The two women stepped out of the pitch-black, 1970 Dodge Charger, the dying light of the sun behind the hills like a warning that they were leaving the world of light, and venturing into one of darkness.

Before them stood their destination; an old church, the shingles long since decayed and doors boarded up decades prior.

"Severina, you remember what to do when we enter?"

Severina, the petite girl, looked to her master and nodded. "Don't hesitate. No matter what I see, do not allow the fiend to shape-shift."

She smiled. "Good. Is your dagger oiled?"

"Yes," Severina said, tapping on the knife on her shoulder.

"Terrific. This should be a piece of cake. One more thing - don't die."

The girl nodded with resolve. Although this was her first official battle with a daemon, she'd learned and trained enough to know how to handle herself; and the first step in battling the fiends is to purge all unneeded fear from one's mind. She took a deep breath, allowing the fresh air to fill her lungs and cool her body. She was ready. With a nod, her master began going to work on the door, removing the boards one nail at a time. Once all was said and done, she looked to her apprentice one last time before turning the cold knob and creeping slowly inwards.

Darkness, save for the dim lights the two carried. They moved in silence, ducking under crumbled roof banisters and debris. The girls master signaled for her to go the opposite way, and she did without hesitation. She knew what her master was thinking "I'll be the distraction, then you flank the fiend." It was a solid plan, and seemed foolproof.

Severina reached the immense chapel, darting behind the back row of pews to avoid detection. She peered over, surveying the area. The Cult's been here, she thought to herself. Blood smeared walls, seals, goat-heads. She shook her head, staring down the rows until her eyes fell on what stood at the grim altar.

That must be it. It has to be. She eyed the daemon with scorn; from it's hunched, hairless body, to it's muscular, taloned hands and arms, and finally to it's hideous, pig-like head, much bigger and uglier than any pig she'd seen, not to mention a toothless maw filled to the brim with hair-like feelers that'd shave of skin like a razor-wire. Calm down, calm down. They feed of fear. As long as I'm calm, I'll be fine. But deep down, she knew there was a chance she'd be torn apart.

Her master acted before the girl had time to steel her nerves. An explosive shot rang out through the church. If not for the specialized earplugs she wore, the girl would have been deafened.

The shotgun cocked, and the daemon squealed in agony, searching around frantically for the direction of it's attacker. Another shot rang out, blowing the creature of it's feet for an instant. The woman hopped a pew, cocked her gun again, and landed a third shot. This time, it knew who it's attacker was, and launched itself on all fours. She was ready, and zeroing in on her target, she drew forth a fistful of bone ash, sending a toxic cloud of it in the daemons face. It recoiled, roaring and toiling in agony. Severina watched this, waiting for the right moment to charge out. But. . .something kept her seated where she was. Was another daemon nearby, exerting it's power onto her? Or was it fear that kept her frozen in place, hidden from the monster?

Her master waited patiently for her apprentice, knowing what Severina was going through, and that she herself had gone through the same when she fought her first daemon. It was the crossroads every daemon Slayer had to tread; one that decided if they were up for the task or not.

She acted on instinct, hopping over the pew, drawing her bone dagger and rushing the beast down. It swung at her wildly, but she easily danced around it's brutish attacks. She thrusted at it's chest, piercing the skin but missing the heart; it's weak point. She skipped backwards, avoiding a decapitating blow that destroyed a row of pews. Another explosive shot rang out, blowing even Severina back. She recovered quickly, rushing back into the fray. She twisted around the pig-headed daemons sabre-like talons, her eyes set on the beast's heart. With one mighty thrust, the dagger sank deep. The monsters roars cut off abruptly, and it suddenly began convulsing. She pulled her knife free, it's blade painted with steaming, black blood.

"Severina, stand back!" She snapped back to her senses, dashing behind a pew and holding her head down. She didn't get to see the sight of the creature erupting and melting, and when she looked back up, all that remained was a large skeleton. Lifeless and uncanny like something that'd be seen only in a traveling freak show.

"T-that's what happens when a daemon is destroyed?"

The girls master strode towards the remains, scanning them and rubbing her chin. "This one went down easier than I anticipated. It didn't even try shape-shifting."

"So. . .is it dead?" Severina asked, stepping beside her.

"Dead?" She chuckled. "Don't be stupid. The body's destroyed, but the soul is still rattling on in it's bones. Hell, any moment now and he will probably show up to claim--"

What sounded like thunder echoed through the old church, and the tingling she felt at the base of her spine whenever something demonic was nearby began acting up. No more than a few seconds later, a man donning dapper dan attire strutted into the aisle. He was undeniably handsome, with shiny, slicked back hair, a clean shaven face, and seemingly flawless, tanned skin. His only mar was the completely insane glint in his eyes, like staring into the mind of a madman, or better yet, a daemon.

"--it. Well, speak of the Devil."

