For the first time in her entire Dark-Huntress life, Scara woke peacefully, without remembering any dreams at all. D'Vrek must have been desperate for something to supplement the pain he'd taken from her. Fumbling for her jacket, which was still somewhere on the bed, she found her phone and checked the time. To her utter shock, she discovered that she'd slept for almost eight hours, longer than she'd ever slept by at least half. Even when she'd been relaxed and the nightmare's hadn't been bad, she'd still only slept five and a half.
Katrina stirred, quietly groaning at the loss of warmth at her back.
Scara's gaze found the girl, her attuned eyes seeing perfectly even in the total darkness. An odd ache started in her chest as she watched Katrina roll over, sleepily reaching for her. She moved closer, pulling the girl to her chest with an almost mournful expression.
Whatever it was that Katrina had, it'd completely eaten away her defenses and nestled in to the place her soul had once resided. She didn't want to let the girl go, but she knew that in less than five days, their time together would be over and there was nothing she could do to change that.
And this feeling... the only time she'd ever felt it was for a little boy, but this was just enough different that she didn't dare try to identify it; if she did, she knew it would eventually kill her.
The still sleeping girl let out a sigh and a small smile drew across her face as she snuggled closer again. It felt like her heart was breaking at the sight of Katrina so content. How could the girl be so happy when she was in so much pain?
Her phone rang then and she quickly smothered it on her jacket to keep from waking Katrina. Carefully, she extricated herself from the girl and padded naked into the living room, where she quietly closed the door as she answered the phone.
"Sebak," she said, keeping her voice down.
"Are you alright?" Taylor blurted. "Is Katrina still alive? You didn't kill her yet, did you?" Scara snorted. Like she could kill Katrina... Maybe when they first met, but not now.
"She's alive," the Dark-Huntress replied, gently cracking open the door to confirm the fact. "...Not sure she would agree, though."
"Tsk! Just what did you do to my poor little Trina?" Taylor scolded like a mother, or grandmother. Now that was an interesting thought...
"You don't want to know," Scara said, closing the door again and going into the kitchen. Was there anything ready-made still in the fridge?
"You'd better not have hurt her," Taylor warned superfluously.
"Yeah, whatever," she scoffed, reaching for a beer. "Like you could do anything to me... You already killed me once; next time... What am I saying? There won't be a next time..."
"Hehh, fuck you," he said sardonically.
"Not a chance," she returned, amused. "You're not my type, and I've already had my fill." Immediately she froze, mentally slamming her forehead against the wall. "Shit..." Too late; Taylor was already squealing on the other end of the line.
"OH MY GOD!" he bleated like a fangirl. "I knew it! I just knew you two... Gods! I'm so happy for you! Now, when's the first date? And I mean like a proper date, not this hanging out shit..."
"TAYLOR," she snapped, partly annoyed, but still on too much of a high from the afterglow to really be annoyed. "Would you shut up? There will be no date; it was a one-time deal. I just had to get it out of my system before I exploded. And even if it weren't-which it is, but for the sake of argument, let's say it wasn't-it wouldn't matter; in less than five days, she'll either end the world, or go off somewhere to learn how to keep her powers under control."
"Heh. You're so full of bullshit," Taylor snickered. "That was totally defensive; you like her, and you're just a pansy who can't admit it."
"I do not like her," Scara scoffed, rolling her eyes. "She's more annoying than you are."
"Oh, so you admit you like me."
"That's not what I said! What, are you some kind of marriage counselor or something now?"
"Well, obviously that's what you need, honey," he said. "And if Ash hadn't ordered me to stay away, I'd be over there in a heartbeat."
"Hello? End-of-the-world shit going on? Or did you miss the memo?" She huffed a sigh. "Seriously, focus on the job, and when this over, feel free to taunt me to your heart's content. At the risk of your life, of course."
Katrina had woken at the sound of the phone ringing; she shook her head to clear the fog before getting up and throwing her clothes from last night back on. She had just finished buckling her belt when she had heard Scara say over the phone that it had only been a one time thing. Fury boiled in her veins.
So she was just a one night stand? A way to vent her frustration? She actually bit her tongue to keep from growling as she looked around the room and stopped at the window. Glancing to the door and making up her mind, she grabbed the jacket she was originally gonna use as a cover to sleep on the couch, put her arms in the sleeves and zipped it up to her collar. Then she stepped up to the door and quietly locked the bedroom door before quickly, but silently, making her way to the window. She ducked underneath the curtain and opened the window, climbed out and then shut it behind her.
She was not gonna play this game! She'd seen Demetrius suffer through it enough to know better. Glancing down at the good five or six feet to the ground, she figured she could make it easy; she took a deep breath, let it out, and jumped.
As she thought, she landed perfectly fine on her feet and took off running. Screw them! Screw Scara! She could take care of herself! She was long gone before anyone could even notice.

