Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

Beth trailed behind Pam as they followed Sadie through the alleyways and shadows of the city. She didn't like walking into anything blind, but Sadie refused to give up any information about her client. The fact that Sadie Wilson was the one leading them only made things worse for her. The woman may have had a code, but it was one that was based on profit and greed. Still, she couldn't deny the fact that she'd helped them back at the hotel. They could have handled it, but she had no obligation to them unless her client wanted them alive. She'd even spared Pam, but Beth knew plenty of villains that loved to hear themselves talk. It wasn't out of the question that they were being delivered into the hands of a psychopath that simply wanted to gloat before attacking them. It wouldn't have been the first time Sadie had taken such a contract either.

"Across the street, and the third floor up," Sadie pointed at a familiar apartment complex.

Beth and Pam stopped as they recognized it. It was the same place that Jake had been staying with Rebecca after their escape in Citiville. "Why here?" Beth asked.

"Because she prefers to stay in places she knows," Sadie shrugged, "How the hell should I know? I go where the money takes me, and I'm not paid to ask stupid questions."

"There's no way," Beth whispered as she recalled the massive raven from Ingrid’s compound.

"Something you need to share, Kitten?" Pam asked, picking up on Beth's sudden shift in demeanor.

"When someone dies, or is sent to Hell, they can't come back, can they?" Beth asked, no longer sure of the world's certainties.

"Anything is possible, however unlikely it might seem," Pam replied, eyeing the building warily, "What aren't you telling me?"

"If you've got a hunch about something bad, I'd rather hear it now," Jason added.

"Back at the warehouse with Ingrid, when you and Jake were in cyberspace," Beth began, staring at the building, "There was this moment when Ingrid was going to pull the plug on you. I-I talked her out of it, but not before this big ass bird basically attacked her. It was on Jake's head, but it got real aggressive when Ingrid tried to shoo it away."

"Your bad feeling is based on a pissed off bird?" Jason asked.

Beth shook her head, "It wasn't a normal bird. One, it was a fucking raven, and a big one at that. Two, its eyes looked like hot coals out of a fire. The way it bucked up to Ingrid was like it was possessive or something. I never got the chance to bring it up before things went to shit, but the only person I could think of was-"

"Goth," Jason finished, glaring at the building, "That was where she stayed with Blackridge after things went south for her, wasn't it?"

Beth nodded, "Same complex, same floor, and-"

"Are we going to stand in the open and make ourselves targets, or are we going to get inside where it's safe?" Sadie cut her off, exasperated by their continued conversation.

"Define safe," Beth frowned.

"Safe as in not a walking target for the women currently aiming to capture and torture you three," Sadie answered with a hand on her hips.

"Let's move on," Pam spoke up, continuing when Beth shot her a look, "If it is her, then I want to see for myself. We need to know what she wants, why she's back, and if we have another problem to deal with. Unnecessary as the attitude is, Sadie is right about staying in the open."

"Fuck me," Jason sighed, "I'd hoped to never see that woman again in person. It's bad enough that I see her when I sleep."

Beth bit her tongue and nodded as Sadie led them back on the path to their final destination. The walk up the stairs of the dingy apartment complex was familiar and haunting. Beth could remember carrying Jake's things here, storming in in a rage, and could still hear Goth's mocking voice in the back of her mind. She'd hoped to never be here again, yet here they all were. It could have been a coincidence, but she'd stopped believing in those sometime ago. The fact that Sadie led them directly to the door of Jake's old apartment only added fuel to her anxiety. Three sharp knocks signaled their arrival, and Beth instinctively clutched at her pistols.

"Ready for this?" Sadie asked as she opened the door with a grin.

"Get on with it, Wilson," Jason replied.

"Hmph, I guess your sense of humor died with you and didn't make it back," Sadie frowned as she pushed the door open, "I found them."

"Good," a distinct and hauntingly familiar voice came from the living room, "Bring them inside, we have-"

"Goddammit," Beth said as she pushed past everyone and drew her gun.

