and she got a clearer look at the crudely bandaged wound. "Eww, that's messy."
        "Thanks, Demonica."
        "I don't mind, baby. I'll still love you," Diabolica said. "I can put on my nurses outfit for you and make you feel all better again."
        "Eeh, are you and him shagging, then?"
        "Demonica, we're in the middle of a battle. You need that gun? I had to shove mine into a cat."
        "Yes I do!" Demonica cried, clutching Mr Head Burster protectively. "Can't you get something else?"
        "Here baby, this fuzzy's got a gun thing," Diabolica said, pulling the weapon free and handing it over.
        Rourke took the gun and pushed Diabolica's hands away. "What are you doing?"
        "You're bleeding. I was just checking you were alright."
        "I know, I reopened my wound in the fight - that's not what you were feeling."
        "I was just checking for OTHER wounds," she giggled.
        "Everything still works fine," Rourke said, adjusting the bandage. He held his breath at the pain and used his training to push the sensation to the back of his mind. Diabolica's persistent fingers helped too. "What are you girls doing? You seen Purgatori?"
        "No, not yet," Demonica said, "but she should be around the main Gate. Eee, you tramp, you never told me about Rourke..."
        "You never asked," Diabolica said airily, frowning as he pushed her hands away again. "We were heading up there to try and help her. We're gonna go up onto the bridges coz Demi here's a wicked cool sniper. You coming?" She giggled naughtily. "Ooh, I'll just check..."
        Rourke pulled her hand away. "No, I'll circle round and come in the opposite side : keep them occupied and watch you don't shoot me by mistake."
        "I won't!" Demonica said, offended. "I'm bloody good you know!"
        "Okay, okay, I was just saying. Di, will you get OFF me! Go on, move quickly and I'll see you over there."
        "Okay! See ya, Rourkey!"
        "Bye petal!" Diabolica said, kissing his huge biceps. "Keep yourself safe mind - we got some catching up to do!"
        "Count on it."
        Rourke watched the twins scamper off up the stairs and vanish as they ducked down below the bridge wall. As soon as they were gone he moved to the shadows of the shops and moved off in a quiet jog, heading towards the main Gate in a wide loop.

        Cobra loosed the last of his arrows and swore as the cat moved just as he fired. He dropped the bow and drew his niten, cursing the rain that might dilute the venom on the blades. A Doom Magistrate darted into the light of a globe and Snake Eyes jumped back to give Shrapnel room to fire. His gun roared and the insect was jarred to a halt as the bullet punched into its thorax. Shrapnel fired again and the monster fell.
        "This is fkd up Cobra! We're gonna get surrounded!"
        "Tell me about it!" They were only a few streets away from the Gate but had reached a crossroads at the same time as a reinforcing squad. The firefight had cost him six people and he knew some of the forces were working their way around to get behind them. There was a good chance other enemies might come to help protect the Gate, and if they caught the rebels in a crossfire they would probably wipe them out. Snake Eyes looked around and saw their options were limited. He was next to a fabric shop : he backed up and kicked the door in, giving a shrill signal whistle to his fighters. "Get in here! Jensen! Split up! Take your team out the back and circle round to the left - Shrapnel, we'll go right : everyone just head for the Gate and do what you can!"
        Arrows, bullets and energy blasts seemed to be criss-crossing everywhere. One of the young girls took an arrow in the thigh and fell w/ a shriek.
        "Sht! Shrapnel, cover me!"
        Snake Eyes crouched and raced out into the street, sheathing his niten on the run. He grabbed the girl under the armpits and dragged her over to the doorway, eyes flicking in every direction for danger. He was twenty feet away when she took an arrow in the head. Snake Eyes snarled and dropped the body and a sledgehammer blow spun him around. His legs tangled and he fell, waves of burning pain shooting through his body, and came to rest on his back, looking up into the rain w/ his breath bubbling in his lungs. Sht, I been shot. GodDAMN that hurts.
        A shape blotted out the rain and fire illuminated it as Shrapnel rapid fired a few shots to give Jensen time to grab Cobra. Snake Eyes clenched his teeth and howled as the movement jarred the wound. Jensen pulled him into the shop and the last of the rebels raced in after them, hurdling Cobra's body. An arrow thumped into the door frame and Shrapnel slammed the door shut before any more projectiles could be fired.
        "Sht, SABRE!!" Shrapnel dropped to his knee and carefully opened Cobra's jacket. "Hang on Snake. Can you breathe okay?"
        "J...just about..."
        The young girl ran up and knelt down beside them to inspect the damage.
        "Can you do anything?" Shrapnel asked.
        "Not a lot," Sabre said, her voice wavering slightly - Cobra had been a friend since childhood. "I've got a spell that will halt the bleeding but if he doesn't get surgery - or a better spell - in a few hours..."
        "Do...do it and get to the G-Gate," Snake Eyes gasped. "Leave me a gun and I'll hold 'em off as l...long as I can."
        "I'll stay w/ you," Shrapnel said as Sabre began her incantation.
        "No."
        "Cobra, look at the state of you - if they come they'll - "
        "No! You gotta help kill that Gate, or everything's been a waste!" His head jerked back and he sucked in a sharp breath as Sabre's magick sank into him.
        Shrapnel sat back, knowing Cobra was right but hating it. He grabbed a roll of thick velvety cloth and covered Cobra to keep him warm and pulled a pistol from his belt. "Here. Be safe bud."
        Sabre looked at him pleadingly. "Cobra...I could stay and - "
        "No." Cobra squeezed her hand briefly. "Go on, I'll be okay."
        Sabre brushed a hand across her eyes and leant over quickly to kiss his cheek. As they moved out, spreading quickly and quietly through the building to get out the rear and side exits, Snake Eyes rested his head and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply and tasted the air - there was no one in the near vicinity. There was a warm tingling in his chest where Sabre's magick held his blood in place - the sorcery didn't kill all of the pain though, and he got a bitter burn w/ each breath.
       Fk it, Snake Eyes thought in the darkness, listening to the rain. If I die Demonica'll be gutted. Hope no one tells her how bad I'm hurt, she'll do something daft, I guarantee it.
        He breathed and tasted cat nearby. He slipped the safety off the gun.

Anton loosed a shot and dropped quickly as a pair of energy bolts streaked towards him. One hit the ravaged railing and showered him w/ hot gravel and the other sped off into the clouds. "I can't hit sht here," he said to Diamondback, lying casually on his side as though he wasn't in the middle of a battle.
        "They're pinning us down," she replied. "We better move before they decide to come and get us."
        "Fkn A. This sucks - where's Purgatori? You think they didn't get her out?"
        "Nah, I think she's out - this storm's tainted w/ sorcery. Dunno why she ain't here though." The trapdoor hatch crashed open. They both twisted and fired at the same time and the Akerian fell w/ two arrows in him. "Fk, I told you. Let's move."
        "I hope that was the only one - if there's more downstairs we're fkd." Lightning flashed again and Anton saw a sleek red shape diving from the sky. "Hoo ah! There's Purgatori!"
        "That'll take their attention. I'll guard the hatch, you try and pick off a couple more."
        Anton nocked an arrow and put his head up cautiously. There was a lot of firing from below but none of it was directed at him. Thunder shook the air around him. He saw an arc of violet fire, muzzle flashes from cat guns. He picked one, aimed, fired.

        Drakkan's eyes widened as a red blur swept down into the clearing and cut down one of the Doom Magistrates in a flare of purple fire. She was out - the bitch was out. Several energy blasts zipped towards her at once. She dropped to a kneeling stance and all the shots missed. Two of the soldiers fired again and hit the ground where she had been. Her blade sliced another out the air and as she changed stance she saw him and her eyes blazed w/ hatred. Drakkan's own hatred overcame his dismay and he drew his sword and charged at her w/ a roar of fury. Their blades clashed w/ a shower of sparks as they cut and parried blindingly fast. W/ her vampire speed and strength Purgatori was at least his equal despite him being over eighteen inches taller and nearly four times her weight. He lashed out at her and she jumped out the way, falling into a side-on stance w/ the katana levelled and pointing at his heart.  Drakkan mirrored her stance, momentarily flustered. She had just been brutally tortured and immersed in all sorts of disabling and disarming magicks - she shouldn’t have been this energetic. And her fighting abilities were fearsome, her sword skill better than her mother's. His eyes narrowed as he studied her : no, she WAS weakened. He could tell the effort of blocking his powerful blows was taking its toll on her, and perhaps expending the power to create this storm had tired her further.
        Drakkan lunged, anxious to press the advantage before she had a chance to recover. His sword cut air and violet fire engulfed his side as she side-stepped just enough to avoid the sword and slash open his belly. Drakkan half-staggered, half-leapt backwards w/ a howl of agony as fire swept through his innards. His own sorcery washed through him and quenched the flames. Drakkan was ready for her, but Purgatori wasn't there - she stood a dozen metres away, facing the Gate w/ one hand raised and Drakkan gave a wordless scream of horror and fury as he realised what she was about to do : he could feel the magick gathering in and around her.
        A cat cannon blast flashed through the rain and hit her shoulder, spinning and throwing her, almost tearing the limb off. Kintaro fell from her hand and stuck in the ground. Drakkan pounced instantly. He towered over her and rammed his sword down at her head. She jerked aside as her vision cleared in the nick of time and the blade creased the side of her skull, slicing hair and skin just below her horn. He stamped on her chest and Purgatori howled in pain and hate.
        "Freak," Drakkan spat at her. "You were an idiot to ever consider coming back to my world - now you will pay. I'll send your innards to Isis to use to divine her next prophecy!"
