Book 1: CH. 1

Cold death followed the women and children as they ran. Some of the children tripped while being held onto, only to be lifted and dragged further into the forest. The smell and taste of smoke and metal wafted into the air like a poisonous snake ensnaring a mouse.

Fear ate at their limbs and stamina. "GO!" An elder woman yelled as a growl was torn from her throat. "Go, now! Don't look back!"

Scared for their lives, the other women and children bid as they were told as a vicious snarl resonated behind her.

With inhuman speed, the woman was held by her neck as a loud, gruesome and hollow snap filled the area. Cries and whimpers escaped the women and children that were near enough to befall the casualty as they tried regaining what little semblance they had. They tried running again before death consumed them as well.

Pitiful, heart wrenching cries of innocent men, women and children assaulted the cold night air.

No one was coming to help them. Nobody knew. They would all die with their secret.

"So you mean to tell me, that this outside source of yours can help us? "

"Yes, sir."

"With all due respect, Agent Barton, but I find this highly doubtful. Regardless, these are desperate times. Prepare your team to head out."

"Thank you, sir!" Agent Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, saluted his superior before turning and leaving the conference room. The gliding of the automatic doors closing behind him followed as he stepped out onto the foyer, where the rest of his partner awaited him.

Agent Barton barely made it into the foyer before the question was out. "So, what's the plan, Legolas?"

The agent sent the new voice he was not expecting a look before answering. "We head out. Tash, get the jet ready," he spoke to his redheaded partner Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow, before looking back at the other man in the room.

"I take it we're off then," the same voice from earlier muttered as he tapped the reactor on his chest. Tony Stark was a man of many words, but not enough patience when it came to the dealings of S.H.I.E.L.D.. "And how come I don't know about this 'outside' contact of yours," Tony questioned, using air quotes to emphasize his point.

Barton shrugged. Even thought he knew it was a capital offense to keep information to himself, he knew this was one piece of information S.H.I.E.L.D could never get their hands on. Confidently, he strode off in the direction Natasha left. There was no point in telling Tony he wasn't invited. The man would just fly himself there anyway.

Clint had a lot to think about as he headed over to the jet Natasha was preparing for them. They were to leave within an hour's time. Sighing as he took a seat and waited for their departure, he took out a stack of envelopes and began to read through the files inside again.

It's a fucking bloodbath. His thoughts were dismal as he looked and flipped through the pictures. Women and children. Dead and scattered all over the scene. Their left arms were sliced, starting near their elbows to their wrists. All of them. Their heads snapped in a vile and contorted way that was not normal for the body. And the men were nowhere near. The men had died outside, defending the women and children. But their death was instant. A fatal blow to the head or chest.

It aggravated the hawk that this was the 3rd village that was slaughtered in the exact same manner. And it was apparent that whoever was behind it was looking for something. This wasn't just some form of revenge. The villages were too far apart, some were cross continent, and had nothing in common with each other according to statistics... But Clint new better. He'd seen women and children like this before. Alive.

He had no option but to find the only help he could think of when it came to this strange anomaly. And it was even stranger that he easily believed. But in what he believed, he'd just have to see it with his own eyes again.

"Sick bastards," came Tony's comment as he sat next to Barton, bringing him back to the present. Barton remained quiet as he glanced over at Tony. "I hacked into the system again," he shrugged.

"And you wonder why S.H.I.E.L.D doesn't trust you," came Natasha's voice from the cockpit as she walked towards the men.

"Well, the feeling's mutual, hon." Natasha shook her head at the older man's antics.

"Ready to fly," she directed the question to Barton as he finally set down the papers. With a silent nod, they both walked off to the cockpit while Tony sat back and enjoyed himself.

The group landed about thirty seven miles away from the rustic town they were headed into. It was, roughly, a forty to forty five minute drive if one was going at least 60 miles per hour on the highway. But this was not so, this was forest and mountains. Snow covered slopes as far as the eye could see decorated the many trees and hills. The team had better take it easy. What weirder way to die than by some driving accident? They'd be the laughing stock of the world for a while.

Gearing up with the bare minimal; a boot strapped knife, knuckle gloves and a switchblade or two, Clint moved towards the rented car that awaited them. He knew he could hold his own, if shit decided to hit the fan, but that didn't mean he liked being without his bow and arrow.

When he looked up, Natasha was already seated in the driver's seat behind a pair of shades as Tony complained about not being able to just call a limo. Clint looked over at the Thunderer then, who had arrived by surprise on the invisible jet. For once, the agent didn't complain about what followed the loud boom and lightning as they all situated themselves in the car.