She froze when she saw the towering figure of Rebecca standing in the living room surrounded by candles. "Elizabeth," Rebecca said, her tone not carrying the usual bite she expected, "It's-"

Beth spotted the body of Jake laying on a table in front of Rebecca, and she found herself lost in a blind rage. Her gun drowned out whatever Rebecca had been trying to say as the bullets flew across the room. They froze before the could find their way their target, though. "There's no need for violence, Elizabeth," another voice that Beth hadn't heard in a long time calmly spoke, "She is not your enemy, not this time."

"The fuck is going on in here?!" Jason demanded as he entered the room and spotted the bullets hovering in the air, "Ah, fuck, time magic, dead witches, and…is that Blackridge? What the fuck have we just walked into?"

Beth ignored him and looked over at the figure walking out of the shadows. Her long black hair and the mermaid style gown were all too familiar, but she hadn't seen her in almost a year. "Dilatrix?" Beth asked, "Aren't you dead?"

"In another time I will be, but I exist both inside and outside of all timelines," Dilatrix replied, nodding at Pamela, "I am glad to see that you both are alive and well."

"Someone needs to explain exactly what the fuck is going on before I lose my damn mind, or what's left of it," Jason cleared his throat, glaring at Rebecca, "Let's start with you, Goddess."

"Don't call me that," Rebecca looked away, surprising the three of them, "That's a title I only wish to hear from the lips of my love, nobody else. I'm not that woman anymore."

"Oh, now that is some grade-a bullshit," Beth scoffed, "What are you up to?"

Beth took a step towards Rebecca and Jake's body, but she stopped when a low growl came from beside her. She frowned in confusion as she watched a black wolf pad between them. "Down, boy, she's just concerned," Rebecca commanded.

"Is that a wolf?" Jason asked.

"Yes, yes it is," Sadie answered as she walked past them and took a seat on the couch, "Anymore stupid questions?"

"Rebecca, Dilatrix," Pam spoke up, "How is this possible, and what is going on here?"

"She's obviously trying to raise Jake as a fucking zombie," Beth replied, reloading her pistol before yelping as the wolf snapped at her, "Back off, furball!"

"That is not what I'm doing," Rebecca rolled her eyes, "Honestly, it's that juvenile mentality that makes you such a tiresome individual, Elizabeth."

"Well, at least now I know she's really here," Beth grumbled, "You're still a bitch."

"Coming from the woman who tried to shoot me without a second thought," Rebecca countered.

"Because you're supposed to be dead, you fucking psycho!" Beth snapped.

"Oh this feels familiar," Pam sighed, rubbing her temples, "Beth, can you not antagonize her?"

"She insulted me first!" Beth defended herself.

"Again, after you tried to shoot me and insinuate that I would raise Jake as a thrall," Rebecca countered. 

"Not like it wouldn't be the first time," Jason scoffed scornfully.

"Jason, I-" Rebecca started, her head beginning to ache as she recalled the pain and abuse she'd put him through, "Ngh, I'm not the same woman that you knew. I won't defend what I did, but I also won't beg for forgiveness that I don't deserve."

"You wouldn't get it if you did," Jason said, "You took everything from me. I am what I am, who I am, because of what you did to me."

"I know," Rebecca said, "I can't undo what I've done, but I can try to atone for it. That's why I wanted to meet with you all."

"Yeah, not buying this," Beth scoffed.

"Beth," Pam said sternly, "Put your grievances aside until we know what is going on. You know I love you, but your emotions often cloud your judgment."

"Fine," Beth crossed her arms after a moment, "But I'm not letting things go, Pam."

"I am not asking you to, I'm asking you to listen to her," Pam said, turning her attention back to Rebecca, "As nice as it is to see you, and I want to believe you, I need answers, Rebecca. How are you here? Why are you here? And what sort of ritual are you preparing?"

"Answer them truthfully, Rebecca," Dilatrix said, walking over to Jake's body, "The only way this works is if you cast aside all your old deceitful ways. Your lies created the hate and mistrust that you sowed within them, and it is time to sow a new crop to prove you are who you claim to be. Hide nothing, tell everything, and you will enter the only margin of hope that you all have to succeed."

Rebecca nodded her understanding. She'd ignored the council of the chronomancer before only to be burned in the past, but she wouldn't make the same mistakes again. "Have a seat, and I'll tell you what I can."

"Finally, some answers," Sadie smirked as the others sat down around the room.