        Purgatori's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of her goddess. She could feel her spells roiling w/in herself, on the verge of rupturing. There was no time to pause and wonder if they were powerful enough or stable enough to use : as Drakkan raised his sword to decapitate her Purgatori raised her hand and clawed down raw elemental power from the skies. Three thick lightning bolts stabbed down from the churning skies and hit the Gate. The blinding white flash fluttered violet for a brief second then strobed golden as the web of Chaotic magicks were fried by the colossal primal power of the electricity. Long juddering tentacles of power wrapped around the Gate and the structure disintegrated. A scaldingly bright corona of power slashed outwards and each of the thick obsidian beams exploded .

        Lady Death slashed at the cat, gutting it then beheading it w/ the reverse stroke. Blood splashed over her but she was too angry to notice. That was good - the anger always gave her strength. Not too far away, Garryk was engaging another Blood Warrior w/ Tripp's shortsword. She watched him for a second, noticing his increased speed and strength then turned away, quashing that hateful feeling of longing before it could grow further.
        The Gate  stood fifty metres away, thick bamboo scaffolding encasing its right-hand side - the destruction of its sister on her world had damaged it here but it was as Purgatori had said : it could be repaired and refocused. If they lost the fight here she didn't doubt that Drakkan would flood her world w/ warriors and probably kill her friends. Even if it was destroyed they might not be safe - he could always build another, but that would take longer and she wasn't about to make things easy for him.
        When they had arrived, Rift and his team had been engaged in a large fight. The Gate had been guarded by a small group and they had managed to snipe most of them before they realised what was happening but as the rebels advanced on the Gate they had been jumped by a large patrol that had been heading in the direction of the Palace. The fight had been hard and the sudden appearance of Garryk and his companions had been most welcome.
        A Blood Warrior came at her and she blocked his blow. Apocalypse rang against his breastplate and Lady Death cursed as he barely fell back a step, his canines gleaming as he snarled at her. Cursed vampires! Lady Death thought hatefully and fired a blast of Arcane Energy at him w/ a grin of pleasure. The grin dropped off her face as the Jackal screamed but didn't go down. Incredibly he tried to lift his sword arm again to attack her and Lady Death took his head off w/ a worried slice. Gods, am I THAT weakened? Or did I just underestimate what monsters that bitch has created for herself?
        She turned her back on the body and strode to the Gate, eyes flicking about for danger. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the slick black beams and making the rain seemingly hesitate momentarily as it fell. She looked at it w/ a touch of apprehension - would she still be able to destroy it? She had blasted its counterpart into rubble and it had taken a surprising amount of effort, and that had been when she was at full power. She could sense the Gate was different now - it was dead, its power muted and the webs of magick dimmed almost to extinction. The protection spells appeared to have been removed so that repairs could be done, and w/out its sister to link to the construction seemed little more than an exotic sculpture. Well, only one way to find out... she thought, hacking away the bamboo scaffolding.
        Lady Death took a two-handed grip on Apocalypse and swung at the lower right beam, channelling her Arcane Energy down the blade. There was a deafening KRANG!!! of impact, a sound she associated w/ Cremator working at his anvil, and her shoulders jarred as the heavy blade connected w/ the stone. Bright blue energy speared through the obsidian like marble veins and the whole thing imploded, crashing in on itself w/ a rapid series of splintering cracks. Lady Death grinned triumphantly at the rubble, jubilant despite feeling weak. She turned back to the battle and cursed as she saw a group of Blood Warriors running up, a dozen or so in number. A tall shape moved up beside her.
        "Nice work," Garryk said, hefting a recently acquired Akerian rifle. "You can try that again at the main Gate...if we make it there." He glanced at her. "You okay? You seem weak."
        "I'm fine," she said tersely.
        "You sure? I can sense your - "
        "I SAID - I'm fine!" she snapped. She saw the hurt on his face and was angry at herself - after all, it wasn't his fault he had been vampirised, it had been either that or die; not much of a choice. "I don't know if we can take this group alive," she said to change the subject.
        "Rift!"
        The vampire looked over at the Blood Warriors. Several of them had guns and even his vampire speed wouldn't be enough to let him close the distance to them before they opened fire on the group. "Cort. If you aren't on our side we're in for a fk of a fight."
        "Depends what side you mean. You destroy the Gate?"
        "Aye," Rift said, tightening his grip on his weapon and tensing to move.
        Cort raised his gun to the sky. "Then I guess we're on the same side then. Where's Purgatori? I heard you were gonna bust her out of the dungeons."
        "Yeah, we did," Rift said. He checked the unconscious Blood Warrior by his feet that he had just converted and stood up. Lady Death still looked fairly hostile but everyone else had their weapons lowered.
        "Good fkn deal! We got word she wants us to head for the main Gate - you heading there?"
        "Aye. We came here to neutralise this one - our new white friend took care of it."
        Cort turned and bowed his head briefly. "Good to meet you. Any friend of Purgatori's is a friend of mine."
        Garryk saw Lady Death ready to explode at THAT accusation but before she could speak - and probably turn everything into a bloodbath - the sky roiled and three massive lightning bolts lanced down and hit something that exploded impressively.
        "Holy fk!" Cort cried. "I reckon that's the Gate gone!"
        "Was from that direction," Tripp agreed. He had acquired a powerful recurve bow and was buckling a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. "Looks like Purgatori's work."
        "Well that's saved us a walk. Bail and regroup, right?"
        "That was the plan - "
        "I want Drakkan," Lady Death interrupted, glaring at Tripp. Tripp glared right back, not giving an inch. He looked like a man who was uninterested in debate : his Empress had given him an order and that's all that mattered to him. Right now, he saw some bratty white woman ignoring those orders and his usual response to such disobedience would probably involve some level of violence as opposed to reasoned discussion. Oh, please try...
        "We can go for him later, Lady Death," Garryk said reasonably. "The loss of the Gate has fkd him up good, we should get out fast before we lose anyone else."
        Lady Death could hear the tension in his tone. Once again he was trying to look out for her, fully aware no doubt of what would happen if she got into a fight w/ Tripp. Why does he care so much? she thought angrily. And...why do I still care for him...? "If he's at the Gate, he will fight w/ Purgatori," Lady Death said, straining to keep her voice even. "She has been hurt badly and might not be up to strength. He could kill her. Or capture her again when we leave her."  Very reasonable - mother would be proud! I WILL get to that bastard tonight : if I can avoid an argument, fine - if not, no matter.
        Garryk and Rift exchanged glances. "She might already be gone," Rift said doubtfully. "She said she would hit and run."
        "Hah! You mustn't know your own Empress very well! If she sees him there, NOTHING will keep her from him."
        "Can't argue w/ that," Tripp murmured.
        "Good goddamn," Garryk sighed. "Alright - we'll head for the Gate. If she's there and needs help, we help : if it looks like she's gone, we leave," he said turning to look at Lady Death. "Immediately. Agreed?"
        "A fine plan," Lady Death grinned. "I'll meet you there." She levitated and sped off into the sky before Tripp could stop her.
        "Goddamn white hussy!"
        "Sweet Isis," Garryk groaned, tipping his head back to let the rain fall on his face. "This is gonna p*ss Purgatori off no end. Y'all better back me up that it wasn't my fault."
        "Let's go," Tripp said blackly, already moving.
        "Chill out Tripp, she's an ally." Tripp didn't respond and Garryk grimaced. It sounded like Tripp was going to beat the sht out of Lady Death and Garryk knew there was nothing he could do to avert it - Tripp could break him in pieces w/ one hand. As they jogged to keep up w/ the hurrying Jackal Garryk realised he would just have to hope Tripp got distracted w/ fighting cats and bugs instead.

        The blast smashed into them, hurling Drakkan off her and searing her skin, but her spell had worked well enough to protect her from the bulk of the power : as the energy wave swept over her, her body absorbed it instead of trying to deflect it. She got a fraction of it before it was gone, but what she got was a blessing. The halo of energy punched outwards, dissipating power rapidly, and by the time it reached the perimeter buildings it was almost spent, doing little more than blowing out every pane of glass and blackening stonework.
        Something slammed into the ground a foot away w/ a thump that bounced her off the ground, blasting her w/ a gust of displaced air that threw hot sand against her skin like a shower of sparks. She turned her head to see a smoking chunk of obsidian almost ten feet across embedded in the damp ground and part of her reeling mind wondered if this narrow miss was something else due to Isis watching over her - a few feet nearer and she would have been mashed into paste. She pushed herself up, skeins of mist swirling around her from where the wet ground had been seared by the blast. The Gate was gone, and only a blackened, rubble-studded crater marked the place it had stood. Purgatori stood and picked up her blade. Her fingers were trembling minutely. Blood. I need blood, powerful blood...and I know just the candidate.
        She screamed as Drakkan rammed his broad blade vertically down through her collar bone, all the way down through her chest to her stomach. He twisted it brutally and yanked it out, kicking her into the chunk of obsidian as she collapsed.
        "YOU RANCID BITCH!!" Drakkan raged, punctuating each word w/ a hack at her prone body. His fur was blackened and smoking and there were large charred holes in his clothing. He paused, muscles shaking w/ fury and exertion - unlike Purgatori he had been completely unprepared and the blast had severely damaged him. A flying chunk of stone had smashed the left side of his body and it had taken all of his self-control to exert his power to heal himself. Now, a huge amount of that power was gone and he was still far from being fully healed. Still there was one undeniable fact - no matter how bad he felt, it was a lot better than that scarlet bitch was feeling right now. He kicked her again for good measure. Kill her! Kill her now! Right now!