"Tsk! Just you wait and see, Se," Taylor chirped. "I'll get you to admit it."
"Yeah, good luck with that," she scoffed. "Now let me get dressed, before some demon or something breaks into my apartment while I'm naked in the kitchen."
"Ooh, I'll bet that's a sight," he snickered. Rolling her eyes, she ended the call and went over to the bedroom to get her clothes, only to find the door locked. After a moment's confusion, she realized what must have happened; Katrina had probably heard some part of the conversation and, knowing her luck, had taken it wrong somehow. She was probably fuming in there.
"Katrina? Open the door," she called, pounding on it. "Katrina. Open the damn door, now!" When the girl didn't respond, she cursed and stepped back, kicking it open. Then she cursed again, this time in ancient Egyptian; Katrina was gone. Throwing on a pair of fitted jeans and a tank-top, she shoved her feet into a pair of running shoes and snatched her jacket before jumping out the open window, the only place the girl could've gone. She hit the ground and rolled to absorb the shock, coming up at a run as she extended her senses to the best of her ability. Pulling out her phone, she clicked on Acheron's number.
"She's gone," Scara blurted the moment she heard him start to speak. "She bolted, climbed out my window while I was in the other room." Acheron cursed.
"What the hell happened, Sebak?" he growled. She clenched her jaw tight as she stopped at an intersection and looked around.
"I made a stupid mistake," she replied.
"Fucking... Find her," he ordered sternly. "NOW."
"The hell you think I'm doing?" she snapped. "I don't have a fucking clue where she went or how long she's been gone."
"Call Taylor and have him put the word out in the Squire network," he said. "I'll get the Dark-Hunters in your area to keep an eye out."
"Not gonna work for long," she pointed out, checking her watch. "We've got an hour and a half, two tops, till sunrise."
"Then you've got two hours to find her, don't you?" The line clicked dead and she spat another Egyptian curse as she locked the phone and shoved it in her pocket.
"Where the hell are you, Katrina?"

The last place anyone will think to look, was the thought that crossed Katrina's mind as she glanced out the window of the plane, having only popped by her house long enough to pack some spare clothes and cash. Thankfully Demetrius hadn't been there, he was more stubborn than most, so there'd have been no getting past him with the explanation of why she was leaving. The sun was just starting to peek the horizon as well, so she knew Scara or any of the other Dark-Hunters wouldn't be able to find her and by the time they could again, she'd already be hidden away. In fact, she'd specifically choose the place she was heading to avoid destroying any cities if some kind of power flare or whatever happened the day of her birthday; she still remembered how her dad told her stories about when she was born, the hurricane striking the city just as she took her first breath and screamed. He used to call her his little miracle; when people had been dying or losing their loved ones and everything they had, he had gained a treasure that was only his, his precious little girl. She closed her eyes as she held his dog tags that hung around her neck and silently prayed that he was watching over her now.

