The firearm felt oddly heavy in Marina's hands. She didn't think it would feel like this. She realized that she was carrying a tool meant for killing and that just added to the burden.

It was a surreal feeling. Nervously, Marina took a firm grasp on the pistol grip and aimed down its iron sights.

It felt unwieldy and a bit clumsy. She had seen soldiers carrying one, she had seen movies where people used one. Now it came to her to use one.

If only to give her any chance of surviving.

She turned toward the door as the mob, the rabid, the Moonscorched pounded against the wood, bending and cracking the wood. As the first of the men broke through, she pulled the trigger and fired.

Marina barely had time to cry as she was thrown to the ground, the stump that was once her right arm being little use in supporting herself. She choked on her blood, sweat, and tears as a foot slammed her into the wooden floor. The pistol she held was tossed, all but useless for how it jammed in the one moment it had been needed. She had no knife and the last remnants of magic she had had been all but used up.

She couldn't see it, not with a knee pressing down on the back of her neck, but she could hear it. The familiar sound of a buzzsaw as it was slowly brought to where her leg was.

All she could do was cry as the serrated blades buried themselves into her flesh and bone. Until all that would be left of her was a bloody pile of mush. Barely moving, barely breathing, to do as they saw fit.

Marina gasped as she shot up from her bed. Instinct took control and the gun she had kept on her nightstand was already in her hands. It was only after a few seconds of pointing it in the empty darkness that she realized there was nothing there.

Still tense, her eyes darted around the room before resting on the weapon that she held in her hands. Such a simple, effective, and deadly thing. Even after all these years she would always find it useful to have one, especially with advancements in technology. Something she was quite happy to take advantage of even as she gradually developed her skills in the Occult.

She let out a deep sigh as she carefully placed the gun back on its pedestal before falling back onto her pillow. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her arm before dangling the limb off the side of her bed.

That was not what happened back then. All those decades ago. Despite the many horrors that had been inflicted and her mind and body back in Prehevil, many of them worse than most humans could possibly dream or imagine, those events in particular never happened.

The mob never actually caught her and the gun worked when she had needed it. Those nightmares, at least the second half, was just her mind messing with her again. Making up things that never actually happened. Like that really mattered at all.

What happened to her in reality had been so much worse anyway. She even had a diary back then to memorialize all that along with a lot of other things she had learned in order to survive Prehevil. Now if only she could find where she had put the damn thing. Unfortunately she had lost track of a few things in the move to Brockton Bay

La la da da. La la da da.

"Fuck off," Marina cursed before grabbing her pillow and throwing it over her face.

Cleaning. Marina hated it. It was the one task that she could not solve easily with her bevy of acquired and trained skills. No matter what she learned unfortunately she always still had to take the time to dust, sweep, and mop the place. The last time she had tried to use her magic to clean something, well it had just been a big mess.

Still, this was all necessary if she was going to get some more customers.

Marina had never expected that she would be one to open a shop. Back in Europe in order to pay the bills she did apply her skills as a sort of consultant. Though she had cut off ties with Prehevil and the Vatican, an Occultist's skills had still been very sought after by those plagued or seeking the Otherworldly. It was how she applied her trade for a time, slowly learning, researching, eventually developing the skills she needed to support herself.

Then the advent of Scion and Parahumans. Things really changed after that.

Marina grunted as she tried to reach that last corner with her duster. Even on her toes and using stool she just simply wasn't tall enough to reach that last spot. Maybe she should've prayed to Sylvian just to get those few extra inches she needed.

A familiar bell rang and Marina quickly put on her best smile. Said smile became even wider once she saw who it was that came in.

"Hey there Glasses!"

The girl, Taylor, blushed. The fact that she tried to hide it made her that much more adorable as she held the book proudly in her hands. "Hi… do you need any help?"

"Actually yes. Could you get this last spot for me? You're tall and well," Marina gestured toward her own body. She never grew much past 18 and though she was comfortable with her body as it was now, there was no denying that there were disadvantages with being so short.

Taylor nodded before trading the book in her hands for the sweeper.

Marina watched as the girl finished off the last spot. "It was a pretty thick book, surprised you read it in just two days."

It was a speed that rivaled her own.

"I just couldn't put it down. It was a lot like Grimm, but somehow darker and more hopeful? There were a lot… adult themes though," Taylor replied as she continued to sweep.

"The darker the setting the more bright moments stand out," Marina replied as she helped the girl pick out another. Everything there really was harmless fun, as was most of the merchandise in the store. The real stuff she made sure to keep in the basement and only ever planned to let a few select clientele to ever enter. "So, you had a good talk with your dad?"

Taylor froze, her hand outstretched. She pulled it back and looked at Marina. "Dad and I had an argument."

"Oh really?" Marina led the girl over to a small table she kept at a corner of the store and sat her down. No tea yet unfortunately, the kettle had just been put on the stove, but maybe some cookies in a jar would have to do. "Do tell."

"He shouted at me and wanted to know why I ran off like that during the night. I just… told him. He hugged and made me promise that I wouldn't do that again. I thought maybe he came back but then he started shouting at Uncle Alan over the phone. I kind of just walked away after that."