"Last we saw one another, I was cast down into the depth of Hell and into the clutches of the very demon that gave me my powers," Rebecca began as Dilatrix resumed her work on Jake's body, "The very same monster that now has Jake as her plaything. I don't know how I came back, but I remember the pain and torment I endured at the hands of Lilith and her children. Eons of agony rolled into a blur that I don't know whether it was a day, a week, a month, or years. Somehow, I returned to this plane of existence a little over a month ago now. I had no memory of who I was, what I'd done, or anything about the world around me. I was afraid, alone, and I wandered aimlessly until I was drawn to my old home. Echoes of my past would call out to me, and I followed them to the castle that I once ruled from, now in a ruined state. My familiars found me and led me there."

As if in cue, the same large raven Beth had seen in the warehouse flew into the room. "Familiars?" Beth asked, staring at the bird and the wolf as they came to rest near Rebecca.

"Druidic magic," Pam explained with a nod, "I'd almost forgotten your origins were rooted in their culture."

Rebecca nodded and continued, "They came to me as I wandered the streets of Citiville. Were it not for them, I doubt I would be here. I didn't understand the connection, not until I walked into my old room and found my grimoire. It was there that I was gifted with the bittersweet memory of my life before death. The people I'd hurt, the lives I'd ruined, and the selfishness that consumed me."

"Wait, that bird was in the warehouse with Jake and Pam," Beth interjected, "Did you send it?"

"I did, but at that time I didn't know who I was looking for," Rebecca replied, "I could see his face, and I could feel a longing, but I had no memory of his name. I saw you with that woman, and I knew that there was some sort of history between us. I felt jealous as I looked at you, but there was something else there. It wasn't hate, believe it or not, Elizabeth, but something akin to remorse."

"Now I know you're full of it," Beth scoffed, "You've never felt sorry for anything you've ever done to me, or made me fucking do."

"My eyes are ones of a mortal now, not a false prophet," Rebecca countered, "Believe what you want, but I was advised to speak the truth and that's what I'm doing."

"The grimoire," Pam said, trying to prevent another fight between the two women, "You said you found it and it gave you your memories back. If you suddenly remembered everything, why come back here knowing what awaited you?"

"For him," Rebecca gestured at Jake, "Everything I've ever done has been for love. The cities I burned, lives I ruined, it was all for Jake. Ironically, all it did was drive a wedge further between us. I swore that I would find a way to make things right, but I arrived too late. I saw that parasitic monstrosity kill him, but the body was left intact beyond the copious chunks of flesh that had been eaten. So, I contacted Sadie once I knew where these women were storing him. They wanted him alive, and I imagine they had plans for his body with their technologies."

"Why do you have his body?" Beth asked, "Based on what I'm seeing here, this isn't a burial or a funeral."

"Jake made a pact with Lilith to ensure he had the powers to end me," Rebecca began, "That pact meant that his soul would flow to her once he perished. The mark he bore binds him to her in death, and I know what torment he's enduring right now."

"You're not suggesting-Rebecca, that's insane!" Pam exclaimed, her eyes widening as she realized what her friend was planning.

"What?" Beth asked.

"She's going to break into Hell and try to bring his soul back," Jason sighed, "Isn't that right, Rebecca?"

"You've become quite astute in our time apart, Jason, dear," Rebecca smiled at her old pet, "Wherever did you gleam such insight?"

"It certainly wasn't from being your goddamn slave, I can tell you that," Jason answered, "Eva brought me back with an experiment to free her sister Emily. Her tech is based on ancient artifacts, magic, and a sick sense of greed. Still, her lab in Ravenfalls had plenty of information for me to study. After experiencing the horrors of what magic and demons can do in my past life, I knew the texts I read were true. Practicing the occult isn't my bag, but I know enough to recognize rituals and crazy bullshit when I see it. You're the only person crazy enough to attempt something like this to save someone like Blackridge."

"You think you can break Jake out of Hell and bring him back?" Beth asked.

"I have to try," Rebecca replied, "Dilatrix, this Dilatrix, is here to ensure his body is intact. I contracted Sadie because I knew she was capable of retrieving his body. I need it so that I can lock onto his soul and ensure that I can get as close to Lilith as possible without having to wander the wastes of the nether aimlessly."