        He actually raised his sword and tensed his muscles for the killing blow, but finally he couldn't do it : if that bitch thought she could do this to him and then expect a quick painless death whilst unconscious she had another thing coming.
        "Corporal!"
        One of his bodyguards ran over, swiftly changing the magazine in his rifle. His armour was dented and blood flowed down one leg and he looked slightly dazed  - and slightly fearful - from the explosion.   "Lord?"
        "Drag this maggot back to the Palace and lock her up. Cut her limbs off before you leave her. Take two Doom Magistrates w/ you."
        "Yes Lord!" The cat wanted to tell Drakkan that there were rebels all over the city and the chances of him getting to the dungeons w/ their leader were slim at best, but he knew full well what Drakkan's response would be. He bent down to grab Purgatori's hair and a blade severed his head. He flopped on top of the vampiress, legs kicking weakly. His head thumped and rolled, gazing up at the sky in surprise.
        Drakkan whirled at the choked grunt and blinding sapphire energy punched into him. He crashed backwards wreathed in blue fire and landed w/ a splash in a shallow puddle. W/ a shriek of agony he heaved his power through him and extinguished the fire, and for a fraction of a second he lay there relishing the cool water on his hot fur. He rolled, twisted and snatched out his dagger, blinking to focus on his attacker. His eyes flashed in hatred as he saw her. "White ape. I was right not to trust you."
        "You should have killed me when you had me in chains," Lady Death said coldly. "You may have found HER easy to beat, but you will find me a LOT harder to kill."
        "If you last half the time she did," Drakkan snarled back, "I'll be very impressed. But somehow I doubt you will!"
        Lady Death lunged at him and he deflected the blow w/ the long serrated knife. Sparks flashed as the blades screeched together. He booted Lady Death aside, dived and snatched up his sword and turned to face her in stance. She cut at him again : he blocked w/ the knife and hacked at her w/ the sword, cutting a gash just below her breasts. Lady Death jumped back w/ a grimace and Drakkan grinned, moving to match her.

       Cobra lay perfectly still in the blackness of the shop, trying to control his breathing. Sabre's magick had stopped the blood flow but it hurt to breathe and the irritation on the wound made him want to cough. He took a long slow breath and tasted the cat, nearer now and to the left of the doorway. It was coming slow, and he knew it was scenting the air - it was as aware of his presence as he was of it. Come on in, fkr...  It moved utterly silently, Snake Eyes thought - you had to admire an animal that size that could move quietly in armour. He breathed again and spasmed, trying to keep his cough in. He felt a tiny twinge in his lung and felt a trickle of hot blood and realised the strain had opened the wound a bit. A drop rolled down the inside of his lung, tickling maddeningly.
        The was pushed open but the cat wasn't stupid - it was still out of sight at the side of the door, waiting to see if there was a reaction. It could smell him and the blood, but probably didn't know if he was a corpse, or unconscious, or still a threat. A big black shape stepped into the doorway and Snake Eyes fired, slamming six shots into its chest. The feline staggered back, its gun discharging and sending a searing bolt to Cobra's left : it hit a roll of fabric and fire bloomed, illuminating him treacherously. He coughed, aimed and blew the cat's forehead open.
        "Eat that you - "
        A big furred arm reached around the doorway holding an Akerian assault rifle. It fired three or four bursts, twisting the gun to sweep the interior. One of the blasts went directly over Cobra but fortunately the cat hadn't considered someone might be lying on the floor. More fires burst out as the shots hit racks of material and rolls of fabric, spreading fast.
        The big animal appeared in the doorway and Snake Eyes fired. The first shot missed as his hand shook, the second hit the edge of the cat's armoured shoulder and screamed off into the night, the third hit the cat's rifle and jammed his pistol. Oh fk! The feline jerked back and dropped the rifle as it spat sparks and flame. Its eyes found Cobra and it hissed, baring its large pointed teeth as it pulled a pair of jagged knives from its belt. Cobra reached for his niten an grimaced as the movement snagged his wound. He looked up at the warrior, unable to reach his weapon.
        The cat's chest exploded w/ a sizzling bang, drenching him w/ pints of acrid alien blood. Snake Eyes coughed and wiped it out of his eyes, blinking up at the huge silhouette standing over the cat corpse.
        "Hey Cobra," Rourke said. "Heh, you're all wet."
        "Fkwit!"
        "Get up, y'idiot - the place is on fire in case you hadn't realised."
        "Can't....been shot."
        "Ah sht! Lemme look." Rourke crossed fast and crouched down, examining the wound w/ a quickness and emotionless thoroughness learned on countless battlefields. "Uh...well, it ain't TOO bad. Course, getting cat blood in it didn't help, hah. Just kidding. Just as well someone gave you that spell though. It's starting to wear off a bit - let's get you moved and I'll recast it for ya."
        Rourke ran to the doorway, checked quickly that the area was clear then picked up Snake Eyes and ran across the road w/ him. There was an alchemist's shop directly opposite, and Rourke kicked the door open and laid Snake Eyes out on one of the display tables. Cobra winced at the pain but a few moments later he felt the slight warmth of magick spreading through him.
        "Who converted you Rourke? How we doing?"
        "Vyrryn," Rourke said, beginning to bandage the wound w/ a ripped up table cloth. "I think we're doing okay - we got a shtload of Jackals reconverted. Load of cats are dead, few bugs around, part from that I think we're in w/ a chance. Once we destroy his Gate he'll have a finite amount of troops - we can pick em off one by one if we need to."
        "Yeah. You ain't seen Demonica have you?"
        "Aye, she's cool. Got her sis back too. Can she really handle a Scorpion?"
        "Like you wouldn't believe. I've seen her nail a cat at about nine hundred metres."
        "Fk me. There - that should do you," Rourke said, checking the finished dressing.
        "Feels good. Thanks bud."
        "No worries. I'm off to find Purgatori. I ain't got a weapon for you but you should be okay if you keep quiet."
        "Yeah. Go."
        "If we bail, I'll come back for you."
        "Look after Demonica."
        "That too," Rourke agreed and was out the door before Snake Eyes could thank him.
        Cobra lay back in the darkness and looked at the dancing orange patterns on the ceiling. The fire across the street was gaining hold, but the rain was hampering its progress. Still, if something wasn't done about it soon there was every chance it could get way out of control. Cobra suddenly tensed, holding his breath. Very faintly, he could hear something. He strained to catch it again and did so. Voices - it sounded like voices. A lot of them. Cobra listened some more and began to smile.

        Lady Death reeled back under another crashing blow from Drakkan, alarmed at the ache in her arms and shoulders. He was a powerful animal and she was weakened from her wounds. She had tired herself further by destroying the WinterHaven Gate and now she wondered if she dare use her Arcane Energy against him : if it didn't kill him she would be left nearly helpless. He seemed to sense that too. She blocked another blow and slashed at him, desperate to take the offensive.
        Drakkan dodged and sliced, opening up a cut on her forearm. "What's wrong, Whiteape?" he grinned. "You seem to be tiring."
        "Tiring of your banal prattling, hairball," Lady Death snarled. Flashes of yellow caught her eye and she glanced over : Doom Magistrates, and a fair number of Akerian infantry. More moving shadows from the sides of the plaza : more cats. Lady Death swore - all the enemy were rallying to the Gate : they had arrived too late to stop its destruction but not, perhaps, to eradicate the rebels.
        A heavy punch slammed into her side and Lady Death howled as the arrow smashed a rib, drove through her chest and exited completely, almost hitting Drakkan as it went on its way. He was on top of her in a flash, driving his foot into the wound w/ a kick that broke most of the other ribs on that side of her chest. Lady Death screamed and choked as blood flooded into her lung. She staggered, tripped and fell hard, gasping and choking and Drakkan smashed Apocalypse out of her grip w/ one mighty blow.
        "Like I said, monkey - less than half the time. Very unimpressive. I will kill you now to save you your embarrassment." He towered over her, hefted his blade and swung it down at her head, hard.

        Purgatori lay on the ground, aware of nothing but agony. Every nerve ending seemed to be screaming and none of her limbs worked - she couldn't even seem to lift an eyelid, or make sense of the sounds that reached her ears. Die...Purgatori thought fuzzily, and it as an effort to even do that. I-I'm...going to die...Lexus...I...
        Hot wetness splattered over her, but her mind couldn't focus on it as some of it flowed into her many wounds. Her body knew what it was though, and responded accordingly, unconsciously : blood - hot, fresh blood. Purgatori moaned as her body drank and absorbed, using the blood to power her healing sorcery. The scorching pain began to fade, allowing her to gradually become aware of the beautiful soothing coolness of the rain. Images and colour began to form, blurred shapes, and she realised w/ a shock that here eyes had been open all the time, she had just been too damaged to see. Bits of her shifted and twisted, melding, healing, repairing. Whatever blood was on her was not powerful but there was a lot of it and that was good enough for the moment. Coherence began to return as her body sucked the blood greedily, sending her Kathos energy into it to spread through the cat corpse : every drop of blood in the body began to flow towards her and into her. The images and sounds began to make sense. She could hear sword fighting, shouts, gunfire. She turned her head slightly, wincing as her neck crunched slightly, and saw Kintaro, stuck in the ground and serenely reflecting the violence around her. She heard Drakkan's voice and her hatred flared up, powering her. The last of the blood merged w/ her and she twisted up onto her knees, grinning as she saw the ruins of the Gate. Her eyes glowed coldly, sweeping over the area as the rain began to ease off : she could see movement, reinforcements coming in. it would be prudent to leave now - she had done what she wanted, she could distract the forces to allow her people to get out of the city.