"Does he actually love you? Or was he simply mad that you and anything else defied him?"

"I… I don't really know anymore," Taylor admitted. "I thought he loved me, when mom was still there. But I think he just died with her. He just shut down and barely even noticed I was there. All he does is work now. But he has to work I guess because without mom we barely have money for the mortgage."

"Maybe he's just using that as an excuse to bury himself in his work. Abandoned the idea of being anywhere involved in caring for his family."

"I hope not…" Taylor grabbed a cookie and bit down on it.

"Well, does he know how you feel at least? If not, let him know and give him one chance. And if he still doesn't change well then maybe it's time to get away from that."

Taylor swallowed and wiped the crumbs off her mouth. "Is it really that easy? He's pretty much the only person I have left."

"Trust me. Sometimes it's better to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. And don't think one or two redeeming moments is enough for him to get back in your good graces, trust me, he should have to work for it."

With her opinion voiced, Marina stood up and made her way to the kitchen in the back only to find that the kettle was still heating up. Rather than wait she snapped her finger and let the stove explode in a bellow of flame. It only took a small moment after that for the water to boil and she quickly returned to the table with tea brewed in a pot.

"I hope you like Bergamot," Marina said.

Taylor looked up from a book she had apparently grabbed from the bookshelf. It was a familiar book but Marina couldn't quite remember what it was. "Can you tell me what that one's about?"

"I'm not really sure," Taylor admitted. "Some sort of autobiography? Or probably a story that was written like one? Some of these things are really weird."

"Well you can always pick out another one if you want," Marina suggested as she filled their teacups.

"No, it's… interesting. I think I'll buy this one."

"Sure. Have at it. Just tell me about it when you're done and I'll give you a discount."

It was another slow day. Marina had only been able to sell a few more trinkets to a passerby or two before she had to close for the night. She wasn't panicking too much, she still had a good amount of money saved and at this point her shop was more of a hobby than anything else. She just didn't really have much to do with her life apart from her Occultic pursuits and wasn't that sort of sad?

"That's it. Heading to a bar tonight," Marina grumbled to herself as she walked down the stairs to her basement.

New city, new people. It was a chance to make a few acquaintances and maybe have a bit of fun. At the end of the day she just needed some social activity.

Before that though she just had a couple of other chores to do. A single flick of her finger would up the light candles placed in the basement, illuminating the room and revealing the four fairly fresh corpses that she had kept there. Drawn across all the floors and walls were all sorts of Imperfect and Perfect Circles ready to be used in a moment's notice. In fact the entire building was filled with Circles in the walls and underneath the floors. An Occultist had to be prepared for any situation after all, especially in their own home.

Marina hummed to herself as she started the task of carving into the neck of the first corpse with a bone saw.

The mugger from before had come back the previous night, that time with a few friends and pistols. Not that they had a chance to use them. She had given them all one last warning and when they didn't stand them down, well what had happened to them was their responsibility. If you were willing to pick a fight like that and kill then you had to be prepared to be killed in turn.

Unfortunately, modern society didn't agree much with her views. At least in the USA. Fortunately she had a use for their bodies and as long as she got rid of all the evidence, something she had waaay too much experience with, no one would know a thing.

With a snap the spine was severed and soon the rest of the head followed. She repeated the task with care and efficiency, extracting head after head from the four corpses she had in the basement. As for how someone of her size got them there, well necromancy could be very convenient when you had a fresh body. Once she had the corpses beheaded she threw the rest of the remains into a Sigil of Gro-Goroth.

Groggy was an old god that offered mankind the blessing of blood magic. Sacrificing a few spare corpses in his name was a good way to gain power, even if it was just maintaining a relationship with what remnants of him still remained in the world.

As old Groggy fed, Marina made her way to the Imperfect Circle that she had drawn in the basement. A swift prayer and an offering of the heads was an easy way to bring back a familiar figure.

The air cooled down and became. For many it would feel heavy just to breathe. The Tainted One rose from a pool of blood. A human who had once risen to godhood. She was one of the few Gods that still remained after their exodus, or perhaps disappearance, around the time of Scion's emergence.

"Unbearable existence. The suffering-"

"Hey there Bloody. Just offering you these heads." Though Marina spoke casually she made sure to keep her posture formal as she gave the God her offerings. Turns out Bloody didn't really give a damn about how you spoke to her as long as you had something to give her and your own head to bow to her.

"Oh, you again. Dear Explorer of this modern age you shall receive just as you have asked."

Each head was quickly consumed and in exchange for a shard of a larger gemstone. It only took seconds for Marina to combine into a whole and in her hands would a gemstone that radiated a faint light. A Soul Stone one that she could use to empower herself further. Although at this point a single one would only give her meager gain in power.

She'd actually be better off selling them as a trinket or turning it into an accessory. They were pretty much harmless for regular people and she had known a few who were more than willing to pay a premium for the pretty shiny gem. And if someone that walked happened to recognize what it was, then yay they passed the test and she could show them the more illicit merchandise she had in the basement.