"The Devil? I believe I am much more suave and genial than that fictitious. . .rapscallion."

"Whatever you say, Rhema."

"That's Lord Rhema, Miss Morgana Vervain."

The woman made a sour face. "You're no lord of mine, daemon."

"Ouch, such a sharp tongue. I'd watch it if I were you, gods forbid it get's you into trouble." She gave the daemon a dangerous glare, but refrained from speaking. She knew better than to antagonize one of the dark gods. "Good girl," He turned to Severina, a deceitful smile coming to his lips. "I'm impressed, young one. You've slain your first daemon, and without even a scratch at that!" He gestured to the girls master, Morgana. "When this one battled her first daemon, she nearly lost her soul!" Morgana grumbled under her voice, pushing the curious girl behind her.

"Hows about you hurry up and claim the beast so we can get a move on."

"Now, there's no rush. I can taste the child's curiosity. But I cannot lie - I am also quite curious." He came closer, staring at the girl with insanity-laced eyes. "Severina, named ironically after the tantalizing goddess that's claimed you. Tsk, tsk." He shook his head sullenly. "Old girl has one-upped me once again. If not for her, I'd have claimed your soul instead." It felt as if icicles were piercing the girl's spine, and she let out a quiet whimper.

"That's enough, Rhema." Morgana spoke powerfully. "Take the soul and begone."

The god held up his hands in conforment. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you to each other. Step aside." Rhema glided to the bones of the daemon, hovering an open palm over the remains. He spoke words in an ancient, evil tongue. Severina covered her ears to guard herself from the spell, and once he'd finished, the bones sizzled and ashened like used coals. "It is done, and I shall take my leave. Ta-ta, mortals." With that, he snapped his fingers, and in a blinding, hot flash, he vanished.

"And back to hell with you."

"Lord Rhema knows Severina? The real Severina?"

"Do not call him lord." She snapped, "he's no lord to us. And don't listen to him either. They call him the Father of Lies for a reason."

"But isn't he good? He's on our side, isn't he?" Morgana smacked her apprentice on the head-top. "Ow! Why'd you have to go and do that?!"

"There are no good daemon, or "gods" for that matter." She crossed her arms and huffed. "Foolish girl. Rhema doesn't align himself with us because he wants to combat the daemon scourge. All he cares for is strengthening his own legion with the daemon we slay. Once we sort out Dis and the daemon Severina, he's next on our list." The girl thought about the enemies before them. Dis, the dark god of conquest and dominion, and Severina, the queen that had the girls soul in her grasp. "Hey, don't muse on it." Morgana said, reading the girl's thoughts. "Help me gather these bones. We'll take them back and I'll make something useful." She nodded, and began gathering the daemons heavy bones. They'd make fine weapons, she had no doubt.

* * *

It was a long drive home. Severina stared hollowly out of the car window, watching the gangling trees blur by. She could swear she saw little dark things move around in the woods, but she was too tired to care.

"Hey, good slaying back there."

She looked up to her master with surprise. "You think so?"

"Of course! That was no ordinary demon, as I'm sure you noticed."

The girl nodded furiously. "It was. . .huge!" She exaggerated this by holding her arms out wide.

Morgana chuckled. "That it was. Do you know why?" Severina shook her head. "Hmph! You've forgotten our lessons, haven't you?"

"It must have slipped my mind when that beast was breathing down my neck."

"Don't be pert, girl." Morgana smiled. "You sound just like me. Too bad you don't have my memory to go along with it. That daemon was a higher breed than usual. Much stronger than your average Shade, but much weaker than a daemon lord like Rhema."

With that name, a fresh wave of curiosity overtook the girl. "Rhema. Who. . .who is he? If he's a daemon like you say. . .than why does he--"

"Look human? That's the same thing I thought when the old bastard first appeared before me. But I know better now."

"So why does he then? Look like a human, that is."

"Rhema is the daemon lord of manipulation and corruption. He feeds on humanity's curiosity and uses temptation and persuasion to lead us to our demise. And what better way to do it than in the guise of a handsome young gentlemen." She emulated vomiting, while Severina thought in silence. From since her first lessons over fifteen years ago, her master had spoken of the daemon lord, but he'd never actually appeared to her until that night.

"I can see why you hate him so much. He doesn't seem any better than Dis."

She nodded. "Good, now your understanding. But I don't hate that creature because he's crafty, or because he's a daemon. No, I despise him because he wants you."

"M-me?" The girls voice shook with an icy cold fear.

"Yes, you. He knows of your bloodline and of your gift, and using you is only the first step in his master plan. But he'll get what's coming to him. We'll use your gift to destroy the bastard once and for all!" Morgana squeezed the steering wheel with white knuckles and seethed. Severina's spine tingled uncontrollably. She never considered the power that's yet to even surface a gift. If anything, it was a curse in disguise.