        A scream rang out, close to her : she looked over to see a ghostly white figure fall to the ground, the huge black shape looming over her w/ a gleaming sword.

        For Lady Death everything seemed to be in slow motion. She could see his arm and shoulder muscles bunch up, saw his huge pectorals tighten as he put every ounce of strength into the blow. She could see the individual rain drops glinting on his fur, rolling down the blade of his sword. Her fingers and heels pushed into the sand to try and give her purchase to shove herself out the way but even that conspired against her - the wet sand gave way, robbing her of a substantial platform. Oh gods no...Mother, I love you mother, I -
        The big blade sliced down, no longer in slow motion, and she could hear the deadly whisper of its passage as it cut the air. It was less than a foot from her skin when Purgatori hit Drakkan from the side like a cannon ball, one hand grabbing his mane and yanking his head back as her legs and other arm wrapped around his torso. Her velocity knocked him clean off his feet and he flew backwards, howling as Purgatori fastened her fangs into his throat. His sword tip flicked Lady Death's fringe and she flopped back onto the ground, her heart thumping.
        Drakkan crashed down w/ a howl, ramming his elbow into Purgatori's ribs. She clung tight, teeth clamped into his neck like a Rottweiler. He felt his blood spurt and he panicked, fully aware of what it could do to Purgatori. His scrabbling claws ripped a huge flap of meat off one arm and she hissed in pain, jerking the limb away. He drove his fist into her face and smashed her head back. Her teeth tore open his neck as she fell back and he had a brief repulsive view of a lump of his own flesh in her teeth before he punched her again and knocked her away. Drakkan got to his feet and staggered back, one hand pressed to his throat as he tried to staunch the blood until his Kathos or healing spells could work.
        Purgatori fell in a heap and sucked the last drops of blood out of the chunk of meat in her mouth before spitting it out. She rolled over and got to her knees and found herself beside Lady Death. Arcane Energy was flickering over her chest and side but it looked hesitant and weak.
        "I...want...that bastard!" Lady Death gasped, her mouth and nose still streaming blood.
        "In your state? I hardly think so."
        "I can take him!" Lady Death snarled, pushing herself up w/ effort.
        "Stay down, silly girl," Purgatori snapped, pushing her back.
        "Get you hands off - !"
        Purgatori bent over quickly and licked the blood off her lips w/ a motion that was far too much like a kiss for Lady Death's liking. "Slut! Bitch!"
        Purgatori grinned and was gone, leaving Lady Death to fume. Her anger charged her Arcane Energy, repairing her ribs, but even w/ that burst she could feel how weakened her powers were. She got to her knees and picked up Apocalypse. Again she got that slight dizziness. Wretched vampire! All she has to do is drink some blood and she's as good as new! She glanced at Purgatori, fighting some distance way w/ Drakkan. For a moment she just watched, studying Purgatori's swordsmanship and techniques - useful to know for the next time they met...
        She saw a pair of cats run in to help Drakkan. Something sliced through the air above her head w/ a powerful whoosh and blew a massive hole in the chest of one of the felines, flinging it back a few feet w/ the impact. The other hesitated then ran on, stabbing at Purgatori. The vampiress leapt back and slashed at it, repositioning herself to prevent the two from flanking her. Lady Death stood in a crouch, eyes sweeping the area. The enemy reinforcements were gathered on the borders of the Gate site, engaging rebel fighters. She glanced back at Purgatori as the vampiress ran the cat through and saw Drakkan slash her arm. I want that bastard, but if those reinforcements finish off the rebels we will be encircled - I honestly don't know if I have the power to levitate or transvect out of here. Dammit! She got up and ran for the nearest group.
        Drakkan saw his blade open up Purgatori's arm in a deep gash and he gestured at her. Purgatori howled as her blood wrenched out, tearing the wound wider. She sliced at Drakkan but missed, and he kicked her away as she tried to recover. "Child! Do you think you are the only one who knows Kathos sorcery?" He reached out again but this time Purgatori's katana took two of his fingertips off. Drakkan yowled as the violet flames burned his fingers and he quashed them w/ Chaotic Energy before they could spread. When he looked at her again her wound was healed and her eyes were smouldering w/ hatred.
        "Come on, monkey," Drakkan hissed. "You think you can beat me? You think the Gate was the only one I could make? I sent details of it back to my home world, they will make another. All you have done is disrupt your own prophecy, idiot!" He thrust at her again and his sword slid along the side of her ribs, opening up another slit. Purgatori grabbed the wound w/ a hiss, trying to clamp the blood flow. "The prophecy states I die on my world, fool, and you have just cut off my route there!" He brought his sword up for another cut and Purgatori flung a handful of her blood at him. Her Kathos sorcery morphed it into a knife that thunked into his shoulder and he jerked back in surprised pain. In that brief moment of distraction Purgatori pounced, getting right up beside him to ram her katana through his chest. Drakkan screamed and slammed the heavy hilt of his sword down on the top of Purgatori's head. Something crunched and she sagged, stumbling back. Drakkan wrenched the sword out and flung it aside and blasted her w/ Chaotic power. She fell w/ a scream, spikes of golden energy punching through her body, but Drakkan's enjoyment was brief : the burst of power he used to smother the violet fire on his body suddenly faded out and he reeled dizzily. He was weak, horribly weak. He crouched, resting, keeping one eye on Purgatori. His troops were still fighting all around. Why were they still fighting? They should have routed these rebel scum in minutes. Something flapped overhead and landed nearby.
        "My Lord! Are you alright?!"
        "Get off me!" Drakkan snapped at Vulnavia. In the flash of a nearby explosion he saw her face was bloody and there were numerous wounds on her body. "Where have you been?"
        "I ran into her Lord - she was rallying troops to attack another Gate. On my way back here I rescued a band of Akerians but we got ambushed and they all - "
        "Shut up ape, I don't care! Fly to a Gate, ANY Gate - go and get me reinforcements, NOW!"
        "Yes L- "
        "NOW!!!"
        She took off like a missile. Drakkan watched her gain height fast, turn to look for the nearest used Gate and speed off. Watched her smacked sideways in a cloud of feathers as a big bullet tore through her wings, saw her plummet out of sight. Drakkan was speechless.
        He tuned away and gaped as he saw Purgatori standing. I don't believe it! He could actually see light shining through her, through the finger-thick holes his power had burned through her. Don't give her the advantage. He moved forward fast and punched her to the ground. Purgatori crumpled w/ a splash. The rain finally stopped at that moment, as if dying w/ its creator.
        "Lord!"
        Drakkan turned, sword raised to take Purgatori's head, angry at the voice but aware of the urgency of the tone. One of his generals ran up, his armour dented and blood-stained. "What?!"
        "Lord we have to leave here! The people have risen up and are fighting for her! We're badly outnumbered!"
        "I will not retreat before these monkeys! Kill them!"
        "But Lord, they will surround us if we stay - "
        "I said kill them! You worthless maggot, I - AARGHH!!" Drakkan convulsed w/ pain as Purgatori's clenched fist rammed into his chest. The general recovered from his shock and raced forward but a flash of Arcane Energy smashed into him, charring the meat off his bones. Drakkan spasmed and dropped his sword, grabbing Purgatori's arm and throat. His anatomy was different than she had expected and she had missed his heart, but not by much. His burning red eyes locked w/ her icy cold white ones and for the first time in countless years he felt terror. His claws sank into her arm to prevent her thrusting for his heart, but w/ horror he realised she didn't need to : she was absorbing his blood, strengthening rapidly as he weakened. He felt her hand soften and sharpen into needles that slid through his meat, following his pulse.
        "N-N-NOO!!" He let go of her throat and raked her face open w/ his claws. Purgatori screamed and grabbed his arm, snapping the forearm w/ one powerful twist of her wrist. By the time the splintered bone tore out of his skin her face was almost healed.
        "'No' what?" Purgatori hissed. "Scared, furball? I promised Isis I would kill you."
        "N-n-no! Th-the P-p-prophecy..."
        "Ah, the Prophecy..." Purgatori's finger-needles narrowed and slid smoothly through the thudding muscle of his big heart and she grinned, shaking w/ pleasure at the rich power-rush. Firelight sparked off her fangs. "You die on your own world, is that it?" Drakkan couldn't take his eyes off hers. He was frozen, the icy needles through his heart making him hold himself rock steady in fear of tearing the muscle.
        "I - I'll kill y-you, bitch! O-on my world I w-will - "
        "We ARE on your world, you piece of sht! Isn't that what you've been claiming these last three years?!" If she hadn't been so hurt, so furious and so full of hate she might have laughed out loud at his look of shock and dismal realisation. She did, however, manage an icy, lop-sided grin. "That's the thing about prophecies, fkr - it's all in the interpretation."
        And she crushed his heart.
        Drakkan threw his head back and yowled a godawful shriek of agony and helpless defeat that rang out over the battlefield. A Doom Magistrate fired as Purgatori ripped his heart out and hit her in the back of the chest. She fell by Drakkan's twitching corpse, her skin blackened and smoking. Even the rich blood she had absorbed was barely enough to save her.
        "You slut! I told you I wanted him!"
        Purgatori blinked her vision clear and saw Lady Death standing over her, eyes blazing and Apocalypse thrumming w/ power. "You had your chance," she snarled. "You failed."
        Lady Death's face twisted in fury and she raised Apocalypse.
        "Put that down, woman. Right now."
        Lady Death looked around to see Rourke a few metres away, a big pistol aimed rock steady at her heart. "Worm! You think a human gun can harm ME?!"
        "Dunno. Willing to bet the broadhead Tripp puts through your head won't do you any favours though."