"Rebecca, you only just made it out," Pam pointed out, "You said you didn't even know how you made it back to our world. Are you even sure your powers are still capable of fighting such a battle? Lilith won't let Jake go without a fight, and she'll most likely try to take you back as well."

"Your concern is touching, Pamela, truly after everything I've put you through," Rebecca said, walking around Jake's body, "I don't deserve it, and Jake deserves a chance to live his life. With or without me, I owe it to him to try. This city needs him, you both need him, and he's only in this predicament because of me."

"How do we know you won't try something like the last time you broke into Hell?" Beth asked, her skepticism and mistrust still glaringly apparent, "What's to stop you from trying to take back what you lost from Lilith, or even just stealing the powers from the Well of Souls?"

Rebecca frowned at Beth, "Your misgivings, while fair, are as irksome as ever, Elizabeth. You have to trust me. There are no more guarantees, only trust and chance. All I can tell you for certain is that I have no interest in becoming the monster you knew before. I saw what that life cost, and no amount of power will give me what I truly want. The powers of demons aren't meant for mortal constraints; a lesson I once taught my students years ago, but one born out of hypocrisy."

"Beth is right to be suspicious, given your track record," Jason pointed out, "My question is why you're involving us in this? We're not necessary for your little ritual, so why even bother sharing what you're doing?"

"Because you all need to know that there is still hope," Rebecca sighed, "I know how it must sound coming from me, but Jake's death may not be the end you thought. You go to war with forces far beyond anything you could dream of in your worst nightmares, and you're going to need all the hope you can get if you're to stand a chance against Emily and her sister."

"We need help, not hope," Jason countered, "Your powers combined with Pam's could be the edge we need to banish this threat before it goes too far. Instead of helping us, you're still chasing after a selfish fantasy."

"Whether you succeed or not, Jake doesn't deserve to suffer any more than he already has," Rebecca shook her head, "Jason, you endured a lot under me, but the pain I caused pales in comparison to what Lilith is doing to Jake. My evil was born from passion and demonic influence, but it was tempered by what little sanity I had left. Imagine, if you will, how much worse things could have been for you without that. Then take that and multiply it by a thousand, but take away the release that death brings. Jake is trapped in a world where his pain and suffering is unending, unyielding, and will continue until time stops. Forget about me for a moment. Do you think he deserves such a fate?"

"No, but he's only there because of you," Jason replied before sighing as he saw her reasoning, "Which is exactly why you think this is what you have to do. You know this isn't what he'd want, though. As annoying as the boy could be, he was nothing if not selfless. He'd take the weight of the world if it meant others could live a happier life."

"I know that, but that's why he needs somebody to look after his best interests," Rebecca said solemnly as she looked at Beth, "It was why he needed you, and why he you both needed Pamela. For all of our differences, you fretted over Jake more than anyone I've met. Your constant messages throughout the nights when we first came here drove me mad, but I can understand now that it was because of your worries for him. Part of why I hated you was because of jealousy, Elizabeth. He sought your opinion on so much, and I desperately wanted to be that person. I will not fail again, and I will bring him back to this world so he can go on aiding the weak."

"I don't trust you," Betn shook her head, "Let's get that straight, but I'm not stupid either. We don't have time to sit here and argue about this, and fighting you is a waste of bullets and effort. So tell me what exactly your plan is."

"I suppose that's the best I'm going to get from you, isn't it?" Rebecca asked and continued when Beth nodded, "I open the door to the netherworld, use everything I have to take him away from Lilith, and then I send him back here to his body. Sadie will be keeping watch over his body while I'm away."

"You never specified a time frame, Rebecca," Saide pointed out, "I'm not expert on your hocus pocus bullshit, but you need to know that the longer it takes, the higher the price becomes. That crown buys you time, but this job is going to have a hefty bill with it."

"You gave her the crown of King Oliver?" Pam asked, "You told us that was a momento from your past life."

"A reminder of the weakness I broke free of centuries ago," Rebecca nodded, "One that I no longer wish to carry with me. Rest assured, Sadie, the bill will be paid in full."

"Planning on getting Jake to foot this one?" Beth scoffed.

