Hey everyone! Thanks so much for following us on this adventure, we have had so much fun writing it and putting it up for everyone to read. Its been a while since I posted anything but since I work the convention circuit and the months between April and October are my busy season I kinda had to put off updates. I'll be posting a little more regularly though! As usual reviews are rewarded with good karma and kitten kisses!
Kaulder had more than had enough. He was once again standing in knee deep in mud and blood with the stink of death and fire in his nose and he was so damned tired of it all. He had thought when he put down the Witch Queen in the tunnels under the Church that somehow things would get easier. After all wasn't the truth supposed to set you free? Whoever had said that was a moron because at the moment he felt more trapped than ever and if Chloe's premonitions were to be believed there was more on it's way. The Dark was creeping in and as he looked up at the bright Summer sun filtering through the shattered roof he wondered how it was possible to be standing right in the sun, the most perfect expression of God's love and feel as though he were standing in the Heart of Darkness.
"You have done well but your task is not yet done." The Voice rang through their minds as they once again hurtled through the Waiting Room.
They found themselves standing in front of a run down warehouse dressed in modern clothing, in fact they were dressed in the same clothes they'd left London in, Artemis even had Sherlock's scarf looped around her neck though it was more decorative than necessary at this point since the sun was shining brightly and cicadas buzzed deafeningly from the trees, it was high summer wherever they were. Artemis glanced down at her cast and her lips twisted wryly as she shifted her satchel more comfortably.
Tracey looked down at her own clothes and smiled a little at her new attire, quite the change of pace from her body bandages and cloak. She wore her black leggings, her knee high, zip up boots, a light yet comfortable shirt and a sash around her waist. Shifting her bag on her shoulder-blade, Tracey suddenly felt her stomach churn violently and her facial expression went from one of happiness to panic.
"Oh this is not good!" She said quickly and turned on her booted feet to find the nearest patch of grass.
Coughing in fits, Tracey suddenly vomited the contents of her stomach though this time there wasn't much there since their last meal was the early morning on their last day in Greece and even that was sparse on the mountain side. Tracey slowly wiped her mouth on a spare piece of cloth from her satchel and stood up, looking very annoyed.
"God I wish I knew why I throw up every time we jump through universes... It really pisses me off." She muttered before raising her voice to be heard more clearly. "Where do you think we are now Artemis?"
Artemis shrugged. "No idea. You know I think you blow chunks every time because you aren't tuned to the same frequency I am."
"Hopefully when I get my upgrade, with your help, I'll get over that and it won't happen anymore." Tracey replied, glancing around at their surroundings. "Let's see if we can't find a main street and see what we can find out about this city, including a place to stay out of the weather."
She wanted to get away from the warehouse to a more pleasant location, her mental scars being brought up by the rundown looking building behind them. Motioning for Artemis to catch up with her, Tracey stepped out cautiously and kept her eyes open for anything that could hold some clue as to why they had been brought to this place.
Artemis frowned at the building, something was nagging at her, her instincts were screaming at her and she ran a hand over her cast biting her lower lip. "Tracey stay here for a minute will you? I need to take a look inside."
"Oh no you don't Artemis, I'm coming with you like we promised in Greece." Tracey said doing a complete one-eighty and striding back to her friend and resting her hands on her hips. "Let's take a look inside and this time we're going to go carefully."
Pulling on the strap of her satchel to make sure it was secure and wouldn't come free, Tracey jerked her thumb at the warehouse and sighed. "Let's get this over with I guess."
Artemis gave her a fond look and started up the derelict steps to the warehouse door. "Can I at least pee by myself?" She asked pushing the door open with a squeal of protesting wood and metal.
"That little piece of privacy I can grant you without worry." Tracey answered rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "But little else under the circumstances and from here on out."
Keeping her voice low and her eyes open to the sunlight dancing in between the shadows of the old warehouse, she felt a chill run down her spine and then back up to her shoulder blades. "I hope we're not walking into some deep shit Artemis." She said, touching her thigh and feeling the sheathed dagger there that Artemis had given her while in Ancient Greece. "I have a sneaking suspicion that we are..."
"Being watched." A deep voice finished for her.
Artemis didn't so much as jump which annoyed the hell out of Tracey because she had leapt like she'd been stung by a bee. "Yeah." He friend drawled. "Watched, care to come out where we can see you?"
"I think I'm more comfortable where I am." The deep voice said again from a different place than before, he was on the move.
Artemis made an annoyed noise and raised her hand almost without thought and a globe of pale light popped into being illuminating the interior of the warehouse, if it surprised her she didn't let it show. Tracey stared at the man standing barely three feet away from them a sword raised enpoint and and close enough that Artemis could see her breath misting the metal. It had been very dark in the warehouse.