        Lady Death looked around, half-expecting some kind of trick. It wasn't - Tripp stood behind her, his bow fully drawn. He looked much the worse for wear but like the other vampires that red bitch had created he seemed extraordinarily resilient. The arrow w/ the evil razor sharp broadhead vanes never even trembled.
        "Drop that blade or you're gonna swallow this arrow," Tripp growled.
        Normally Lady Death might have taken her chances, but now she was acutely aware of how drained and tired she was. The bullets she might be able to deal w/, but - as Rourke had said - a broadhead arrow through the skull was another matter entirely.
        "Put your weapons down," Purgatori said wearily, perhaps intentionally saving Lady Death's face for the sake of Isis' mission. "We've got enemies to kill, not each other." She sat up w/ a wince and pushed some healing magick through her. "Tripp! I gave you an order!"
        He hesitated a moment longer, relishing how simple it would be to open his fingers a quarter inch and loose the arrow, then slowly relaxed and lowered the bow, his eyes never leaving Lady Death.
        She turned away w/ a dismissive toss of her head and stood glowering at Purgatori. "If one more of your louse-infested followers threatens me, whore, I'll - "
        Rourke managed to grab Tripp just in time. He was about six inches taller and had about eighty pounds on Tripp but the vampire's strength was incredibly. "Fkn chill out Tripp!"
        "I'll tear her rancid tongue out!"
        "Let him go," Lady Death hissed. "I can take him no problem!"
        "Really?" Rourke gasped, managing to get Tripp in an arm lock. "What about them?"
        Lady Death looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened. All fighting had come to a stop around the Gate and there was a large group of civilians advancing slowly into the wide open area, gathering into a loose bunch in front of Purgatori. A few had acquired guns and weapons but for the most part they seemed to be only armed w/ knives and sticks and rocks. They were silent, watching their Empress w/ doubt and hope. Lady Death lowered Apocalypse and straightened up - now was not the time to act in a hostile manner towards Purgatori or her troops.
        Purgatori looked around too, having been too hurt to notice what was going on. My people! They've come to help me! The pride and pleasure she felt gave her the power she needed to get to her feet and raise her fist in the air, and the cheer was deafening. She felt she could stand forever and lap up their adoration, but she felt weak and falling over in front of them would definitely ruin the occasion. It took some time to quieten them down enough for her to be heard.
        "Listen to me! We have beaten our enemy and won back our city - " she had to stop for the cheers again " - but there is still much to do! I need your help : scour the city and put out any fires, then collect EVERY SINGLE PERSON and have them assemble in Isis Park."
        They broke up reluctantly and Purgatori allowed herself to slump a little. Shining silver caught her eye and she went over to pick up Kintaro w/ a sigh of relief. No damage. Thank the gods. She turned around and saw Tripp still struggling. By sheer brute force he had managed to get an arm free.
        "Tripp! Are you going to behave yourself and help me out?"
        Tripp finally subsided at that word. "Anything, Empress. Get off me, you big fkn mook." Rourke let him go and stepped aside, putting himself prudently some way between Tripp and Lady Death, just in case she set him off again.
        "Take a team and secure the city gates. We might get a large force returning and we need to keep them out until we're ready for them."
        "At once Highness." He turned and left, deliberately not looking at Lady Death.
        "Empress...."
        "Rourke, my friend. Get your face seen to."
        "Empress, forgive me." He knelt before her and bowed his head.
        "Get up Rourke, you have nothing to apologise for."
        "I should have known something was wrong."
        "Even I didn't. Stand." He did so and she gripped his arm w/ a smile. "You helped me well, I see."
        Rourke looked down at his armour that as now liberally covered w/ blood and fur and the odd small chunk of flesh. "Yeah, I got a few of them."
        "What did you do, pull them apart?"
        "A couple yeah," he replied seriously.
        Purgatori just smiled. "Bring me a cat Rourke, I need blood."
        "Yes, Highness."
        Lady Death turned away w/ distaste as Purgatori grabbed the struggling feline prisoner and tore his neck open. W/ the death of their leader and the destruction of the Gate things seemed to have come to an end w/ startling suddenness. Perhaps not so surprising, Lady Death thought as she looked down at Drakkan's body - being alone and leaderless w/ no route home would really take the fight out of an army.
        "Woohoo! Miss! Miss!"
        Lady Death glowered as the demoness twins ran up to Purgatori. They were acting like they were at a sporting event and their team had just won. How like an irritating vampire to surround herself w/ irritating lackeys, Lady Death thought.
        "Wow Miss, that was sooooo cool!" Demonica crowed. "You got your ass kicked for a while though!"
        "I appreciate the reminder."
        "Ew! I...just meant, um, that you prevailed even after that! Not that, um, y'know, you almost messed up and got killed and stuff, cos you fought him when you were weakened...and...well, um I mean that's cool too, um coz I mean it shows even though you DID just jump in w/out thinking that you still won. Um, not that you DID do that, I mean - the not thinking bit I meant. I'm sure you...had...a plan..."
        "Demi," Diabolica said. "Shut up."
        "Um. Okay."
        "Diabolica," Purgatori said after a hard glare at her sister. "Are you well?"
        "Pretty much, Empress," Diabolica said, shifting nervously. "Um, are you?"
        "Stop fretting girl, I don't blame anyone for getting converted."
        "Oh, cool! I'll go check up on Rourke then!"
        "Pfff, she got over THAT guilt fast," Demonica sniffed as Diabolica skipped off to nurse Rourke in her own particular way. "Um, is Snakey around, Miss?"
        "I haven't seen him."
        "He got shot," Rourke said, overhearing them. "But we fixed him up."
        "What?!" Demonica cried. "Where?"
        "In the chest."
        "Where is HE, doof!"
        "Oh. The Alchemy shop on Dysart Street. Speaking of that Empress, there was a pretty good fire   starting over there - I'll take some people and try and kill it if you want?"
        "Ooh, can I go too Miss? Please?"
        "Yes, but listen - I have to leave for a while. I need - "
        "What? Where you going? We just got you back!"
        "Offworld. See to Snake Eyes then organise the reconversion of everyone in Isis Park. Send a couple of spare guards to the fifth Gate as soon as you can spare them."
        "No worries! Come on Rourke!" Demonica grabbed him and tried to drag him away.
        "And get the medical services up and running!" Purgatori snapped in exasperation. "We've got wounded to tend to!"
        "Yep! Come on, come on!" She was making absolutely no impression on moving Rourke.
        "Don't worry Empress," Rourke sighed, "she'll settle down after she sees him. We'll get everything sorted out." He bowed and left w/ Demonica still tugging impatiently at his arm.
        Purgatori gave a wry smile - two minutes together and the twins were already making her want to tear her hair out.
        "'Offworld'? Don't tell me you're even THINKING of coming back to my world."
        The smile slipped off her face as she turned to Lady Death. "Yes, I am."
        "I think not, bitch. I'll send your girlfriend back - I don't want you polluting my planet further."
        "Stuck up cow. Firstly, it's not 'your' world, secondly I don't give a fk what you want, and thirdly if you turn up w/out me how do you think Lexus will react?"
        "I don't care what she would think or how she would react, slut," Lady Death said tartly. "That puny human could not harm me, and if she does threaten me, you'd better be prepared for her coming home in pieces!"
        "She's not human, Dope," Purgatori said, turning and walking away. "Didn't her eyes give you a clue?"
        "Don't turn your back on me, harlot! Where are you going?!"
        "To 'your' world. If you want to come, stop standing there whining."
        "Bitch!"
        "Brat!"

        "Cremator!"
        Pagan jumped as the call echoed faintly through the corridors. Beside him Cremator and Brock paid no attention. "Whoo, here she is! Time to test that conversion spell I think! Come on, oaf."
        Pagan led them up the passage towards the voice, the anticipation of having Lady Death under his control almost masking the pain from his wound. He turned a corner and jumped back out of sight w/ a curse, bumping into Cremator who was carrying Lexus' limp body in his huge arms. "Purgatori! What's SHE doing here?!"
        "She teamed up w/ Lady Death to fight someone," Cremator said blandly.
        "Oh great! Why didn't you say earlier, idiot!!" Pagan whispered furiously. "Back up! Back up!"
        Pagan retreated, thinking furiously. Converting Lady Death was a challenge, taming Purgatori using her girlfriend as a hostage more so - if he could do one at a time he might stand a chance but w/ the two of them working together in the same building... He could hear Purgatori open a door, then close it. "Okay doll, time to show your worth." He reached up and slapped Lexus' cheek. The brunette gave a faint moan but didn't stir. "Oh crap!" He reached up and punched Cremator's arm. "You dolt! You any idea what Purgi'll do if she thinks her girlie's dead?! Give her here!"
        Cremator slid Lexus out of his arms and as soon as her feet touched the ground she drove a boot into Pagan's groin and dived away, rolling across the floor and up onto her knees w/ panther-like agility. She came up w/ the Desert Eagle in her hand and Pagan yelped in surprise, diving into a doorway for cover. Cremator saw the threat to his new master and hurled a ball of Hellfire at her. Lexus threw herself flat, rolled and used the geyser of flame and smoke as cover to dive around the junction corner.
        "Lexus!"
        Purgatori's hands were on her almost before she had stopped rolling and Lexus heard her hiss of fury as she saw her bruised face. "Who -"
        "Sweetheart!" Lexus grabbed her tight. "Some freak in a jester's costume - he's hypnotised that white brat's friends!" Purgatori took an angry step towards the junction then stopped, looking at Lexus' face. "I'm fine, honey, it's just a bruise! Watch out for - " Purgatori was already at the junction, disappearing into the thick swirling smoke. " - Crema - dammit! Purgatori! Honey!" Lexus scrambled to her feet and raced after her lover.