The drive was about two and a half hours when they finally made it to the village, and it was filled with Tony's persistent singing and witty remarks. The place was a cozy little town in the middle of nowhere. Houses were covered with freshly fallen snow and lights warmed through the windows. Clint gave Natasha directions from the back seat as he glanced around the place. If there were any fire escapes, he noted them. Two stories houses? He memorized. Larger buildings? Mapped.

He'd only ever been to this place once before, and if he was being honest with himself, he was proud with the fact he remembered how to get to here. It was off the maps after all.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of an old and welcoming bar. Tony looked over at the hawk before smirking. This was definitely his type of place. Out of reach and out of mind. A good getaway from the knowing eyes of the city.

As they all stepped out of the car, Clint turned to face his colleagues and friends. "Let me do the talking." He stated, more for Tony than for Thor and Natasha; but, he made sure to make eye contact with all of them for good measure.

Thor, who had changed into the midgardian clothing that was kept on the jet for him, nodded. Something was definitely strange about this village. It wasn't eerie or foreboding... It just felt old. But in a harmonious type of way. His senses felt dull, but refreshingly calm given the circumstances as to why the team was there. He looked at his companions and wondered if they were having the same effects. Maybe it was just him.

Pressing forward into the bar, a jingle sounded overhead as they opened the door and announced their arrival. Clint quickly assessed his surroundings again. He kept his facade in check as he looked around the bar. The place was definitely homey. Light brown colored lights were fixed onto the cileing and rained down like Christmas lights. Pelts and leather pieces of fur either hung from walls or decorated some of the tables. Antique candelabras graced the walls with softer, warmer glows.

Buck heads and antlers decorated certain areas near the pool tables where four to six people played at different stations. Talons or animal skulls decorated some of the table tops where couples or friends came together for a good time. There was at least twenty people in the bar, minding their own while a mixture akin to Celtic tavern music filled the air. It was, easily, the dream bar for any hunter!

The back wall was lined with bottles upon bottles of different liquors. Each brand and bottle had it's own shade, size and color. Behind the bar top stood a tall and gruff looking man cleaning a glass as Clint walked forward and leaned against the counter. The man, the agent quickly noted, was easily six foot five and resembled a bear in human form. Warm, honey brown eyes wrinkled at the sides as Clint was regarded with an easy smile almost hidden under a peppered beard.

In the background, Clint heard Tony dragging a stool to sit on as he ordered himself some whiskey. Natasha and Thor stayed close as well, but not to the point where they were overly obvious about guarding each other in case trouble broke out.

"What can I offer you today?" The friendly offer was directed towards Clint as the bear looking man placed down the glass he was previously cleaning.

"Ephemera, brewed by the White Witch." Immediately, the atmosphere changed. Clint rose an eyebrow as he regarded the man with a steely look. The other patrons voices hushed as most turned in their seats to look at the invading company. Those that were playing pool stopped and stood to their full heights. Clint's eyes quickly narrowed as he took in the body counts around him once more. Thor bristled with the change in air next to him, like a dog would when expecting an attack.

"Didn't tell me we were hunting witches now, Barton," muttered Natasha, only for Clint to hear as she stepped closer to her small unit. He only grunted in response as he eyed the man behind the bar.

"Ain't nobody usher them words 'ere in years, I reckon." The bar tender almost growled, his once soft eyes and pleasing company quickly turned defensive as he leisurely placed a rifle from underneath the bar on the top counter. Like Easter eggs on a Sunday. The move was done so casually, anyone could have easily overlooked that there was, indeed, a rifle! On the table! "Wha-

"Who, pray tell, asks?" A strong, accented female voice interrupted the bar tender. There was a a sultry growl, almost purr, to the words spoken. One could even describe it like a cliché Transylvania accent one would hear from an old Dracula film.

Keeping his facial expression in check as Tony whistled behind him, he turned to face the newcomer. In all his years, he can truly say he was never gonna get used to the sight of her.

An old, faded red and ripped shirt hung from her shoulders reaching below the swell of her full breasts. Simple, dirty cargo pants wrapped around her pale frame as her bare toes stuck out from underneath the cloth. Mud and snow clung to her legs as she placed down her bow and quiver near the bar's edge. Not bothering with the excess snow on her soaking legs, she stepped towards the group and paused.

Before Tony could make any further remarks, he answered "The bird of Artemis."

Holding her head high, she gazed down with her silver-like gaze and singled out the male that answered her. Had he been a weaker man, the look she gave him alone would have sent him running. It was the gaze of a predator, and he was her prey. Raven locks framed her face minus the two thick and misplaced white streaks that gave her a more edgy look. Her hair, disheveled, was in a high ponytail and swayed gently as she took another step. Her eyes were unreadable as she continued to stare at the hawk.