He was a tall man, around six foot five inches, tall enough that both of them had to look up to meet his eyes, his bald head gleamed dully under the ball of wytchlight Artemis had conjured and he studied them with intense dark eyes. Artemis looked over at Tracey. "Does that answer where we are?"
"It does... as a matter of fact." Tracey replied slowly, looking at the man from his bald head to his muddied boots. "Looks like we're back in New York city again Artemis and somehow we're here to help the infamous Kaulder... the last Witch-hunter... super."
Though she sounded really disinterested in being there, Tracey was in fact covering up her excitement and the fact that she was trying to get her breathing under control again. She didn't like being snuck up on and oh how she detested having sharp implements of destruction pointed at them, but especially her.
"Despite what this looks like and who we are, we're here to help you so..." She started to say, pointing to the sword in his hands. "Perhaps you should put that knife away..."
He gave them both a curious look but lowered the sword. "How did two witches of your power get into the city without the new Council knowing?"
Artemis smiled slightly. "As powerful as I am I could walk right up to them and they'd never know me for what I am. We'd have to be from here for us to register."
The sound of running feet alerted them to company on its way but Kaulder stayed relaxed, he knew those running feet. Chloe skidded to a halt staring at the wytchfire in Artemis's hand. "Oh shit…"
"Chloe?" Kaulder asked sheathing the sword.
"They all but glow with power but I didn't feel them until just now."
Tracey blinked at Kaulder's statement and then looked at Artemis in slight confusion.
"You said two witches... oh lovely, this could be fun." She said with a smirk, realizing that he called her a witch too. "Oh what wonders have been bestowed upon me in this little world I wonder. I guess we'll have to find out later what fun abilities I have... Is this why you wanted to come into this warehouse Artemis?"
Artemis crossed her arms. "Remember what I've told you before. Don't get used to it, that's how mistakes happen. And yes, my instincts were going banana's telling me to come in here."
"Alright, you two are coming with me. Something is going on here and apparently you're part of it. Chloe is there anything you can tell me?" Kaulder started towards the door and the summer sun outside.
Chloe hurried after him. "The Cards said something bad was coming. And all the portents are leading up to something big and world changing if not world ending."
Artemis looked at Tracey and followed after them the wytchlight winking out. "Yes, yes I know and haven't forgotten." She answered, pushing her dark hair from her face. "It still won't stop me from wondering and trying to figure out what I get to play with."
Glad to leave the warehouse, Tracey kept close to Artemis as they followed Chloe and Kaulder to the street. She was glad that the sun was out and that its rays felt warm on her skin. After the mountaintop atmosphere and the chilly nights, it was a blessing to have the sun and it's warmth again.
"Where are we going Kaulder?" She asked loudly, wondering if he'd actually answer her since they all had just met.
"Somewhere safer than a run down warehouse all but writhing with back mold." He replied and took Chloe's hand steering them all toward an alleyway.
He ushered them into his car and drove with frankly alarming speed to a highrise building and in near silence loaded them into an elevator and up to his penthouse apartment. Once they were safely inside Chloe turned and stared at them with so much intensity Tracey wondered if she had something on her face. "Just who the hell are you two? I've never felt anyone like you and I've been inside the head of the Witch Queen."
"A dangerous labyrinth if you're not careful." Tracey replied, crossing her arms under her chest and walking around the large living room, casting her eyes over everything in the room and nodding her approval to all that she saw. "First of all the niceties should be observed don't you think so Chloe or have you forgotten your manners? My name is Tracey and my friend there is Artemis, she's probably the one you're feeling the most energy from."
Artemis snorted lightly. "Once a teacher." She murmured and wandered past Chloe into the main part of the penthouse looking at the various artefacts curiously. Kaulder had retreated further into the house to put his sword away.
Chloe wrinkled her nose and trailed after Tracey. "Well then intro's have been made and yeah, Artemis practically vibrates with power but I'd rather talk to you."
Tracey looked at Chloe with a raised eyebrow, shrugged her shoulders and turned to face her. She studied Chloe with a skeptical look, tilting her head from side to side.
"Oh? About what?"
Chloe motioned Tracey towards the kitchen. "Well for one where did you come from? You two don't feel right. Like you're just a second out of synch with the world."
Tracey had the odd feeling she was being interrogated but she couldn't sense any malice from Chloe. Following Chloe to the kitchen and leaning against one of the granite counters, her arms still crossed. She listened to her questions in silence and stood up just a little bit straighter from her position on the counter when she was finished.
"What truly feels right about anyone... in any world?" Tracey asked in return. "We've recently returned from a trip to Greece."
It was mostly the truth, she just omitted a few facts. Chloe set two mugs on the counter and poured out cups of fruit teas. "You feel just a little left of center you know? Like puzzle pieces, same shape but the wrong picture."