"If I must, but the Brunswicks have more artifacts that would fetch a higher price than you know," Rebecca replied, "Once they've been dealt with, I intend to pluck the more harmless ones and use them for payment. If Jake wishes to avoid that, then he is more than welcome to use his own reserves."

"Are you certain you can break free a second time without a ritual?" Pam asked, "The doors between worlds don't open easily, Rebecca."

Rebecca reached into a satchel she'd kept tucked away near her chair and pulled out a large red stone. "Now we're talking," Sadie smirked as she approached her, but frowned when Rebecca pulled the ruby away, "Hey, what gives?"

"This stone isn't for a transaction," Rebecca explained, "The magic held within it is greater than anything you could comprehend, Sadie. With it, I intend to break open the gates of Hell and bring my beloved home."

"The Blood Ruby," Pam sighed, "You're going to siphon the magic within it. You know the origins of that stone, Rebecca. The cost may be more than what you're expecting."

"I spent centuries staving off demonic influence, I can handle the whims of forgotten magistrates," Rebecca assured her former pupil, "It's the only way that this has a chance to work. There's no guarantee that Emily won't scatter you all across different worlds. With the powers in this stone, I can do more than simply break down the doors between our world and the nether."

"Have you considered all of the risks in what you're proposing?" Pam asked, eyeing the stone warily, "It was used as a focus by high mages from across the world. The chain reactions from the magic stored within could be enough to kill you before you can begin."

"Do you have a better plan, Pamela?" Rebecca asked, "By all means, I'm open to suggestions at this point. I realize how dangerous and insane this seems."

"I-do not," Pam sighed.

"What's the deal with the rock exactly?" Beth asked.

"Depends on how much of the legends are true," Jason explained, shaking his head, "The ruby was linked to the rise and fall of different empires throughout history. Some say it's marked by the beast below, but mages and magistrates used it to topple their enemies. Persia, Rome, and even Mongolia have all had reports of that exact stone being there at some point. It carries the weight of mages fallen, and it gets its name from the blood of the caster who infused their genes with it. She takes the powers in it, and she risks corrupting her mind a second time. Basically, it's a coin toss as to whether she can withstand the influence of countless mages that came before her and all of us."

"So if this goes south, we could end up with the same psychotic bitch that Jake killed," Beth surmised.

"More or less, yeah," Jason sighed, "We either get whoever Rebecca is trying to be, or we get the goddamn Goth Goddess back a second time."

"Yeah, this sounds like a dumbass plan," Beth said.

"It is the only way that this works," Rebecca defended, "Without the power in this stone, Jake and I will both be trapped in the netherworld for eternity."

"Then let him the fuck go," Jason said, "The risks are too great, and the chances of the rewards seem too slim to put stock in. Help us against the threats here, and maybe you and Pam can figure something out afterwards."

"You need him, Jason," Rebecca said, looking ag Beth, "You both fought Voidfoot before. Jake was the one who sent her into the void between worlds, and fate has decreed that it happen again."

"It was a lucky hit," Beth frowned, "He literally had no idea what he was doing, neither of us did!"

"His blood is tied with hers and her sister," Rebecca said, "By his hand, Emily can be cast down a second time, but I can ensure she never returns. In order for things to work, they need to believe they've got the upperhand. How many times did I fall victim to you two because of my arrogance?"

"You're always fucking arrogant," Beth snorted.

"How many, Elizabeth?" Rebecca repeated her question.

Beth paused and leaned back as she thought, "At least half a dozen times. I get what you're saying, but everyone is different. The chances of them falling for the same pitfalls as every other idiot are slim, and I meant that with offense intended."

"Cute," Rebecca sneered at Beth's final remark, "They may be a different breed, but all power-hungry individuals are susceptible to hubris and the perils it brings. Once they believe they've won, they'll be easier to catch in a backlash."

"You want us to fail," Jason surmised with a glare, "You're counting on us falling short so you can swoop in at the last damn minute. That's typical of you, and it's classic Goth."

Rebecca shook her head, "I am not wishing you failure, but rather planning for the chance of it. My hope is that you can succeed, but they've already outmaneuvered all of you to this point. The way they've been operating has put all of you behind, and it's better to plan for the worst than put your hope in the best. Do you disagree with that, Jason?"

