Marina couldn't even gasp, only choke as the Decrepit Priest grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up in the air. She futilely beat the arm with her small fists before she no longer had the energy to even do that. Already she could feel herself letting go, succumb to the darkness and whatever fate this monster had for her.

*Thwack*

That was all the warning both Marina and the Priest had before an arrow flew straight into his eye. He immediately dropped Marina and roared in pain as he tried to rip the projectile out of his socket. Because of that he didn't notice the two other arrows until they had already embedded themselves into his face.

After the third he became ramrod still before falling onto the floor face first. Between the landing and the arrows still buried in his face, there really wasn't much of it left.

Marina gasped as she gripped at her neck. All she could do now was focus on breathing but it was so hard to breathe. Her neck hurt so much.

"Here friend." A man with a bow and auburn walked towards her. The same man that had saved her. In his hand was a blue vial that he offered. "It's not much, but it should patch you up."

Marina quickly took it and began gulping down, the restorative effect of the potion already mending her body.

"Thank you," she said once she could speak again. As if that wasn't enough the man had already picked the knife she had dropped and offered it to her too. She grabbed it and held it tenderly in her hands. "You're August… right? We met on the train."

"We did. It's good to see you lass… er maybe not in this situation." August sighed as he looked at the corpses around them. "What these people become and what they would do to you… it's not pleasant to think about."

No. No it was not. Just looking at that bloody cross outside, ripped up clothes, and naked corpses was enough to give her some ideas.

Marina looked up and saw that August was already heading for the nearest open window. "You're going already?"

"Aye. I have business here that I need to deal with and it needs to be done quickly. We're all on a timer here."

"A timer?" Marina asked as she stood up.

"Before the moonlight reveals all."

Marina opened her eyes, her head still resting on the desk of her store. She sat up straight and stretched her arms. With training Taylor, practicing her own magic, and enjoying the occasional night out, Marina hadn't had much time to sleep.

She looked at her student who was organizing a shelf full of pretty Knick-knacks. Taylor simply rolled her eyes at her now that she saw that Marina was awake.

Thankfully having an employee at the store meant Marina could nap easily. At least until another customer came in, which she kinda hoped would happen soon. Bit of a slow day today.

The bell to the front door rang.

Ah. Speak of the devils.

A young teenage girl entered the store. She looked to be a bit older than Taylor, but not as tall and her hair was significantly less well kept. It wasn't terrible by any means but her long auburn hair looked frayed with what only looked like minimum brushing done to keep it maintained. The girl was also quite athletic looking. Even underneath that thick leather coat and heavy bundle that she carried on her back, Marina could tell that she had some serious muscle underneath.

"Are you Marina?" The girl asked.

"Yes," Marina replied casually though her hand began to hover toward the gun she kept under the counter. Only a few people knew her by name. Some of them friends, other enemies.

"I'm Octavia. My grandfather told me about you, said that you'd be best to help supply us for our… trade if we happened to be in the area."

Octavia…- oh!

"You're grandfather's August!" Marina exclaimed.

The girl nodded.

"And that means your father would be-"

"Steve"

Marina could only remain silent as she looked at the girl with a deadpan expression

"I know, grandpa was horrible with names. Thankfully dad realized that."

"That's good," Marina replied before she moved her hand away from her weapon. "How's August by the way? Haven't seen him in a while."

"Dead."

"Oh…"

"Yea."

"Sorry."

Octavia shook her head. "Don't be if anything you were probably the reason why he lived to see his grandchildren. And honestly with the family trade him dying peacefully on his bed from old age-"

"Is probably the best way to go," Marina replied before exhaling loudly. "Kinda wished I could've just stopped by and see him one more time. I owe him a lot."

"He left me a letter for you. Said that anything you owe him can be repaid to me."

That was something Marina was more than willing to help with. Even with the Supernatural on the decline there were still the occasional remnants and monsters in the shadows, forgotten but still existing. Many could just be left alone but some, well they were in need of a good culling. "Store is open for you, including the merchandise we have in the back. What do you need?"