"I'm heading home," Talon yawned. "Sunshine's got a gallery show or something this afternoon, and I need some sleep."
"Thanks for your help, Talon," Scara said, a touch hopelessly. The Celt nodded and then put his hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry," he assured. "I'm sure she's fine." Was she really that obviously worried? Damn.
"Yeah, probably," she noted, keeping her voice even. He patted her shoulder comfortingly as he left. Kyrian and Julian trotted up just in time to exchange farewells with their friend, and Samia followed a moment later.
"No sign of her," Kyrian reported grimly.
"Same here," Samia concurred. "I asked Dev if his family could help keep an eye out during the day, but frankly, I don't even think she's in the city." Scara winced at the suggestion as Julian nodded in agreement.
"That's actually the news I brought," he said. "One of the Squires working airport security just called in a few minutes ago; she saw a woman matching your girl's description boarding a flight about an hour ago. She would have stopped her or called it in sooner, but she didn't even get the memo until it was too late."
"Shit," Scara cursed. Samia made a face and even Kyrian flinched.
"Not good," he rumbled. "Did Ash say anything?"
"Not a damn thing," Julian sighed, exasperated. "I tried calling him, but the line was busy; he's probably feeling like Grand Central Station right now..."
"Did the Squire catch which flight?" Scara asked. He shook his head.
"She only recalled it as an afterthought, and she was on the lookout for other trouble, so she didn't notice."
"Damn it... She could be anywhere by now," she growled.
"Relax; we'll find her," Samia promised. "There's not a city in the world that isn't patrolled by at least one Dark-Hunter and a handful of Squires; word's out, and everyone'll be keeping an eye out for her. Now you need to get inside before you char... The rest of us have our souls, so we can go out in daylight, but you..." She glanced significantly at the wisps of steam curling off Scara's hands. The sun wasn't in sight, but it was obviously above the horizon, and she was still a ways from home. Reluctantly, she nodded and let the former Dark-Huntress lead her to a car that would take her to her apartment.

Katrina stretched her arms over her head as she walked off the flight. She had pulled her hood over her hair and put on a pair of sun glasses as soon as they landed, not wanting to be spotted. Since she hated her mother and they knew this, they'd never think to look here. She looked up to the towering mountains and took a breath of the clearer air. She may not like her mother one bit, but she loved the heritage she got.
Shouldering her bag, she started out to one of the taxis that would take her to where she'd be staying for a time. She'd move around a few times every so often to throw off their trail; that would hide her from them for a very long time.
Katrina smiled when she reached her destination, the taxi having stopped quite a ways back, she had to walk up the steep side of the mountain, but closer to the top, surrounded by fog, was a large mansion that had belonged to a distant relative of her mom's who had stayed in Scotland but died about two years ago. It was perfect.

It was only midday, and Scara was still awake, when she had a sudden epiphany.
Katrina was smart, incredibly so, and she knew what could happen if her powers exploded or whatever in the middle of a city. She also no doubt knew that any random passerby could be a potential witness of her location, so she'd go to someplace in the middle of nowhere, near a small town, or a tiny village, a place where she could hide away and still be able to get supplies. It'd have to be somewhere she felt safe, too, somewhere she didn't expect them to look.
So where was she least likely to be, besides in the middle of a big city?
Scara sat down hard and then fumbled for her phone, calling Acheron. She growled in annoyance when he didn't answer, but thankfully, when she dialed again, he picked up on the first ring.
"What's up?" He sounded tired, but she only felt a little bad; her mind was moving too quickly for her to care right now.
"Who does Katrina hate the most in the world?" She could almost literally see him in her mind's eyes raise a brow at her question.
"What does this have to do with finding her?"
When she explained her reasoning, Acheron remained quiet for so long she almost thought he'd hung up.
"Ash?"
"...I'll look into it," he said. "Meanwhile, don't get into any trouble." She bit her lip to keep from arguing with her boss.
"Fine," she sighed, annoyed.
"Scara," he said gently. "Get some sleep. Whatever mistake you made, you're gonna need all your strength to get right with her if and when we find her." She suspected he already knew what mistake she'd made, but she said nothing about it, only promising to at least try.
When she hung up, she flopped back on the bed, hair fanning out around her like a veil, and put her arm over her eyes.
Please, just let her be safe...

Ash, unfortunately, had to be the one to tell the missing girl's brother that she'd disappeared. The Greek Scot was definitely royally pissed, but he visible calmed enough to tell the Dark-Hunter leader what he needed to know. "That's an easy one. Her mother. Ever since Katrina's father died in war three years ago, their barely existent relationship fell apart. Her mother won't accept who Katrina is and after putting up with her for so long, Katrina finally snapped; told her to fuck off and stay out of her life."
"Where does her mother live?" Ash asked, pulling out his phone and readying to dial whoever he might know that was closest.
"Why?"
"Because it's possible she's going to the one place in the world she hates the most and she doesn't expect anyone to look there," he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the irritation out of his voice. "Now, please, answer the damn question."
"She lives right here in New Orleans," Demetrius frowned. After a slight pause, he hesitantly added, "Though she's originally from Scotland, Isle of Barra, if I'm not mistaken."