        Lady Death was about to check the room Lexus had been staying in when the blast went off below.  "What in HELL??!!" She raced off down the passage, brandishing Apocalypse, outraged that an attack of some sort had occurred inside her home. The corridor made a Z-bend and opened out onto a semi-circular balcony about half the size of the one that overlooked the main hall. A wide flight of steps led down to the ground floor and Lady Death slid to a halt, gaping in surprise at the figures who in turn jerked to a stop halfway up. "Cremator! What the - Vandala!"
        Vandala stumbled forward, a line of purple fire on her chest. "Lady Death! Purgatori attacked us! Oh, help me!"
        Lady Death dived forward as Vandala fell to her hands and knees and caught her tenderly, cradling her awkwardly in her arms as she tried to keep Apocalypse at the ready. "Sister! Take care and rest while I cut that vixen's heart out!"
        "No, wait! Help me up!" Vandala reached up as if to put an arm around Lady Death's shoulders and at that very moment Purgatori rocketed out of the doorway and up the stairs, her wings swept back for speed. She smashed into Vandala, drove her into Lady Death, and the force of the impact flung them all up the steps to the balcony. Vandala screeched in terror and scrabbled away on her hands and knees. Purgatori's blade sliced through the air - it was a badly aimed cut from an awkward position lying on her back, but it only missed by a half inch or so. Purgatori was on her feet in a blur of movement. Apocalypse sliced towards her face and she blocked the cut, backhanding Lady Death across the face.
        "Idiot! That's - "
        Cremator's huge hands grabbed her, enveloping her in Hellfire, and Purgatori screamed, dropping Kintaro. She wrenched free, turned and punched Cremator w/ a blow that smashed him back into the stone wall. He fell, narrowly missing Vandala who had her hand raised towards Purgatori and making her dive out the way as his bulk crashed down. The smoking vampiress spun for her blade and saw Lady Death in mid-thrust. She twisted aside and the blade sliced the skin under her breasts instead of ramming through her heart. W/ a snarl Purgatori sank her claws into Lady Death's arms and head butted her. The white woman wrenched back w/ a grunt. Her foot came down on the very edge of the top step, slipped off as her full weight came down on it,  and she fell back, dragging Purgatori w/ her.
        Pagan saw them go and spun on his hands and knees to slap Cremator awake. "Wake up, idiot! You, troll! Come here you dolts!" Throwing a frantic glance behind him Pagan clawed the long blonde hair out of his eyes and opened a transvection portal. Damn! So close! I nearly had them - both of them! Well, the way those two were going at it there was no way he was going to try and get close enough to them to try again. He booted the others through the portal and vanished after them.
        Lady Death and Purgatori hit pretty much every step on their way down and landed at the bottom in a bloody, tangled mess. Lady Death pushed the vampiress off her weakly and lay there, shocked to find she had no strength to do anything else.  Apocalypse...where's my blade?! She could barely raise her head to look. Move...got to move! She pushed what power she could through her and rolled to her hands and knees. Pewter gleamed to her left - Apocalypse. As her hand reached for it, a metal-plated boot stamped down on the blade and she looked up into the gaping muzzle of the Desert Eagle.
        "You slut!" Lexus hissed.
        "NO!"
        They both looked around to see Purgatori sitting up, one hand clamped to a banister post to support her. She didn't look any better than Lady Death.
        Lexus grinned. "I thought you might want her for yourself. Do it slow, make her scream."
        "No Lex, that's not what I meant," Purgatori said wearily. "Give her the sword back." Lexus just stood, glaring at Lady Death w/ a mixture of hatred and disbelief. "Now, girl."
        Lexus knew that tone well - she backed off a step and kicked Apocalypse over to Lady Death who snatched it up immediately. She didn't know how useful a sword would be against a pistol though.
        "I see you are as repellent as your lover," she growled at Lexus. "Petty bullets are far from being a threat to me - point that thing elsewhere before I make you sorry."
        "But these aren't 'petty' bullets, brat," Lexus said pleasantly. Her smile was cold, and deliciously anticipating trying them out. "They're made from the same metal as her sword. And make ME sorry? They only thing you could do to make me sorry is not give me an excuse to stick this pistol up your -"
        "Lexus! Settle down girl! Put that gun away."
        Lexus paused just long enough to make a point then lowered the pistol and walked over to Purgatori, crouching down to embrace her.
        "Now I see why you love her so much," Lady Death spat at Purgatori.
        "Sexy, isn't she?"
        "I'll bury her beside you, bitch! You dare come here for my help then hurt my sister - "
        "That was Pagan, you imbecile! Don't you recognise a phantasm when you see one? He's converted your friends."
        Lady Death hesitated. "...Pagan?!"
        "Can't you even recognise your own sister, you moron?" Lexus sniped, and Purgatori slapped her leg. "Ouch!"
        "Quiet, girl. Yes, Pagan - what do you take me for?"
        "A hateful, untrustworthy bitch," Lady Death said angrily, getting to her feet. She looked up the stairs and saw no one. It's true. If they were still my allies they wouldn't have left...left for where?! "Where is that bastard?"
        "Transvected probably. He could be anywhere."
        "He's probably gone to the Gate," Lexus said, kissing Purgatori's smoking skin. "When he thought I was unconscious he was babbling about curing his wounds and using the Gate to get back to Hell."
        Purgatori struggled to her feet as Lady Death used Apocalypse to cleave a rift open in the air in front of her. "No - wait!" Lady Death stepped through and the rift vanished. "White sow!"
        "You should've let me shoot her," Lexus said reproachfully. "Here, take some of my blood."
        Purgatori turned and held her tenderly, looking sorrowfully at her face. "My poor baby. Who did that?"
        "Cremator," Lexus said pulling Purgatori into an embrace and sighing as her lips brushed her neck. "It's just a bruise, I'll be fine."
        Purgatori held her tightly, running her hands over her body as her deliciously sharp teeth punctured her neck. The brunette sighed in pleasure, arching her back slightly and scraping her nails down Purgatori's back. Purgatori sucked a couple of mouthfuls and pulled back, her wounds healed. Lexus grabbed her and kissed her deeply, relishing the salty taste of her own blood on her lover's succulent lips. "I love you so much," Purgatori sighed in her ear. "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon."
        Lexus pulled back. "Wait for you here?! I don't think so! What do you take me for, some helpless maiden?"
        "I don't want you getting hurt - Cremator and Vandala have been converted and Lady Death is...not too fond of me. We can't kill any of them and I don't want you getting mixed up in a fight." Purgatori looked at her sternly. "Is that clear?"
        "Tch. Yes," Lexus said sullenly.
        "Don't tut at me girl." Purgatori kissed her cheek softly. "I won’t be long."
        "Be careful sweetheart." Lexus watched grumpily as Purgatori opened a rift w/ her blood and stepped through. She sighed in frustration as the portal vanished - were they destined never to have more than a couple of minutes together?

        Lady Death stepped out onto the snow in a rage. It had grown noticeably darker, and the number of flakes swirling in the air had increased substantially, cutting visibility to a few dozen metres. There was a scattering of huge boulders ahead and beyond them would be the Gate. She moved forward quickly and stopped as she heard footsteps crunching through the snow. She got a fix and moved around one of the massive rocks fast, teeth bared in rage. There was a narrow passage between this rock and the next and Cremator and Vandala were just emerging from it, heading for the Gate. Vandala's eyes widened as Lady Death lunged out the gloom, her hand reaching for her sword. Apocalypse rammed into her stomach and she screamed in agony, dropping to her knees. Cremator hit Lady Death, flattening her.
        "Ooh, that's gonna hurt!"
        Lady Death shook her head fuzzily and gazed in horror at Pagan, standing a few metres away w/ Brock, who appeared to be reciting some spells at the Gate. "No!"
        "Yes!" Pagan cried happily. "Looks like you just killed your own sister, toots!" His maddening cackle jabbed in her ears as she dived for Vandala, trying to press her hands over the wound. There was a horrendous amount of blood on the snow and already the spurt was weakening from her limp body. "Never mind darling, you'll not remember once I've finished w/ you." Pagan skipped over, his hand eagerly raised to cast the conversion spell.
        Purgatori dropped out of the sky in front of him and burning pain speared through his body as Kintaro took his arm off at the elbow. Pagan howled and jumped back, falling in the snow.
        "N-now wait a minute t-toots! Cremat-AARRGGH!"
        Two lightning fast cuts slashed him open, leaving lines of violet flames burning in the wounds. They were long, deep cuts and their pain made his first paper-cut of a wound feel like a tickle.
        Purgatori watched him shriek and writhe coldly, her eyes glittering hatefully. She raised her katana, intending to slice off another of his limbs, and cried out in pain as Brock drove his axe into her chest. Three of her ribs snapped like dry twigs as she fell sideways. Kintaro pirouetted in the air and fell w/ a flump, tossing up a little geyser of snowflakes. As she fell a huge ball of blinding Hellfire wrapped around her, burning but not consuming. Purgatori screamed and bucked on the ground, trying to focus past the agony to use her powers. The fire died of its own accord : she flopped in a pool of boiling snow-melt, head spinning from the pain, and a pair of huge hands grabbed her and yanked her up, holding her in a crushing grip. Her broken ribs ground together and punctured her lung - her wail of pain sounded like a gargle as blood bubbled into it.