Something massive materialized in the road, giving the car virtually no time to veer away. Morgana twisted the wheel and Severina slammed into the car door. She grit her teeth and clung to the seat as the car spun out of control.

When it came to a sudden stop against the closest tree, the impact made the girl's head spin. She felt the trickle of blood on her eye, and the glitter of glass on her lap.

"What. . .was that. . ."

"Severina," her teacher spoke, "Ready your dagger and fill your pockets with bone ash."

"But--"

"Now!" Morgana's powerful voice commanded,  shaking her to her senses, and she wasted no time kicking the door open and sifting through the trunk.

Once she coated her blade in blood and filled her pockets with the toxic ash, Morgana joined her, shotgun cocked and weapons ready.

"We walk from here, and quickly!" Morgana began at a brisk pace, despite the slight limp she now had. Severina followed, the shadows she saw originally now solidifying into dancing, black specters.

Shades, she thought, her spine tingling even more than before, I hope we have enough bone ash for all of them.

When they reached their home, it felt as if a spear had found it's way into her heart.

"Damn. . .bastards sniffed us out."

Severina fell to her knees, her home, the only home she'd ever known, up in flames like the fires of Hell.

"Stand up, girl! There are daemon nearby! Focus on the task at hand."

Once again, Severina snapped back to her senses, squeezing her dagger and and rising. "Who sent them?"

"Who else? Dis. I reckon he's finally considered you a threat. Good. Let that fiend taste fear."

"What's the plan?"

"Let's scope the area. Stick close to me." Severina nodded and followed. They skirted the perimeter of their small yard, the smell of fumes burning the girl's eyes. As hard as it was, she ignored it, instead, focusing on the possible threat that loomed nearby.

An ear piercing wail cut through the night, sending tremors up and down Severina's spine. A daemon, and an immensely powerful one at that. The feeling made her go numb, and she nearly tipped.

"Is it him?"

"No. He wouldn't dare cross over to our world himself, else we'd have ended him already." Morgana stroked her chin, her trembling fingers betraying her brave front. "No, it's one of his familiars. We can't allow it to live, else it'll be a danger to us and any nearby." Morgana squeezed Severina's shoulder with affection. "Do you remember what I've taught you?"

"Don't hesitate. No matter what I see, don't allow the fiend to shape-shift."

She smiled. "Good. Now, let's send that false god a warning, and his lackeys head." She held her gun up and marched along into the woods, her apprentice at her heels.

The beast bellowed, it's distant breath scorching the tree tops. As they got closer, the tremors in Severina's spine only amplified; like someone were striking her back with a hammer. Sweat trickled down her brow, but she forced the fear away. This was what she was born to do.

When they finally came upon the great daemon, even Morgana couldn't force back her emotions. The creature was massive, much larger than what they'd previously faced. It rampaged through the forests, obliterating trees with it's muscled arms and stomping around in a blood crazed frenzy.

"W-what is. . ."

"Jotun. . .a fire giant. Blast it all." The monster had the body of a giant human being, it's head as high as the tallest pine and feet as long as big rigs. It's skin resembled a cracked desert land, tongues of fire spewing from them like the thing had devoured the sun itself.

"Jotun? I-I never heard of that before--"

"An immensely powerful race of giant daemon that dwell deep within Hell. This one is a runt, else the entire forests would be leveled by now."

Severina watched the psychotic creature, destroying everything in it's path haphazardly. "So how do we stop it?"

"You can't, but maybe I can. . ."

Morgana tossed down her gun, pulling out a small knife and sliding it over her palm. She let the blood ooze out, dripping to the dirt below and sinking into the earth.

"What're you doing?"

"Something my own master taught me. Stand back." Severina did as told, and Morgana began chanting something in the same tongue the daemon Rhema had. Severina instinctively covered her ears, but even that wasn't enough to shield her from the power her master was invoking.

Energy erupted all around the woman, forcing Severina to shield her face. The fire giant felt it too, and turned his entire massive body around to face her.

"You've picked a bad target, daemon." She spoke a word in the daemon language, and all around them, harsh light entombed the creature. It roared in rage, trying desperately to break free of the spell. Magma and molten debris flew in every direction, showering the forest in fire and brimstone. Morgana spoke more words, and what looked to be radiant white chains latched to the giants legs and arms, pulling it to it's knees. "Severina! It's heart! Pierce it before the thing can shape-shift!"

She wasn't prepared to face such a terrifying creature, but regardless, she knew her master needed her, and she charged, her dagger poised for the kill.

But without warning, burning hot bolts of pain forked up the length of her spine, and daggers filled her head. She screamed, her vision turning red and spotted. Suddenly, where once lay a fire giant stood four cloaked figures, their faces blocked from view.

"W-what are you! What is this!" She held her dagger out with shaky hands. One of the figures stepped forward, her hands going to their hood and pulling it back.

