© Michael Scott

"Morning," Billy greeted them as they approached. It was 7:27 exactly, and Virginia was already starting the boat. Billy was finishing up some work on the deck while Virginia fiddled with the controls, putting coordinates into the GPS.

Josh, Sophie, and Joan all climbed into the boat, while Scatty frowned at it. She hated boats. Sophie turned and grinned at her friend, and then pulled her along with them. It was 7:30. Virginia started the engine while Billy climbed off of the deck and started untying the boat. At 7:33, as planned, they were out of the harbour.

Virginia left the wheel and allowed Billy to take over. "So, tell me more about this plan of yours," she said sitting facing the four immortals.

Josh began. "We plan on going to talk to Nyx to see if Germain is there, and if there is any way we can get him back peacefully. That is rather unlikely, seeing as he was taken in such an interesting and dramatic fashion. So, Joan and I will be going to see Nyx, while you, Billy, Scatty, and Sophie split up into two pairs.

"There are several points of entrance in each Elder's residence, but they will all be heavily guarded. We'll need a distraction to get in. Billy, I know you're fantastic at distractions."

Billy acknowledged that he was listening and had heard his part in the plan.

"Now, there will be more than just guards protecting the place. Nyx is crafty, and will have her own traps set up." Josh paused, thinking for a moment. Then he looked at everyone in turn and smiled.

"I hope you're not afraid of the dark."

The boat bumped gently against the shore of the beach. It rolled gently with the waves as Billy jumped out and tied up on a large rock a few feet from the large cliff that rose tall over the beach. Nyx's residence was on top of that cliff; at least fifty feet above sea level.

As they climbed out of the boat, Scatty began examining the beach. At the water, the sand seemed to be untouched by anything or anyone except water and their own footprints, but closer to the cliff she noticed strange markings. Walking carefully to avoid treading on them herself, she knelt to examine them more closely.

The markings came in sets of four, more similar to paws than feet. The prints were larger than the size of her hand. Each toe on the paw had large claw marks that dug deeply into the sand. It looked as though massive cats had prowled the beach, and recently.

While Scathach examined the footprints, Sophie had noticed something even more odd. She had one hand on the cliff face at eye level and was carefully looking at the large scratches in the stone.

Deep grooves, cut almost as deep as Sophie's middle finger, lined the rock face. Each was almost as long as her body, from her head to her knees. Sophie traced each with her finger; the rock was smooth where it had been cut, almost as if it had been sanded.

Josh came to stand beside her, also examining the grooves in the rock face. Sophie glanced at her brother and spotted the concern in his face.

"Not minotaurs in any case," she said, grinning softly. He smiled in way of response. "What do you think, then?" she asked him.

Joan, who had knelt beside Scathach, spoke up. "Giant cats? Does Nyx have any affiliation with cats?"

"It can't be," Scatty breathed, standing quickly. "They wouldn't come down here, not so far from their homeland."

"Mind fillin' us in?" Billy asked, having finished with the boat. It was now prepped for a quick getaway should they need one.

"Cat síth," Scatty said. "They're Celtic, but they are just fae; they resemble black cats with a white spot on their chests. But they can't be this far south, or this big…" She trailed off as they heard a yowl from high on the cliff.

"What do they do to you?" Virginia asked quickly, her hand going to the flute in her pocket.

"Aside from tear you apart with their massive claws and undoubtedly massive teeth? They apparently steal souls of the recently dead. Or the living if they feel like it," Scatty said, short sword in her hands.

"I'd rather not give them the option to feel like it," Sophie said. "Let's find a way up this cliff and find Germain."

Josh and Joan found a hidden ladder that was the obvious way into Nyx's residence. They climbed the ladder and soon became tiny specs as they reached the top. The others remained on the beach, preparing for their own battles.

"Let's split up now and approach from different angles," Billy suggested. "Virginia, why don't you go with Sophie, and I'll go with Scathach. That way I can be your distraction," he said, grinning.

"Fine by me," Sophie said, smiling brightly. "See you soon, then."

Scathach watched as Virginia and Sophie walked towards the north end of the beach, then started on her own way towards the south. Billy followed her.

At the top of the ladder, Josh and Joan found themselves at one end of a large expanse of grass. A small mansion sat at the other end of the grass, leaving a walk between them that would alert Nyx to their presence, if she didn't know already.

"Ready?" Josh asked. He glanced over at Joan, whose face was set.

"Ready."

Together, they began their walk towards the mansion, painted dark and sitting in a permanent shadow. As they approached, they saw tiny pinpricks of light in the shape of eyes. Josh assumed they were to scare off any unwanted guests with the illusion of being watched.

A strange darkness fell over them, as if everything had lost its colour and was now in black and white. Even the sun, still shining brightly in the sky, seemed to be filtered by a grey screen. It got darker and darker as they approached the mansion, the eeriness of the property starting to get to them.

A light ground fog sprang up about half way to the house, and soon their feet were covered in the swirling mist. They exchanged looks but continued. The temperature dropped, and soon the shadows began to loom from the mist. Their view of the mansion and all of its lights remained unobstructed, however.

Rustling followed them, but neither immortal turned or glanced around, not wanting to show fear this close to the Elder that would take full advantage of it. Joan moved closer to Josh to speak to him.

"You've noticed those lights I presume?" she asked, and he nodded.

"What about them?"

Joan smiled grimly. "I don't think they're lights."

"How long have you been travelling with Billy then?" Sophie asked Virginia as they walked along the beach, trying to find a way up the cliff.

"A few decades now. I met up with him in Japan and we stuck together ever since. It's been pretty boring, nothing major has been happening recently. This is the first real adventure I've had in years," Virginia said, stopping to look at a jagged expanse of cliff. "Think we can climb it?" she asked Sophie.

Sophie stopped to judge the cliff face. "Why not? It'd be fun in any case," she said with a grin.

In response, a low growl echoed off of the rocks. Both women tensed and reached for their weapons; Sophie, a pair of knives that she had gotten from Scathach, and Virginia, her flute and a long sword.

"How tall do you bet they are?" Virginia asked, looking for the source of the growl.

Sophie grinned. "I'll wager five feet at the shoulder."

"You're on," Virginia replied.

"So, how've you been Scatty?" Billy asked as they walked south.

No reply.

"You have no words for an old friend? Come on now Scatty, play nice," he teased. Her shoulders tensed but she still said nothing.

"Really Scathach, nothing?"

"I think that we are on a mission to find a friend and rescue him from an Elder, so I'd rather not chat, thanks," she said tersely.

Billy put his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright, you're the boss."

Exactly three minutes and twenty-four seconds had passed in silence before Billy spoke again.

"I really hate silence."

Scathach rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. She ignored him until they found a cave that lead into the cliff face towards Nyx's residence.

"This looks interesting," she noted. Billy grinned at her and pulled a large flashlight from his belt.

"Let us be intrigued then," he said, leading the way into the cave.

A/N: And there you have it folks, chapter 7 in all of its glory! I had a lot of fun writing this one, and there will be more chapters coming soon as I am enjoying writing these chapters involving Nyx and her humble abode. Hehehe, hope you're all having a good summer!

~nerdy