The corner of her lip lifted as she raised her hand in a dismissing gesture towards the onlookers behind this group. Just as quickly as the noise had left the bar, it resumed as the patrons returned to what they were previously doing. "Come," came her simple command as she walked towards the latch on the bar's table top. Lifting it, the woman glanced at the bar tender and nodded to him in a quiet understanding.

The doors and windows to the bar closed with a mechanical whizzing noise as the gruff man looked around the place and gave everyone a nod. No one was to disturb them for now.

Not many knew the words to summon her, for they were the words of someone who held sanctuary here in the female's home. Someone trusted enough to seek her, and her alone.

As the other two Avengers kept a slow pace behind Clint, Tony quickly followed after refilling his glass one last time. He swore the bar tender was growling, and it wasn't like the cute little kitty growl. No. This was a straight up rumble from deep within the man's chest.

Quietly, the woman led the group to a wall before she lifted her right hand and caressed a certain stone in an arc-like motion. Turquoise lighting instantly covered her hand before some cryptic writings appeared on the wall with the same color. Never once did she look back to gauge the reactions of those around her as the wall opened on itself. Like something out of Harry Potter. That was the thought Tony entertained as he looked up. Maybe the Lord of the Rings.

"Mind your step," she warned before picking up one of the candelabras from the nearest wall.

Tony didn't quite know what to say. Neither did Natasha while Thor's eyes narrowed. It wasn't often he saw the raw display of magick. Especially here, in Midgard. He was baffled, even more so when Hawkeye took what he saw in stride and followed after the female.

The stone wall opened to a dark corridor leading further down into the earth. They could all hear as the stones moved once more behind them, sealing them in as they continued on their trek down. "I hope you know what you're getting us into," bit out Tony's nervous laugh in a sing-song tone as he toyed with the bracelet on his wrist.

"Do not worry. Your companion made sure to call sanctuary." The female glanced back into the dark where Tony walked but otherwise kept facing forward. There wasn't much light besides the candelabra she held.

Tony shrugged as he placed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "That's nice and all, toots, but the rest of us don't even know who you are." Tony smirked at the mirthful sound that muffled out of the female ahead of them all.

"Charming." Came her small reply as they walked down at least a good two flights of stairs.

Natasha mostly remained quiet as she studied her surroundings. She had too many questions about what what going on that were clouding her mind, and as a soldier that just couldn't do. She wanted to know how Barton came to know of this place, this woman. What connection they had. But she didn't have the luxury for those thought now, or ever, in her opinion. So she pushed them to the back recesses of her mind and trudged forward like a rubber band snapped backwards and waiting to react.

Without missing a beat, they reached the last step before the woman flicked her wrist into the air. Like magick, which it probably was -much to Tony's chagrin-, torches blew up in flames as she set down the candelabra on a near by wall. The room, which could even be called a cell, was poorly or plainly decorated. Tony couldn't figure out which. It was almost like something out of a macabre movie like Saw, minus the blood and lethal objects. One table and a couple of chairs were in the center. One large futon looking bed and a hole that seemed to let some form of light come in through the wall was what the Avengers looked at.

Stone lined every wall and corner of the room, roof and floor included. Thick and black chains danced along the edges of the entire room, ending in what seemed to be some weird fiendish fantasy. A huge collar with two similarly sized cuffs laid upon the floor. Claw marks and broken cobble stones littered the furthest side of the room they were in.

"I am Anayu." The woman spoke as she turned to face them all and slightly bowed her head. "Master of the Tavern and Guardian to this village." She then turned to face the hawk, her silver mist eyes gazed at him again, questioningly. "Speak, prey. Why have you returned? Why are you here?" Her question was not covered with any deceit the local playboy could detect, it was curious honesty that spilled from her lips. "And with company," she mused.

The others in the room stayed quiet as Clint stepped forward and looked around the room. "A simple 'I owe you.'"

"Then look upon me when you ask of such." Her reply was sharp.

The agent flinched at her words, his eyes slowly meeting hers as she stepped close to him. She studied his eyes. She could feel the dominion she had over him with her gaze and how he pushed to overcome it.

Clint wasn't sure how long she had stared at him before he, inaudibly, sighed in relief when she closed her eyes. Whatever it was she was searching for, it seems she found. As for Natasha, he could tell how uncomfortable she became when this new female stepped too close for comfort to him. Tony mostly just stared at the awkward situation since he didn't quite know what was going on.

The female turned and then looked at Thor. As their eyes met, an understanding of some sort, in the deeper recesses of his mind, accepted something about this woman. Don't underestimate her. He remembered the hawk's advice. Her methods might seem odd, so don't question it either. Thor nodded at her then, to which she returned, for it was an understanding she knew as well.