"So what happened to most of the Gods?" Marina asked, though she knew how the Tainted One was going to answer. Still didn't stop her from asking though.

"It is not in my place to say," the New God replied before slowly sinking back into the pool of blood. "Farewell explorer."

Soon the god and the blood disappeared until all that was left as proof of their existence was the Imperfect Circle ready to be used again.

Marina clapped her hands. "Welp. Time to have a night in the town," she said to herself before going to her bedroom to pretty herself up.

Marina strutted into the bar wearing a nice pair of black denim trousers and a pretty top. She oozed confidence, one that came naturally to her from the years she had lived in a red-light district. Though she hadn't partaken in such activities herself she had made more than a few friends during their time there and they helped to elevate her sense of fashion even further. Though she didn't always stay with the current trend she knew how to present the physical qualities that she excelled in.

"Hey tapster! A drink please."

"How old are yo-"

Marina slammed her, admittedly doctored, ID down on the counter. She waited with arms crossed as the Bartender took the ID and looked at it.

"Twenty-two? You don't look a day past 16."

"Yea I know I've heard that before." Marina reached into her little purse and pulled out a Driver's License. It wasn't even necessary, this was Brockton Bay after and even with the little time she spent here she knew that they wouldn't give much of a damn. "You need anything else as proof?"

The Bartender eventually shook his head. "No you're good. What'd you want?"

"Something sweet and fruity. Surprise me," Marina replied as she took a seat at the counter and surveyed the room. More than a few people had noticed her entrance and a few of them had already given her a couple of appreciative glances.

Marina smiled to herself as she crossed her legs and rested her chin lightly on the back of her hand.

Yep. Still had it.

A few minutes later the bartender would put down a drink for her. Sweet and fruity like she asked, with a surprising kick. They didn't skimp out on the booze.

As she surveyed the bar, wondering which of the appreciative patrons would approach her first, the door would open again and a small group of men would enter. It only took one look at them for the smile to fall off her face.

Bald, tattooed, all white. It was a bunch of Nazis.

Godsdamnit. The coolest looking club in her area and it was accosted regularly by Nazis? And she could tell they came here regularly because the bartender and the other customers didn't even bat an eye when they walked in.

Marina knew what she was getting into when she moved to Brockton Bay and had planned accordingly. The Nazis wouldn't actively target her because she was white and having her store on the very outskirts of Empire territory was prime real estate without having to actively associate with them or pay any protection fees.

In the end she didn't agree with their ideology, due to specific personal reasons, and she definitely didn't want to sleep with any of them. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for them considering how some of them were eyeing her now that they noticed her.

In fact one of the men had already started to approach her. Which was a shame because he would actually have been pretty good looking if it wasn't for the shaved head. And also the fact that he was a Nazi.

Can't forget about that.

He began talking but well she didn't hear a damn thing he was saying. Mostly because she was actively ignoring him and just giving him a cute nod and sounds of approval and acknowledgement that people like him loved to get. It was mostly just a delaying tactic though. How was she going to get out of this without causing too much trouble?

Her purse began to vibrate and she quickly took out her ringing phone.

Oh thank god! An excuse!

She looked at her phone. Huh, unknown number. Still, that would work.

"Sorry I have to take this, it's really important," Marina said, putting on the best apologetic tone she could muster as she stood up and headed out the front door.

Before she could get out though a thick hand grabbed onto her arm. "You can take it here. It won't bother us."

"It's just a friend who's really private and prone to a lot of shouting," Marina replied.

"Well I'm sure they'll understand if you have other matters to deal with," the man said.

Marina shifted away as he tried to reach for her leg. Rather than reveal her disgust- seriously there was a big red line between being charmingly assertive and just outright pushy and that red line was CONSENT- she did her best to give him an alluring smile.

"Good things happen to those who'll wait," she teased the man as she lightly took his hand off her arm. Her hand holding on his wrist just long enough to be alluring. "Don't worry I won't take long and we can continue where we left off."

"Okay then," the man replied and finally stepped back.

Marina went outside, answered her phone, and just continued walking away. Far far away from that bar, never to return. "Yo who's this?"

"Hey Marina…"

"Oh Tay Tay! What's up." It was a bit unexpected that the girl called her but Marina had given them her phone number.

"Remember that book you let me have?"

"Yea?"

"Well I kind of did some of the things it said and well-" A door opened in the background and Marina could hear a man shouting. "Wait dad! Don't call the PRT! I can explain."

"What happened!?" Marina couldn't help but raise her voice.

"I set the couch on fire! Please help!"

"Alright coming there right now. Where do you live?"

As Taylor began to spout out her address Marina wondered how it was even possible that the girl had even gotten her hands on one of her Occultic books. She had made damn sure to keep track of every single one of those that she had in inventory. The only things she had lost track of was her-

Oh no. Oh no. Damn damn damn damn.

"Coming now! Do not read that book any further!" Marina commanded before hanging up running toward the direction of Taylor's house. It was worse than a little bit of magic, that was her Godsdamn diary!