Entering the large mansion of one of Los Angeles's top socialites, Martha swept past the guards, whom had recognized her and permitted her entry, and was met by her fellow brethren in the large lobby.
Noticing her arrival, a young man with skin much darker than Martha's and shortly trimmed black hair approached her. "How did the hunt go?" Mickey asked.
"It was a success." Martha stated in an emotionless tone. Mickey gave her a small smile, not bothered by the young woman's cold behavior, and left her to get some rest after his night out hunting.
She was approached by a woman with pale skin and hair the color of fire. "It's about bloody time. You took way longer than usual and sent me into a state for that." she barked at her, irritation and concern clearly heard in her tone.
The young vampire showed a hint of mirth, the coldness in her eyes turning into warmth for the first time that night. "I'm fine Donna. Just encountered a pack of six Lycans."
"Six Lycans!?" Donna exclaimed.
"Calm down Donna. I'm fine. See, there's not even a single scratch on me." She heard a scoff behind her and glanced back, seeing a young woman with fiery red hair like Donna's.
"Even if you came back half-dead, you would still say you're fine." The young vampire gave her a small smile. "I'm just glad you're okay though Martha."
Martha returned the smile. "Thanks Amy."
"I'll be off now. I need to go find that man of mine. Gods know he could be stuck in a cell in the dungeon for all I know."
She watches as Amy walks away on the hunt to find her life partner, Rory. "I would have never expected those two to click but they did amazingly." She mused. Amy had a reputation throughout the whole mansion for her recklessness during hunts so it was quite a surprise when she and Rory, who is much more reserved and cautious, became life partners.
"Oh yeah Martha, Rassilon is looking for you. You should go head upstairs to meet him." Donna told her.
Martha nodded and was about to leave when Donna grabbed her hand. She pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Just to let you know Martha, Rassilon has been in a very bad mood since he came back to the mansion. I don't know whether it's from his dealings with the humans posing as a socialite or if one of us somehow pissed him off real bad. Just be careful where you step okay."
"I'll be fine Donna. But thank you for the warning." Martha said. Donna released her hold and watched Martha walk up the large grand stairs, the warmth in her eyes now gone, her cold shell back once more. "Be careful up there Martha. I really don't want you to end up as a blood splatter on the carpet."
Martha walked past the old pictures hanging on the hallway as she strode down to the Elder's room when she suddenly felt another presence with her. She stopped mid-stride, her dark hair overshadowing her face.
"I know you're here. Rose Tyler." she called out.
A figure walked out of the shadows and stood behind her. "Has Rassilon called for your presence?" Martha asked.
"No." replied the young vampire, her blue eyes glaring daggers at Martha. If looks could kill, Martha would have been a blood splatter on the floor by then. "Then I suggest you leave. Rassilon asked for me." This earned a snarl from Rose.
"Just because you are the very best among us does not mean you can dictate us bitch!" Rose snarled.
"Name calling now are we? That just proves that you're an immature brat not fit to be an Assassin." Martha responded back in a mocking tone.
Seeing red, Rose roared and launched at Martha, ready to tear her throat out with her now elongated sharp claws. Before she knew it, she found herself on the floor, a hand wrapped around her throat, the hand squeezing it tighter with each second.
Rose clawed at the hand wrapped around her throat, gasping for breath as her air supply was slowly cut off. "You are trying my patience HATCHLING and if you value your life, I suggest you leave. Now." Rose flinched at the derogatory term and nodded. Martha released her hold leaving Rose gasping on the wooden floor and coughing as she clutched her bruised throat.
Rassilon stood by the window, staring out at the lit city of Los Angeles, a glass of fresh blood in his hand when he heard the door to his chamber open.
"You wanted to see me Elder." His most beloved vampire spoke.
"Yes Martha, my Child. Come in." He placed the glass down on his desk as Martha stepped into the chamber and closed the door behind her.
"I trust the hunt was successful?" Martha nodded. He gave her a proud smile like a parent after hearing of their child's accomplishments.
"You have always been the best Martha out of the entire coven. Granted, I did Sire you." He said in a gentle, fatherly tone.
Martha stood there not saying a word. "But I'm afraid I have terrible news." Rassilon said, no longer smiling.
This caught Martha's attention. "What news Elder?"
Rassilon blew out a sigh and turned to the window, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I went to see the Oracle today and she has spoken to me of a prophecy. She said that a mortal will meet an Assassin with a heart of ice and that he is the key to ending the war and bringing peace between us and those mongrels. What's more, before such a peace could occur, a huge battle will be fought amongst us, blood will be spilled before the night is done. You can imagine how I must feel after hearing such a troubling prophecy."
Martha could feel her blood boil and clenched her fists, her blue eyes taking on a dangerous look. "It'll be a cold day in Hell before I even make peace with those animals!" she raged.
Sensing the rising rage in his Child, the Elder turned back to her and walked up to her. Gently taking her clenched fists into his hands, he comforted her like a parent does to an upset child. "Do not worry my Child. I will never make peace with them as well. After what those animals did to your family, I will ensure that not a single one will live after the war is over."
Martha took in a deep breath, taking comfort from the Elder's words. Recalling the prophecy mentioned, she started to remember the mortal that she had caught watching her in the alleyway. "Elder, I have something to tell you that may link to the prophecy."
"What is it Martha?" he questioned.
"I caught a male mortal watching me kill the Lycan pack I was hunting tonight. For some reason, I was mulling over the decision of whether I should kill him when you called me back."
Rassilon's eyes widened in shock from this revelation. "Can it be!?"
"Martha, where is this mortal now?"
"I do not know. He had already fled into the night by then." Rassilon pursed his lips. "Then could you please tell me what he looks like and his scent? I will send out our brethren to search for this mortal."
"He looked to be in his mid-thirties and had a skinny, lanky figure. He also had wild, unruly brown hair, a pale complexion and dark brown eyes. And he had the most peculiar scent, like that of cinnamon." Her eyes widened in shock, recognizing now the scent that she had smelled from the mortal, "…and a small trace of your scent."
"That has narrowed our search down. Well done my Child. You will go out with your brethren and find this mortal. Do not kill him but bring him here. You my Child are part of the prophecy and you have led us to the mortal mentioned."
"What is so special about this mortal Elder? I know that he is the key to ending the war but there is something else isn't there? Why does he have a small trace of your scent?"
The Elder looked to his Child, "What is mentioned here should not be spoken out to anyone else not even among our brethren. That mortal, that man that you saw in the alleyway, is a descendant of the father who sired both Vampires and Lycans."
Martha froze as she tried to comprehend what she had just heard. "What!?" She knew that Rassilon himself was descended from a long lineage of vampires who trace back to the Father of both Vampires and Lycans unlike her but she could never fathom this.
"I know this must be a shock to you my Child. I was also surprised myself. To find a mortal related to me through our ancestor. Promise me that this does not leave these doors." Martha nodded. She shuddered internally at the thought of this information falling into the hands of the Lycans.
"Good. Now go. Be on your way. I will pray to the Gods that your hunt will go well." He said, releasing her clenched fists.
Martha bid a respectful farewell to the Elder and left the chamber, not noticing the small smirk on his face.