Clint studied the dark haired woman as she looked around before her eyes fell on him again. "Very well. Did you bring me an item?" He looked to Natasha and nodded before she handed him a satchel and quickly stepped back. Opening the satchel, Clint retrieved a broken leather that was kept withing another bag. He tore the plastic as he then held out the offered object before Anayu.

Her eyebrow quirked as she looked at the leather. Bending down to come face to face with the item, she closed her eyes and inhaled it. Just as quickly, she retracted and almost snarled in an unladylike fashion. "Old magick." She looked at Clint again as he cataloged her reactions.

"I take it you can help then?"

Anayu's eyes met with the blonde and she nodded. "Yes, but not like this." She paused and searched the room for something. As she walked around the cell she continued her conversation. "This enemy is no mere mortal... If the Thunderer himself is here."

"How do you know of such?" The god of thunder quickly boomed and went to take a step closer to the female until she looked at him again with a hand raised to stop his movements.

"I know many things... And yet, nothing at all. Your names, for example, is one of these." She finally found what she was looking for and removed it before walking towards the end wall where the cuffs and chains ended.

Taken aback for a moment, the blonde presented himself and his teammates as the woman proceeded to jam a rod into the wall. Once the bar was secured, she looked back over her shoulder at Clint and smirked.

As perplexed as Tony and Natasha were before, nothing prepared them for what happened next.

The woman's hands finally griped onto the bar that was placed high enough for her to reach for without having to tip toe. As Anayu did so, a low cracking sounds could be heard as her muscles tightened and her lower back arched a bit. A fuzzy distorting effect started at the crown of her head and progressed to the tips of her hair. Her knuckles tightened around the bar, almost bending it with pressure, as her hair completely changed from black and white to only white. The tie that held her tresses up seemed to have given up as her hair became fuller, heavier and a bit longer by a couple more inches.

Her body seemed to have become leaner as her temperature rose. Once the buzzing and slight shimmering effect vanished, they were left with a totally different person. She was now taller, if not by maybe three inches. Her muscled were much more prominent and toned, but not unattractively so. And her bone structure didn't seem as fragile anymore. She looked like a warrior of Asgard in Thor's opinion.

Tony could only balk and look at Clint, who shrugged his shoulders as the female then proceeded to walk onto the table and sit on it with her legs crossed. Clint soon followed and took a chair as he crossed his fingers behind his head and leaned back, the leather piece placed in front Anayu. Thor followed with the same enthusiasm and curiosity. Natasha and Tony did not feel the same. They were weary of what they just saw. They didn't like things that could not be explained.

Silence reigned over the cell for a couple of minutes as Anayu stared at the torn object.

"So, what are you exactly?"

Her eyes fell on Tony's own and locked with them. He couldn't hold back the physical shiver than ran down his spine. She rose an eyebrow at him in challenge. "What do you think I am?"

She was intrigued by them. Though, she couldn't quite help it. It wasn't often they had visitors in the secluded village.

Tony's mouth opened and closed twice before placing a finger in the air. He then folded his arms again as he looked at the bridge of her nose, or hair. He looked anywhere on her face but not at her unnerving eyes. "Not human," he finally muttered to which earned him another chuckle. Well, at least she wasn't bad company if she could find humor in his dumb remarks.

"What you search for is also not human." Anayu paused as she closed her eyes and concentrated again. She took in another steady breath as she inhaled the scent coming from the broken object. She allowed the aura of it's user to come close to her as she studied the receding power. It was like looking into the fading of light in the eyes of a human who was dying. She didn't have much time, so she remained quiet as she memorized the pattern.

Her eyes seemed to have an inner glow as she looked at Tony once more. A small and knowing smile graced her features. "I go by many names according to you humans, to which I am none," she clarified. "Demon... Monster." She paused with each word for added effect. "Beast. Mutant. Werewolf."

A/N: Hello again~ I just wanted to point out a couple of things real quick in case you all decide to eat me up for dinner. 1. I don't taste good. 2. I don't have a beta-reader or anything of the sort. Be prepared. Though I am trying to proof read it multiple times, a second, third and even fourth, pair of eyes are always welcome. 3. I do this for fun. I'm in no way, shape or form a professional writer. An amateur at best. 4. I don't own Marvel. All rights to their respective owner. The only thing I will own is the story plot and original characters. I hope you're enjoying it so far. And 5. Please leave me a review or PM. I'm greatly interested in what you have to say. Also, please note that I will try and refrain from using A/Ns before each chapter. Kthxbye! 3

Celtic Tavern Music: /2s5BjJkPfos