"I can understand what you mean." She started, looking at the mug of tea and picking it up to bring to her nose and smell the hot liquid. "Thank you for the drink, I appreciate it, but I have answered your question. We'll feel a little out of sorts to you for a time but it's not something you should be entirely worried about."
Tracey took a sip of her tea gingerly before adding a few spoonfuls of sugar in her mug and stirring it. Taking another sip, she nodded and drank again, this time pleased with the sweet and fruity beverage.
Chloe made a frustrated noise, Artemis wandered by the kitchen and gave them an enigmatic smile. Kaulder walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter folding his arms. "I take it we'll get fewer answers out of her?" He hooked a thumb towards Artemis.
"That's right." Tracey answered with a growing smirk. "Like I said before we're here to help you, whether you trust us or not that's not our problem. You have a dilemma on the rise here and Artemis and I are apart of the solution, I can guarantee that. So are you going to be housing us while we're here for a brief amount of time or shall Artemis and I find a place to stay?"
She raised the mug of tea to her lips and took a steady draft from it, letting the hot liquid run down her throat and enjoying the soothing moisture. Good tea like this is what she missed while they were in Ancient Greece, the tea there was good and all but nothing really compared to the tea one could get in America. Tracey cupped the mug with both hands to absorb the warmth from the tea and relaxed, still leaning against the counter and studying Kaulder and Chloe through observant eyes.
"Smooth Tracey, subtle hints of condescension with just a splash of smug superiority." Artemis teased walking into the kitchen and turned to Kaulder.
"Is that a real Vodun Loa Mask?"
He looked a little surprised as he answered. "Yeah…"
"Circa 1930's right? All the brass was stripped off and it was repainted during World War II?"
Artemis had the gleam of avid curiosity in her eyes and Kaulder had to smile. "What do you know about Vodun Loa Masks?"
"You're like a child in a candy shop Artemis." Tracey said with a soft laugh. "But I have to say that I'm a little interested in many of the artifacts you have acquired in your eight hundred years of servitude to the Axe and Hammer... don't worry Kaulder you don't look a day over a hundred and twenty-nine."
She couldn't help but smile sweetly at him and then shuffled her satchel to her other shoulder.
Artemis chuckled. "I know the basics of Vodun, I know the Loa Masks are used to communicate with the Loa and I have a working understanding of the various Loa but since I don't practice Vodun I don't know much more. I'm just fascinated by Magical Practice in general."
"You're both Witches though." Chloe interjected.
"Actually…" Artemis leaned against the counter and folded her hands before she gave them the short version of their last year. Chloe was staring wide eyed and opened mouthed and Kaulder looked like he'd been ht upside the back of the head. "So You're the real Witch and she… what? She got dragged along for the ride?" Chloe finally asked.
"Something like that." Artemis said giving Tracey a placating look. "It's different from world to world, at least for Tracey, I always seem to retain my witchcraft."
Kaulder ran a hand over his head. "So… what's gone wrong here?"
Finishing her tea and setting her mug down, Tracey pushed her hair out of her face with a sigh and a shake of her head.
"It would be very unwise to count me out just because I'm not a real witch like our present company... why do people always think I'm useless Artemis, they're just asking for the slap in my pocket that has their name on it." Tracey started, narrowing her eyes at Chloe for a moment before looking at their bald headed companion now and continuing.
"You're guess is as good as ours Kaulder. You wouldn't happen to have some ideas of your own?"
Kaulder and Chloe considered it for a long time before shaking their heads, Artemis worried her lower lip between her teeth for a moment then shrugged. "Well whatever it is will turn up sooner or later."
"I can ask around, see if any of my friends have heard anything." Chole added.
Artemis nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Tracey and I are going to find a hotel, I'm sure you'll
know where to find us."
Kaulder straightened looking surprised. "Wait what are you two planning?"
Artemis grinned suddenly. "We've been in ancient Greece for a month, I'm taking a shower."
"A hot shower... Now that's what I've been missing and I can guarantee I'm not coming out from the bathroom for a very long hour." Tracey said with a smile. "You know Artemis... I wish the boys were here so we could drop by and say hello to them. I miss them all but especially Leo and Mikey."
She pushed herself off from the counter and sighed. "We'll find a hotel that will suit us and figure out something along the lines of a job so we can pay for the hotel."
Kaulder stared at them both trying to decide if he had a hope of making them stay but in the end he handed them a business card with his contact info and the name of a reasonably priced hotel nearby. The door closed behind Artemis and Tracey bickering amicably over who got the shower first, Tracey was winning since she argued that she smelled like wet cat and probably had fleas from spending so much time in animal form. Chloe snuggled under his arm and looked up at him. "How much do we tell them?" She asked.
He considered it for a minute. "Nothing until we know they can be trusted. For all we know they could be here to make sure Reality falls apart. What better way to do that than to tell us they're working for the good guys."
She nodded and went up on tiptoe for a kiss.