Chapter 3 - The Crone

AN – This is still a bit of foreign territory to me but my plan remains to continue. If you have ideas, questions or requests, pls let me know! Thanks!

Disclaimer – No change to the legal status so I continue to play without ownership or profit!

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"You guys work on that. We need to see if we can find her." Nick paused as he considered whether or not Juliette remained the same monster who had tried to kill him after he refused to kill her. Looking around at his friends, he realized that he might risk his own life to find out but that he couldn't risk the lives of his friends. Without any family, these people were the only family that he had left.

"Be careful. She could still be angry with us. If you see her, don't try to take her down - just call me."

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Juliette wasn't angry anymore though. She didn't want revenge either - she just wanted out. She accepted that her life had changed, that she had changed and that she was a monster. Having spent time in Nick's Grimm world before she fit into it, she had a pretty good understanding of Wesen. She also knew Nick's cop world. A small voice reminded her that she knew these worlds because she knew Nick, because she loved Nick.

Shaking her head as if to clear it, Juliette focused on getting out and away from the man who had almost been her husband. There was little Nick could do as a Grimm to find her but he could do a lot as a cop. She knew he would monitor her credit and bank cards, her vehicle was useless and just a few nights of sleeping in it previously had taught her that she needed a bed every night. Frowning, she considered her options and couldn't see any way out.

Suddenly grinning, Juliette realized there was another way - an easy way now that she was a monster.

She had just started to play with her powers and then only in self-defense and against Adalind. Briefly Juliette's blood heated and her heart pounded as she thought of the blonde having Nick's baby but she pushed those feelings aside and focused. She had some understanding of the impact she had on people, on men in particular. In a surprisingly short time that she knew probably would have horrified Nick, Juliette had a plan and a target.

The bank manager had only a moment to smile before she made her move. Later he would remember little even when the police questioned him repeatedly.

Nearly laughing at the ease of her success, Juliette pulled one stack of money from the bag. The manager had been like putty in her hands. Unlike Nick who had fought her control and pushed against her pull, the manager had been pliant to her wishes. With little coaxing, he had opened the doors and welcomed her into the bank and into the vault.

She had encouraged him to stand near the window and advise of any activity while she had pulled on gloves and taken what she wanted from the bank. Once she had the cash she had him erase the security footage and even had him destroy the network entirely.

She had left him at his desk and under her spell. As soon as she left the bank, she had easily unlocked a car a couple blocks away and left in it. Her new skills were certainly coming in handy and she felt the heady rush of power race through her each time she used them. Her body heated and tingled until she just wanted to laugh.

Juliette felt invincible - no longer afraid, no longer angry. She felt free and wild.

Laughing openly now, she again flipped through the money before simply staring at it. She could do anything and she was already looking forward to exploring her options. Portland was home or at least it had been but now the whole world was hers. Again, her eyes fell to the stack of money as she continued to laugh.

The serial numbers suddenly blurred to list a familiar address before the money burst into flames in her hand. Cursing lightly, she tossed it out the window and turned the vehicle toward Henrietta's house.

Before Juliette could knock she found herself on the other side of the door but the woman standing there wasn't Henrietta. She appeared to be an older version of the woman but her expression wasn't welcoming.

"Who are you?" Juliette demanded as she woged. She waited but the other woman neither spoke nor woged for several long moments.

"You have gained some control but no knowledge. Do you have a plan?" The woman's voice was dark, gritty and her accent was slight but unrecognizable.

"I plan to enjoy my new freedom. Where is Henrietta?" Twisting her neck slightly, Juliette returned to her normal appearance. Her tone was sharp with her impatience.

"Henrietta is dead." The old woman informed her without even blinking.

Juliette took a step back as she still had no idea who or what the woman was - the woman could be the reason that Henrietta was dead. Even as she wondered, the woman raised her hand and vase sped across the room at Juliette's head. There was barely time for her to raise a hand and deflect the object. With a low scream, Juliette woged again and faced the woman as she launched her own attack with a nearby plate.

The woman didn't even raise a hand but the plate changed direction and forced Juliette to duck. She flung her arm out again but found she couldn't even move the vase she had targeted. Frustrated, she switched to another potential weapon but again found it didn't move as she directed.

The sound of the old woman laughing brought another frustrated scream from Juliette as she focused on her. Juliette struck out at the old crone but the woman was no longer there. Spinning in a circle she found herself facing the woman for only a moment before she was thrown across the room.

"You believe you are some great, terrible monster. You are a child having a temper tantrum." The taunt was delivered in a calm voice as the old woman remained unchanged.

Juliette nearly growled in frustration as she tried again. She managed to move a lamp but before she could grin the light came back at her.

The one sided exchange continued for several minutes. Every attempt Juliette made to move an object or to hit the woman was an abject failure. Her body ached and her head throbbed as she gasped for air. Finally exhausted and with no other ideas, Juliette stayed on the floor where the woman had thrown her.

Since she had gained her powers no one had been able to resist her. She had faced Nick and his friends, killed other Wesen, toyed with the Royals and had even had a hand in another Grimm's death. Nick hadn't killed her as she had wished but she had asked as Juliette, not as the monster. Until the old crone, no one had stood up to her. Now though she realized that she wasn't invincible.

Looking up, she saw the old woman continued to smile as she moved to a nearly by table. Juliette watched suspiciously as she mixed several things together in a bowl. Regardless of her suspicion, Juliette was too tired to protest when the woman returned to kneel before her. The woman put some foul smelling paste over her bloody wounds. The injuries exploded into pain that seemed to spread through her as if her body was on fire.

After only a moment though the pain receded and Juliette found herself seated on the couch facing the old crone.

"You are young and powerful but you have much to learn. Henriette planned to teach you but I will do so now."

Regardless of her defeat, Juliette wasn't ready to give in completely. She glanced toward the front door but it wasn't there. Feeling disoriented, her head jerked from side to side as she tried to find a way to escape. It was the old woman's laughter that once again stopped her and drew her attention.

"You think you are the first hexenbeist tied to a Grimm. Do you know of any other Wesen that a Grimm can steal powers from? Did you wonder why you became a hexenbeist after making love to your Grimm?"

Juliette frowned as she considered the words. No one had asked why for long but instead they had all worked on fixing her. However, none of them had been able to find any information. Unwilling to feel anything she spoke up.

"I've read the books, there's nothing-"

"You've read the Grimm books, not mine." The old crone's smile was almost kind.

Juliette felt a spark inside her but it took her a moment to recognize the feeling as hope. She still wasn't ready though. The monster had clawed to life inside her - viciously, angrily - and she had accepted it. Her life had changed, she had changed and there was no going back now.

"There are always two sides to a story, even a fairy tale."