"She's right," Pam sighed before Jason could respond, "You can hope for the best, sure, but having a plan for the worst is smart."

"You're on board with this craziness?!" Jason asked, "If she can't control the influence of that gem then we've got more than just a couple of sadistic businesswomen against us, Pam."

"I'm not saying it's a smart plan, but it's better than nothing," Pam replied, "They believe Jake is gone, and they have no clue that Rebecca is alive. Even if they did, I doubt they expect her to align herself with us."

"A foolish plan is better than none at all," Rebecca added, "Their technology may be able to detect magic, but the ritual I perform will only appear as a brief blip to them. It will be gone before they can trace it."

"Emily, Voidfoot, is a foe that has the power to unmake the world, Jason," Pam explained, "She could scatter us into dust, cast us into another reality, or twist us into something beyond recognition. We would be fools to launch an assault without a contingency, or do you disagree?"

"Of course not, but trusting her is a risk that I'm not comfortable with," Jason crossed his arms.

"I'm doing this with or without your consent," Rebecca said, "I called you here to let you know, not ask your permission."

"It is finished," Dilatrix said, rising from her work and looking at the rest of the group, "Your misgivings are valid given what she's done, but your chances of success are finite. The path ahead, with Rebecca doing this, increases your chances substantially. Without her, you will fall, suffer, and be broken. The margins are not in your favor, Me. Graves, but you are already aware of this, aren't you?"

"What is she talking about?" Beth asked.

"I ran the numbers a few hundred times over," Jason sighed, looking away, "The percentage of fails to successes wasn't great. Nearly ninety percent failure rating versus the ten percent success."

"That's fucking comforting," Beth frowned, "That shit would have been nice for everyone to know back at the Birdcage, man. Don't you think everyone deserves to know the level of fucked we are?"

"What would you have had me do, Beth?" Jason asked, "Tell everyone that we've got about as much chance as a snowball in Hell? Do you think that would have done anything for our chances, or do you think it would have sent more of our people packing?"

"I think we could have adjusted our plan, dumbass," Beth answered, "If our chances are that fucking low then we should be focused on evacuating civilians instead of fighting against these sociopaths!"

"That would have only made you all an easier target, Elizabeth," Rebecca shook her head.

"You don't get a say in this," Beth glared at her over her shoulder, "You're not even supposed to be here, so you keep your big mouth shut for once!"

"Put your feelings aside, and think about this for a moment," Rebecca continued, "If you and the others were trying to evacuate people, you'd inevitably become pinned. A series of simple targets just waiting to be taken out, and those people would either submit or die."

"I said shut up!" Beth barked, spinning around, "Is that what you'd have done, huh? Wait until we make a mistake and then capitalize at the first chance?!"

"It's exactly what I'd have done, and you know it," Rebecca replied, "I may not be proud of what I did anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't know how these people think. They are tyrants waiting to break the will of their opposition, and that means watching for the first misstep. Jason's plan of keeping them guessing while you formulate a proper stratagem buys you time to prevent the inevitable. Shuffling about the city like cockroaches means you have a chance to live a little longer, save a few lives, and buy people time to fend for themselves."

"Because that's what we are to you, isn't it?!" Beth shouted, stomping towards Rebecca, "Fucking cockroaches, insects that are beneath someone like you! Well, fuck you and your bullshit! I should send you back to Hell here and now!"

Pam hurried between the two women and pushed Beth back. Beth glared at her girlfriend as she stared her down for a tense moment. "Oh the drama between you three is priceless," Sadie chuckled as she watched the scene, "She wants to kill her, she wants redemption, and she is fighting to keep the illusion of peace! You can't write this kind of madness!"

"You're going to take her side?" Beth asked, ignoring Sadie again, "After everything she did to me, to us, you're going to defend her?"

"I won't have either of you attacking the other," Pam replied, "I'm not taking any sides other than ours. Like it or not, she's right about Jason's plan. It is our best chance at staying alive and getting any semblance of an upper hand against these monsters. We can't save anyone if we're dead."

"And you're just okay letting her waltz back into the underworld with a rock that can put her back to the selfish, narcissistic bitch she was before Jake killed her?"