        Pagan got to his knees and scrabbled around in the snow for his arm. The pain was ferocious - even Lucifer himself hadn't inflicted anything that hurt as much as this. He grabbed to arm and held it in place - for a moment nothing happened, his mind was too scattered to concentrate on his spells, then he managed to focus and the pieces melted together.
        "Get that Gate open, troll!" he snapped, flexing his fingers. They felt stiff, numb. "Fast!" He bent over and picked up Kintaro. "You just outlived your usefulness bitch," he gasped, shuddering at the pain of his burns. "I was going to ask you nicely to heal me but I reckon you're not up for that - guess Séance'll just have to do it. First though, I think it's time you got a taste of your own medicine."       Purgatori heaved and managed to force one of Cremator's hands away. "Hold that bitch, I wouldn't want to cut you by mistake, now, would I?" Cremator's hands scalded her skin and she howled, trying to push herself away. He clenched her tighter, crushing her to his body, crunching her ribs and wings. "Guess where I'm going to shove this, toots?!"
        Cremator cried out as Purgatori's blood speared out of her body in jagged spikes, jabbing through his chest and arms. He jerked away, flinging his arms open in pain. Purgatori hung for a moment on her spikes then her blood retracted and she fell to her knees.
        "Sht!" pagan jumped forward as Purgatori fell, the sword raised above his head. By lucky chance, she had fallen on her hands and knees in the perfect beheading position, and he intended to take full advantage before she had a chance to recover.
        A loud bang rang out and Pagan was knocked back w/ a squeal as the Desert Eagle bullet cannoned into him, leaving a faint violet line in the air behind it like some kind of magickal tracer bullet. Pagan landed in a heap, howling and kicking, the katana gleaming in the snow a few feet away.
        For Lady Death, none of this existed. The minute or so between Purgatori slicing off Pagan's arm and the gunshot had seemed like an hour as she cradled Vandala and watched helplessly as her life drained out a hole she had inflicted. Bright white light fell over her - it seemed strange but not interesting enough to take her attention from her dying sister.
        "Move your hand."
        The voice was like sweet music, almost hypnotic, and Lady Death pulled her eyes away from Vandala's face as the slender woman crouched down gracefully, showing no sign of the cold despite wearing only diaphanous robes. There seemed to be some kind of soothing aura about her that Lady Death could feel even through her distress. "N-no! She'll d-die!"
        Isis reached out and gently but firmly moved Lady Death's hand and placed her own over the wound. Lady Death resisted briefly but something made her sense that Isis meant no harm. Bright sparkling power oozed into Vandala's wound and when it faded the gash was gone. The Valkyrie hitched slightly and began breathing normally again. Lady Death held her tightly, tears streaming down her face.
        Purgatori jerked at the gunshot and saw Pagan tumble. Brock paid no attention - he had been ordered to do something and the spell ensured that was all he concentrated on. Cremator was a different matter. He lunged at her wildly, his injuries hampering him. His own healing spells had crudely patched the wounds but he was still obviously very damaged. A burst of Hellfire scalded her leg as she jumped aside and she snarled in fury : pain, anger and a memory of who had hurt Lexus suddenly overcame her rationale. She dived, rolled, snatched up Kintaro and rammed the blade through his heart. He doubled over w/ a grunt, sinking to his knees. Purgatori kicked his jaw and he fell flat, unmoving.
        Purgatori turned and walked over to Pagan, who had managed to get to his feet. The sorcery-enhanced bullet had done horrible damage, punching a three inch wide hole in his shoulder that burned w/ purple fire. The impact had brutally smashed his collar bone and shoulder blade and his arm hung limp and twisted. He looked up in terror as her shadow fell over him.
        "N-now toots! W-wait - "
        Purgatori slashed him completely in half and stamped on his mouth, choking off his screams w/ a crunch of breaking teeth and bone. She watched him spasm and kick until he stopped then turned and w/ an angry gesture wrapped Brock up in ropes of his own blood. The Gate flickered into life at her command and she beckoned the guards through. "Take that to my dungeons. Keep the parts separate."
        "Yes Highness!"
        Purgatori turned and came face-to-face w/ Lexus. "I told you to wait in the castle."
        "Tch. What are you going to do?" she asked pertly. "Spank me?"
        "If you ask nicely," Purgatori said, hugging her.
        "Do you want more blood?"
        "No sweetheart, I just need to rest."
        "Sakkara."
        Purgatori looked over and let go of Lexus hurriedly as she noticed Isis for the first time. She tried to bow but Isis stopped her and embraced her.
        "My sweet child. I am so proud of you." The words made Purgatori flush w/ pleasure and she hugged Isis tightly. "I never considered the Prophecy might mean his death there. You took such a risk."
        "What now, Goddess?" Purgatori asked, basking in her love. "The war will obviously continue..."
       "Yes. Drakkan was but one of an alliance. His defeat will give them pause, but they will not surrender."
        "So I still can't kill that white brat, then."
        "Behave, Sakkara."
        A crunch of footsteps in the snow made them turn. "I need to get my sister indoors," Lady Death said. "Burn out the conversion spell and be on your way - you are finished here."
        "Was that an order or a request?" Purgatori snapped, feeling Isis' grip tighten slightly.
        "Do it, bitch! It is your fault they were converted! And I want that maggot Pagan!"
        Purgatori held her gaze for a moment then turned back to Isis. "Forgive me Goddess, I must go and get Glenn's body."
        "Of course, child," Isis said, letting her go w/ a kiss.
        "Hey bitch! I'm talking to you!"
        Kintaro flared in Purgatori's fist but Isis moved swiftly, getting herself between the women. "Please do it Sakkara. As a favour to me."
        Purgatori's eyes blazed hatefully, but that was the one request that was guaranteed to get compliance. "Of course, Goddess."
        As she walked over to Cremator and Brock Isis turned and held her arms out. "Lexus, my child. Thank you for helping Sakkara - she would still be captive if not for you."
        Lexus hugged her in a daze, unable to speak : she was embracing a real live goddess, and didn't know how to react.
        "Goddess, she called you," Lady Death said. "You are Isis, the one who concocted this quest."
        "I am, child." Isis turned and smiled at Lady Death as Lexus wandered over to Purgatori, still awe-struck. "I owe you a great debt for helping my daughter."
        Lady Death regarded her thoughtfully. "I think you just paid it off."
        "Your sister will be fine, after rest." Isis cocked her head slightly, a gesture reminiscent of Purgatori. "What is wrong?"
       Yes, very reminiscent, Lady Death thought. Same pale skin, same midnight black hair, same slender figure and proud cheek bones. Isis had a beauty spot above her lip, and that seemed vaguely familiar for some reason but other thoughts were occupying Lady Death's mind. "You called her daughter...you did not seem to mean that in a general sense."
        Isis regarded Lady Death w/ a strange smile. "How shrewd. Yes, she is my daughter...and I will thank you not to tell her."
        Lady Death shrugged. "I know not why you wish to keep that secret, but rest assured I have to wish to willingly speak to that bitch." She eyed Isis w/ an almost challenging look, as if daring her to say something about the insult.
        "I am not going to rise to that bait, Hope," Isis said easily. "Besides, she considers that word a compliment."
        Lady Death snorted. "Cremator! How are you?"
        "I'm hurting milady, but I should be alright," he said, coming over and rubbing gingerly at his wounds. "What happened? I remember Pagan...."
        "He enchanted you, turned you against us."
        Cremator looked alarmed. "Did...did I hurt you?"
        "Fret not, old friend," Lady Death smiled. A cold wicked smile settled on her ruby lips. "Actually you burnt Purgatori quite amusingly, so it was almost worth it. What's wrong w/ your chest? Are you hurt?"
        "Aye...she stabbed me through the heart."
        "What?! But...how..."
        "Her sword : she put spells into it, and one is a spell to prevent the blade hurting the owner. That was MY spell - she must have taken it out my head when she entranced me in Hell. She mustn't have changed it properly because the spell seemed to think I was its caster. It hurt though."
        "Hmm - I suspect she will have remedied that oversight the next time we meet." Lady Death glowered at Lexus as she returned, and turned to Isis, pointedly snubbing Purgatori's girlfriend. "We need to go. What now - will we have time to rest and organise, or will his forces retaliate?"
        "Drakkan's defeat will give his allies pause for thought," Isis said. "The battles will continue on the worlds he has already invaded but Purgatori controls his Gates now. It will be some time before another Gate can be constructed from their world to here. Rest, and heal - I will return soon w/ further news and plans, and spells for Sakkara's Gate, should you need them."
        "Come alone. The less I see of that bitch of a daughter the more I will be inclined to help you."
        "I suspect she will be...occupied, anyhow."
        "Pagan."
        "Yes."
        "Yes. Well, that's one time when I actually hope she does a thorough job."
        "Oh she will," Isis said sadly, and Lady Death suddenly found herself comparing the goddess to Marion rather than to her daughter.
        "Hmm. Goodbye Isis. We will talk soon."
        Lady Death picked up Vandala, Cremator retrieved Brock, and they vanished in a flash of transvection magick. Isis turned to Lexus, who was wide-eyed.
        "D-daughter?!"
        "Yes child. But please don't tell her. It is something I need to talk to her about myself...when she is more ready hear it."
        "A-alright. But she might just read my thoughts anyway..." She trailed off as she felt a light tingling in her skull.
        "It is hidden from her now," Isis said.
        "Oh...okay. I've got to go back home," Lexus said. "Will...will you come and see us again? In New Necropolis?"
        Isis embraced her. "Of course child. Sakkara will need to destroy Drakkan's shield but that should not be a problem once she is rested. Take care of yourself, child."
        "I will...and her too."