"Get some sleep, he says; you'll need your rest, he says..." Scara tossed another pebble across the road, an impressive feat, considering she was sitting on her porch, a good five yards from her side of the street. She hadn't been able to do more than doze since she got off the phone with Acheron-the nightmares were too strong even for D'Vrek to do much good-so the moment the sun had gone down far enough that she wouldn't be sitting in direct sunlight, she'd gone outside, anxious to get going. Where, she didn't know. Yet.
"Damn it, Ash!" she growled, pitching a small handful of pebbles at the driveway. "Hurry up and fucking call me already!" At that moment, her phone rang and she snatched it up without even looking at the caller ID. "Tell me you found her!"
"Uh, no...?" Taylor said slowly. "I was just calling to check on you, make sure you didn't go and commit suicide by sunburn or anything." Scara let out an exasperated sigh.
"Yes, I'm fine," she muttered.
"Honey, you don't sound even close to fine," he tsked. "You sound heartbroken... You know she wasn't trying to hurt you, right?"
"Oh really? Because that's certainly how it looks to me," she returned, a bit more sharply than she'd intended. "You must see something I don't."
"Of course I do!" he chided, not seeming to mind her tone at all. "I see a woman who's very much in love and refuses to admit it because the last woman she loved died, and she thinks it's her fault, so she doesn't want to ever fall in love again. Well, sweetheart, too fucking bad; news flash, you're in love. And when-not if, WHEN-we find her again, you had better tell her the truth, or, kill me if you like, but I'm saying it anyway... Or you're going to lose her, just like you lost Tiff." Scara almost dropped her phone. As it was, her hands trembled visibly.
"...I don't love her," she insisted. "How could I? We've known each other all of, what, three days? I'm just pissed because I was supposed to be guarding her, and instead, I fucked her." Taylor gave a resigned sigh.
"Whatever," he gave in. "If that's what you want to believe, knock yourself out; I'm not coming to the pity party. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a friend in trouble, and I'm going to find her."

By sundown, Scara was pacing the driveway. When her phone rang, she almost dropped it yanking it out of her pocket, but thankfully only fumbled a moment before answering, this time checking the caller ID to be sure it was Acheron.
"Did you find her?" she asked, almost desperately.
"Maybe," he answered. "I asked Demetrius about who she might hate the most, but her mother lives here in New Orleans."
"Then we're right back to where we started," she said, deflating.
"Not quite," he countered. "Her mother originally lived in Scotland. I made a couple of calls, and her mother's family still owns property on the Barra, an island in the Outer Hebrides. The nearest Dark-Hunter is headed out from Portree and should be there in an hour or two."
"Book me a flight up there," she said immediately, darting into the house to grab her jacket, shoes and keys.
"What? No; you'd be racing sunrise even if you left right this minute. Just be patient; Cathrine will find her and bring her on the first flight out here. I'd rather have the sun follow her here than risk you losing to it there."
"I don't give a flying fuck what you'd rather," Scara retorted, slamming the door shut behind her and jumping into her car. "I'm on my way to the airport; book me a ticket in advance, or I'll buy one when I get there. I'll buy the whole fucking plane if I have to!" Acheron sighed, clearly nearing the end of his patience.
"Scara..."
"Don't 'Scara' me!" she snapped, whipping into traffic. "Are you going to help me or fight me, because I'm happy with either!" Obviously trying not to snap back, he stayed silent for a moment, and she eased up a bit. "Look, Ash, you should understand me; I've lost everyone that ever meant anything to me, and Katrina isn't just a job anymore. I need to get her back here, for both our sake's; if she goes ballistic come her twenty-fifth, she'll never forgive herself for hurting anyone." She almost held her breath as she swerved around a slow car, just barely avoiding oncoming traffic.
"...I'll have you on the first flight to London," he said finally. "That's the best I can do on such short notice. Just promise me, as soon as you land, get to a hotel and lay low until the sun sets. I'll tell Cathrine just to observe until you can get up there." Scara breathed a sigh of relief.
"I promise; thanks, Ash."
"Don't get yourself killed, Behdeti," he said. "You don't have your soul yet."
Only after the line clicked and she'd tossed the phone into the passenger seat did Scara register what he'd said... YET.