"I've known her longer than you," Pam shook her head, "Jason was around when we met, but his mind was already warped. It goes against my better judgment, yes, but I'm trusting her. Even with the powers in that stone, she won't be nearly as powerful as she was with Lilith's magic. I nearly beat her before she shed her humanity, and I can do it again if it comes to it."

"Growing in confidence, aren't we, Pamela?" Rebecca asked.

Pam turned around and looked at her, "Make no mistake, Rebecca, if you try to hurt Beth or betray us, I will kill you. That is not a question or up for debate. You will fall by my hand, and mine alone. No one is going to take her from me again."

Rebecca didn't flinch in the face of Pam's warning. Instead, she smiled at her pupil, "I would expect nothing less, Pamela, and I will hold you to that. Should I become the demon I was before, someone needs to be there to put me down, someone other than Jake."

Jason sighed as he stood up, "Arguing here is just wasting time. She's going whether we want her to or not. Personally, I hope you rot at the hands of Lilith. On the off chance you make it back…well, I guess we'll see if you're telling the truth or not about this new leaf."

"We're just supposed to let her go?" Beth asked.

"Fighting her is a waste of time and resources that are both in short supply," Jason replied, "We need to get to the others before we have to move again. We don't know how long we have until Eva makes her move, and I'm not about to get caught off guard if I can help it."

"I will return," Rebecca said, standing over Jake's body as her hands began to glow orange, "Believe what you want about me, but I will not make the same mistakes again. I will bring Jake home, and we will defeat these women once and for all. You have my word."

"Yeah, that's not exactly worth a lot," Beth scoffed.

Rebecca ignored her as she closed her eyes and traced Jake's soul. The connection between his body was faint, but it was traceable. She extended her arms to the side before raising her right and lowering her left. She switched them and a faint orange line could be seen hovering in the air. It cracked and fissured as she put her hands together and then pulled them apart. A wave of hot air filled the room as red dust began to flutter in carried by an unseen wind. The door was open, and she stepped through without another word. The portal closed behind her and everyone was left alone in a dead silence. The candles blew out as the portal closed and the smell of sulfur filled the air.

"Ugh, that is disgusting," Sadie coughed, "That better not be permanent, or else I'm doubling the price when she gets back."

"It will fade," Dilatrix said, gathering her things, "It is time for me to take my leave, and time for the rest of you to take the stage. There is trouble in your futures, but hold fast to one another and your oaths. The outcome will only be favorable if you can trust in one another. The bonds that you will form will carry you through to victory, but only if you can keep from succumbing to your baser instincts. I look forward to watching this play out. Elizabeth, Pamela, it was good to see you again. I have missed you both. Mr. Graves, Ms. Wilson, do not abandon your word. There is greatness down the line for you both, but one mistake will cost you everything."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jason asked.

"All become clear in time," Dilatrix replied as her body began to glow, "Until we meet again, know that I will be watching."

Dilatrix faded away as she finished, and the four of them were left in an empty apartment with only Jake's body laying on the table. "She's still as vague as ever," Beth sighed as she grabbed her things.

"Hmph, fucking mages," Sadie scoffed, "You three should get moving. I've still got a job to do here, and I need to check my security systems."

"You're really going to guard a corpse until she comes back?" Jason asked.

"Payment was exchanged and the job was accepted," Sadie shrugged, "I don't go back on contracts if I can help it. I have to move him if shit goes south. Good luck, I mean that sincerely. I hope you three can manage to pull off a miracle."

"This day just gets weirder and weirder," Beth shook her head, "Jake's dead, Voidfoot is back, Goth clawed her way out of Hell, and Sadie Wilson is wishing me luck. The world really has gone crazy."

"We need to move," Pam sighed, "Come, we should rejoin the others while we can. We've spent enough time here."

"Agreed," Jason nodded, walking over to them, "On all fronts. Let's get back and get ready for the fight of our lives."

Pam held her hand up once Jason and Beth were beside her. The pool of darkness surrounded them as they slowly sank into the ground. They stood on the precipice of the unknown and uncertain. The battle ahead would be far more difficult than anything they'd faced yet, and they were fighting it alone. There were no more surprise allies, and their ace was the chance of Rebecca succeeding and keeping her word. Unbeknownst to them, the enemy was already at work striking from the shadows.