Octavia set down her bundle and carefully unwrapped it to reveal a very familiar bow.

"The string needs replacing." Octivia plucked the bow with a single finger. "Also need it to be oiled and blessed.

"I can do that." Marina peered more closely at the bow. Despite how well it was maintained it was clearly starting to show its age. "I can also see if I can get a spare ready for you. In case this one breaks."

Octavia nodded before taking out a shopping list. "I'm also going to need five Purifying Talismans, three brown vials, three murky vials, as many, blue, and white vials you can provide, and two Soul Stones."

Marina put a hand to her chin as she processed through the request. "I have the Soul Stones, brown vials, and murky vials on hand. Will need a week to make you the Talismans possibly longer depending on when my supplier can get me the ink. As for the blue and white vials, my green house in the basement still has some time before I can harvest. Give me a month on that, unless you happen to find any herbs while foraging."

"I don't really do much foraging," Octavia admitted. "Grew up and did most of the hunting in the city."

Marina gestured toward a bookshelf in the back. "Good time for you to learn then. The forests out West are a good place to dig through."

"Anything else to know about the land?" Octavia asked.

"Brockton Bay has a higher ratio of Parahumans than most places. Lots of them fighting so you might get caught up in that if you're not careful."

"I've dealt with Parahumans before, not many can handle a blessed arrow to the head… but I'll try to avoid fighting with them if I can."

That wasn't the point. Honestly, apart from a few exceptions, Marina was more worried about the Parahumans than the girl. Hers was a family as storied and accomplished as the Belmonts, and the Gods only knew what those people were doing at the moment while traipsing through Western Europe.

"Why are you here by the way?" Marina asked. "Can't imagine it was just to meet little old me."

"I've been tracking something… dangerous and it led me to this town. You should be careful when going out at night."

"Any idea what it is?"

"Something to do with the Sulfur Cult."

Marina tensed, her hand already grabbing her gun by instinct. "Fuck."

"I know," Octavia replied morosely. "My family's been doing our best to eradicate them, but they're tricky and they left a creation of theirs go rampant across this country. Hopefully I can chase it away or exterminate it before it becomes too much of an issue here, but I'd be careful if I were you."

"Noted. Anything you can tell me about this thing?"

"Not much. Haven't seen it. It's sneaky and I wouldn't even know to track it if dad and I hadn't deciphered some of their notes on the thing."

"Should I be worried?" Taylor, who had been listening to their conversation, asked.

"No," Marina waved her off. "At least not more than usual. Just don't go wandering around at night."

Unfortunately, that was something that Marina knew her student was doing, with a little girl as a companion too. Marina wouldn't say anything to Danny though, his daughter had to make her own choices and deal with her own mistakes. All Marina had to do was make sure to clean up the mess and help the girl stay alive in the aftermath.

"Octavia, this is my student Taylor. Taylor, Octivia," Marina immediately introduced the two. "Octavia comes from a long line of monster hunters."

"I kind of figured," Taylor replied, suddenly awkward now that she had to interact with a girl around her age. "Nice to meet you. I'm… learning magic!"

Octavia raised an eye. "Nothing forbidden?"

"Uh…"

"Oh, most of it is forbidden," Marina admitted. "We're not crazy and actively committing genocide for sacrifices though."

"People have been disappearing in this area," Octavia replied.

"… Only some of that's because of me. And honestly they attacked me first. It was self-defense!"

"Wait, what did you do to those people?" Taylor asked.

"It wasn't that bad. I just-"

Never ask Marina anything again. That was Taylor's new creed. She was now cursed with the knowledge that those large vials of blood in Marina's basement didn't exactly come from willing donors.

Did that make her the accomplice to murder? Cause it sounded like she was now an accomplice for murder. Yes, they were drug addicts that tried to rob her store and possibly do terrible things to her, but did they deserve to die?

Marina would say yes but as it turns out she probably wasn't the best person to ask about these things.

Now Taylor was conflicted though. Because she didn't want her Mentor to go to jail but it was kinda hard keeping quiet about this when she and her partner were Heroes!