        Isis kissed her and smiled. "I know you will. Now run along, she will be back soon w/ Glenn."
        "Okay." There was so much Lexus wanted to know, and ask, but she supposed it could wait. She walked over to the Gate, still trying to convince herself she had spoken to a goddess...a goddess who was her lover's mother. She turned for one last look, but Isis had vanished. Her DAUGHTER! Lexus thought wonderingly as she stepped though and bid a not-so-fond farewell to the icy world. Damn...her daughter...

        It was several weeks after she had met Glenn. She actually trusted him fully now – out of  past experience it had been hard despite what she had read in his mind, but somehow she had finally let herself relax and after a week or so she suddenly realised that it wasn’t a subject that worried her any more. It was a fine feeling. She was out hunting and it was foul weather – freezing cold w/ a gusty wind driving sleet hard against her skin. She swooped through the night and the weather didn’t bother her tonight – because tonight, she thought contentedly, she had a home to go back to. She had actually made a kill tonight, a very young vampire w/ hardly any power but tasty nonetheless, and that cheered her up too, but the best part of the evening happened later... She returned to the dojo via the skylight, freezing cold and drenched but w/ a faint smile : she closed the skylight, and shut out the night. She had been sleeping through the days when she didn’t want to practice the martial arts Glenn had been teaching her, and he had brought her a heavy quilt and a pillow – she slept on the firm but comfortable mats of the training area. Tonight was one of the most delicious and comforting memories she had of her time w/ him – the memory of simple pleasures that you only realised meant so much when you were forced to do w/out them. The rain had still been lashing off the walls and roof when she slipped under the thick quilt and snuggled down, relishing the sound. A few months ago, in such weather, she would now be huddled miserably in a filthy basement, freezing cold, dirty, soaking wet, hungry and no doubt in a foul temper. Right now she had just taken a hot shower, she was clean, dry and comfortable, the room was warm and the quilt cosy, and she could just lie here nice and snug, listening to the wind and rain and thinking how much better it was to be in here than out there.

        She gazed at the reflection of her eye, lost in the white glow. Was that when she had started to love him back? Stop liking and actually love him as she would a sibling rather than a sexual partner? Yes, she thought it was. Subtly, almost unconsciously, she had realised his love for her was strong and pure, his trust unwavering and his loyalty unquestionable. A man she could trust and depend on, a person who would love her, and protect her as best he could, and die for her.
        And he had.
        Oh Glenn. If only I could –
        “Purgatori.”
        She jerked in shock, pivoting quickly and smoothly on her knees to sweep the sword around level and pointed at the intruder. It pointed at Glenn Wolf.
        She faltered, gaping at his shade as he jerked back himself, the tip of the blade missing him by only an inch or so. His skin seemed slightly grey, his eyes were blank white. His chest was a bloody ruin that hurt her to look at.
        “Glenn...”
        “Christ! I take it you can see and hear me now! I been trying to reach you for five minutes.” His voice was slightly hollow, but it had none of the hate or anger that the voice in her dreams had.
        Kintaro’s tip wavered as she lowered the sword. “I...didn’t hear...” She was dazed at the unexpected apparition, nervous and completely unprepared to face him.
        “Yeah. I been trying for a few days now. Some guy – well, I say ‘guy’ but he’s got four arms, wings and a lizard head – has been teaching me how to come over here. It’s difficult sometimes, and getting people to actually see you is harder than you’d think. He says sometimes people just aren’t receptive.”
        Several days : Lexus’ chills...
        “You didn’t see me in that other place either. When you cut the scrawny fk who killed me.”
        Purgatori actually jerked at the words. She felt as though someone had suddenly dumped a massive jolt of adrenaline or something in her; she felt light-headed, disconnected from her body. “What...what did you say?!”
        He knelt down facing her, a  sad half-smile on his face. “I know you didn’t kill me Purgatori – I know that’s been bothering you. When I was killed I left my body. I saw you cut that fk. I tried to talk to you.”
        “I didn’t see you,” she said distantly. The vast relief was making her dizzy. “I...I shouldn’t have left you...”
        “Why not? I would have. Wasn’t your fault the way things turned out.”
        She closed her eyes to stop the room swaying. “I thought you died...died hating me. Thinking I had used you.” It was hard to say it.
        “No Purgatori,” he said softly. “I mean, when it happened I was like, ‘what the fk was THAT for?!’, but then I saw what was going on.” He sighed. “I shoulda realised it wasn’t you. Didn’t talk the way you do, didn’t move like you do, didn’t have the sword....what a fkwit. Musta been the cold.”
        She opened her eyes and reached out to touch him. Her hand went through his shoulder. “How can you blame yourself? You didn’t know about phantasms and such like.”
        He touched her arm, and she fancied she could feel the faintest sensation, like smoke on her skin. “How can you blame yourself? You were all fkd up from the pain and torture – how’d you expect to be thinking clear after that?”
        “I suppose. But the result is the same.” She looked at him levelly. “I’m sorry you died Glenn. If I had suspected that would happen I would never have brought you to this world.”
        “One I was in was no better. Sides, we got you out – it was worth it,” he said, and her throat locked up. “Listen, you gotta stop stressing over it, okay? I know you didn’t do it, and I don’t blame you. Sht happens, specially in war. Give it up Purgatori, it wasn’t your fault.”
        “Yes.. I think I can do that, now you’ve told me. I... love you Glenn. I don’t think I’ve ever said that to a man before.”
        He smiled at her. “Yeah, I know you do. Almost as much as I love you.”
        “I wish you could have seen my city.”
        “I’ve seen some of it – like I said, I’ve been wandering about a bit, trying out the whole ghostie thing. Who are those cuties w/ the tails?”
        “Demonica and Diabolica. Demonesses – from Hell.”
        “Now you see – that’s why I fkn hate Christianity. Witter on about Hell being a place of burning and torture and never once do they mention there’s girlies like that there. Fk, I shoulda spent more time being a sinner.” He grinned at her. “There y’go – I knew I could get you to smile.”
        “You always did have a strange sense of humour.” She sighed again. “I wish you could have been here to train my troops what you know.”
        “I thought you could do that? You said you pulled all that stuff out my mind..”
        “I can - I did. I just wish you were here, that’s all....Lexus sent a squad to collect Akira, in case you’re interested.”
        “Yeah! That’s cool – he’s tricky fkr, he can probably teach you some stuff as well. Tell him I said hi.”
        “Indeed.”
        “Listen, I gotta go, Purgatori – this materialising thing still ain’t working properly and you need some rest.”
        “Come back. Any time. Soon.”
        “Count on it.”
        They stood up together and he looked down at his hands. “Man, I wish I could hug you. Only got to do it that once.”
        “I’ll see if I can do something. I have books on necromantic sorcery.”
        “Really? Excellent.” He smiled briefly . “You gonna be okay? You’ve been through a lot of sht.”
        “Yes, Glenn, I will be fine now,” Purgatori said, and found it reassured herself as much as him. “Now I know how things stand between us. I miss you, but at least I know you don’t blame me, or hate me.”
        “Good deal. Go rest, Purgatori. I’ll try and come back later.”
        “Goodbye Glenn.”
        Warmth gradually seeped back into the room and Purgatori stood w/ her eyes closed, marvelling at how good she felt. Mentally and physically – the worry and torment were gone, and that allowed her body to relax, the tension and stress to ease.
        She sat back down w/ a smile on her lips and finished cleaning Kintaro, then stored her carefully away in her silk bag and carry case. When she came out of the room Lexus was sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair. She was wearing a skimpy black teddy and looked absolutely ravishing. She noticed something was different almost immediately as Purgatori walked over to put the sword on top of a chest of drawers and she stopped brushing, eyes wide and curious.
        “Purgatori...?”
        “I talked to Wolf. His ghost was here – that’s why you keep getting chills.” She looked at her lover and smiled. “He still loves me, he knows Pagan killed him.”
         She had barely uttered the last word when Lexus threw herself at her and smothered her w/ kisses. “Oh baby! I’m so happy for you!” She hugged Purgatori almost desperately and could feel the difference in her body, how calm and relaxed she felt. She leaned back a bit to look at Purgatori. “Now – are you going to take my advice and let yourself get some rest?”
        Purgatori smiled and kissed her tenderly. “Yes, sweetheart. I feel like I could sleep for a week. Get into bed.”
        “Mmm, my favourite order.” Lexus hopped into bed and sat watching Purgatori as she undressed, drinking in the view. Sorcery rippled over her and Sakkara stood naked before her, elegant, regal, exquisitely beautiful, and Lexus lay back w/ a contented sigh. “Gods, you’re so gorgeous. Am I the luckiest girl on the planet, do you think?”
        “No,” Sakkara smiled as she slipped in beside her. She snuggled up to Lexus, rubbing her naked body against her lover’s, the first untainted sign of affection she had shown since her return. “I am. Will you hug me? It’s been so long since I had a simple cuddle.”
        Lexus had to swallow. “Of course I will, baby,” she said huskily. “You shouldn’t need to ask that.” Sakkara rolled over and Lexus snuggled up, wrapping her arms around her and rubbing her cheek against her silky black hair. There was a war coming, Lexus thought as she closed her eyes and just concentrated on the feel of her lover’s fabulous body, feeling the muscles relax even further as sleep began to steal over Sakkara, a war that could encompass whole universes, never mind countries or even worlds. It didn’t matter. Only one thing mattered to Lexus, and right now it was sleeping contentedly, nestled safely in her arms. Lexus kissed Sakkara’s shoulder and cuddled her happily, and gradually she slipped into a peaceful sleep too.