Curly, brown hair rolled down to their shoulders. Hazel eyes against walnut skin stared back at her. She sucked in a breath, her heart nearly stopping.

"You're. . ."

"You. Or maybe you're me. Regardless, we are both one in the same. Severina." The other three figures removes their cloaks, revealing themselves to be an identical doppelgangers.

"No. . .no, no! You can't be--"

"Hush, child. We both know that our eventual meeting was inevitable. Especially since I've been watching you grow all this time." There was no doubt about it. The woman, or the four woman who stood before her were none other than the Dark goddess Severina herself, appearing as the spitting image of the girl whose soul she had between her fingers.

Severina eyed each of the goddesses forms. "Why. . .why are there four of you?"

"I am the embodiment of human emotion. Fear, trust, sorrow, and hatred. Mankind's most primal emotions. I believe you are feeling one of these." She was correct. Severina was feeling one of these, and it was quite obvious which one it was. "No need to worry, child. I will not allow you to die here; not while the Eisenbrandr is still dormant."

Eisenbrandr? Severina thought, What is this fiend going on about. She tried to speak, but no sound left her mouth. Immediately, the images of the goddess rippled like the surface of a pond, and where they once stood, appeared the chained fire giant.

Then, it's chains snapped, and from it's mouth poured a sickly black torrent of magma and black fumes. It swirled and swirled into the sky, hovering over the field like a volcanic storm cloud.

"Severina! Move!" She looked up, and before she even realized it, the thunder cloud took on the form of an evil face, swirling above her. Tongues of fire arced through it like bolts of lightning. She felt something grip her, and heard words of an ancient spell. The face rushed downwards, it's mouth open wide. Light arced around her, forming a bright white bubble. Then, everything went dark.

Through the murky darkness, Severina saw images. Horrific, brutal images of murders, sickness, and genocide. It felt as if her mind were being invaded, and these things implanted within them, threatening to break her. Then, she saw herself, and a woman. Her. . .mother? They were hand in hand, walking towards an empty expanse of woods. When they stopped, four hooded figures stood in the clearing. Words were spoken, silent words that Severina couldn't hope to hear, then the mother released her child's hand, and the hooded woman took it. The image disappeared, and she saw the face of her teacher, much younger and brighter than now. She took her hand, and walked her from the now empty clearing. But as the image began disappearing, Severina saw something that made her stomach fold in on itself.

Along the girl's spine were a series of runic brands,  glowing faintly until finally, fading away.

"Are you hurt?"

She heard her master's voice, turning quickly and gasping. "N-no, I'm fine, but you--"

"Don't worry about me," she said, wiping the blood from her nose, "this is to be expected. Magic was never meant for mankind, so overuse will inevitably destroy the caster." She laughed grimly, gripping Severina's shoulder hard. "Listen, it's transformed, so we have no chance of harming it in it's unbound form. That leaves only one option, I'll have to hobble it."

"Tell me what to do."

"I will. While I cast the spell, you'll hightail it out of here and head for the first hamlet you come upon."

Her eyes went wide. "W-what? What do you mean, then how are you going to--" Her master smiled grimly, and Severina's lip quivered. "No. No, I won't allow it."

"I'm the teacher here, girl. You've got no authority."

"It's because I hesitated, isn't it?" She blubbered,  "I'm sorry! I let myself get scared! It won't happen again!"

"You're right. You did hesitate, and because of it, the daemon transformed. But it won't happen again, look at this as a final lesson from me to you."

She begged and pleaded for her master to rethink her decision, but she was adamant. "W-what will I do? I can't fight them without you! I can't live without you there!"

She brushed her fingers delicately along her apprentices cheek, wiping the tears away. "I'll tell you what you do. You return here when you're stronger, and you finish what I started. I've taught you all I can, now, it's your turn. You alone have the power, the gift, to destroy the daemon lords forever. They'll try to sway you; tempt you with power and bargains. You must ignore them, no matter what they say." She came to Severina's ear, and whispered words that would haunt her forever.  "Even if they offer to bring me back to this world, ignore them. I'd rather burn in Hell for all eternity than to see you be used by those monsters."

Severina wasn't ready. She had only just slew her first daemon, and now, she was to fight an entire scourge on her own. It was to much. Too much for such a girl to bear all on her own. But it wasn't her decision. For her, Morgana had made the final decision. With a burst of magic, Severina was expelled from the darkness, tumbling across the field to see the black cloud churning in the center like a tornado. She wanted to run back to it, to see her foster mother's face one last time.

But she fled. Even though it made her heart rot out of her chest, she'd do the last thing her master would ask of her. She felt her spine tingle as she looked back to see a radiant blue energy pulse into the sky. Severina cursed herself, and the daemon. She cursed all the Gods.

She was alone now, and her only company were the monsters she had to slay.