"Something on your mind?" Missy asked as they walked along the Boardwalk. The girl had wanted to go shopping with a friend so Taylor had agreed. Missy wasn't shopping for clothes though. No, they were going through old electronics, self-defense stores, and even an attempt to go into the local gun shop. Thankfully they had been swiftly kicked out of the last one before Missy had a chance to get really handsy with that shotgun.

"It's nothing. Just my boss," Taylor replied.

"We're getting enough money with our… activities. Why don't you quit?" Missy asked.

"It's not about the money and Marina is nice. We just think very differently."

"… You sure that isn't just Stockholm Syndrome?"

"Probably not… maybe," Taylor admitted as she walked up to a cart to buy ice cream for her and Missy. "I am actually learning a lot from her. You know she keeps a knife and a gun in her store?"

"Huh… do you think she'd let me-"

"No-"

"Bu-"

"No!" Taylor wasn't even going to let Missy ask. She shuddered at the thought of the girl being allowed to use a gun with her Powers and… personality. A taser or knife maybe but definitely not a gun.

"Does she let you use it?" Missy asked.

"…"

"Why can't I have a gun then!"

"Because you're a very scary girl," Taylor admitted as she then shoved a scoop of ice cream into the younger girl's mouth in a successful bid to distract her. They continued walking down the Boardwalk until they came upon a pair of Capes.

A Wards patrol apparently. Common to see them on the Boardwalk, though Taylor was honestly excited to see them. Missy on the other hand looked uncomfortable. Why did she not want to be around them?

And why were they suddenly approaching the two of them?

"Hi," Triumph greeted the two of them before looking at Missy. "You look like you're worried about something. Do you want some help?"

"I'm fine. You can just go on. Do your own thing," Missy replied quickly.

"It's just that Aegis couldn't help but notice a young girl like you wandering into certain… stores."

"What I do is my business," Missy bit back.

"It's just if you need help or protection, I can always help."

Taylor looked between Triumph and Missy. They seemed familiar with each other. Did he know that she was Horizon? Did the PRT already know? It wouldn't be that hard to imagine though.

"Something on your mind?" Aegis asked Taylor, clearly having picked up something from her reactions.

"I-it's nothing. I'm Taylor! I'm Missy's friend."

"How long have you known Missy?" he asked.

"We met recently… at the store I worked at. She was really interested in the Occultist stuff we sell."

"Occultist stuff?" Aegis asked.

"Just knick knacks and pretty gems. Nothing you would be worried about," Taylor replied before she felt Missy tug on her arm.

"Nice talking with you two. Have a nice day," Missy replied before dragging Taylor away with her. It was only until they were out of earshot did Taylor start whispering in her ear.

"They know who you are?"

"Not that I'm Horizon." Missy scratched her head and sighed. "I used to be friends with his cousin, but she doesn't know he's Triumph, but I know he's Triumph, and he knows I know, and they both know me and they're both busybodies. It's been a mess since I stopped going to Immaculata."

"What school do you go to now?" Taylor asked.

Missy's silence was telling.

"What school do you go to now?" Taylor repeated.

"Look, school's not important for Heroes like us!" Missy replied.

"You're twelve! Isn't CPS going to make a fuss or something?"

"It's Brockton Bay! No one gives a damn about a kid not going to school."

"And your parents are fine with this?"

"Mom left the city after the divorce and dad's been busy," Missy waved her off. "Look I got things under control. I've been studying at home and I'm going to try to go for the GED later. Besides, do you know how much science and math I need for my Powers? Can't be an idiot if I want to turn reality into an Escher painting."

"But still…" Taylor was just having a hard time dealing with the fact that her preteen friend was basically a delinquent. No wonder Triumph seemed so worried. Taylor simply couldn't imagine someone not going to school. Education was important, it was one of the things Mom drilled in her head before… "We're going back to my house."

"Why?" Missy asked as she ran after Taylor who had already begun walking back home.

"Because if you're not going to school then I have to make sure you're getting a proper education."