One by one, Hera, Theo, Joseph, Zeke, and Jean walked through Monroe's portal into the dark forest. 

They were still deep in the tree's cradle; the plateau was a ten-minute walk away. Sage and Ash had gone ahead preparing the tunnels beneath the platform. It was more challenging than they thought, based on the materials of the mountain, they had to shift. 

A small cave-in nearly crushed Ash, so they had to work slower and more calculatingly. Hera had placed the mod in Jean that morning amid a string of profanities and grumbles, but it was working well, Juno confirmed. Monroe stayed at the portal entrance, ensuring it stayed open and void of unwanted guests as they trudged closer to the forest edge. 

Hera felt strong with her Mod a full strength, but kissing Theo goodbye in the forest was painful. The distance between them weakened her. Not enough to be dangerous, but enough for her to feel a trace of emptiness. 

I'll see you soon. I love you. His warm voice caressed her mind before he was out of sight. 

 It was Jean and Joseph's turn to stop. They were just far enough into the forest that they were invisible, but could see the plateau clearly. Zeke and Hera were the last two and broke into the clearing nervously. The mountainside was mostly flat, besides a few large boulders framing the edges. Snow still sat atop the highest peak, but the plateau itself was dry. Tufts of green and brown grass poked through a fine layer of dirt on its surface.  

Hera waited for Theo's confirmation, and before long, they all received it. They're coming. She gulped and gripped Zeke's hand. He was calm and still. No trace of anxiety came from him. She only wished she could be so brave as she passed her energy across her fingertips.

They didn't have to wait long before the air felt electric around them. An aircraft unlike anything Hera had ever seen hovered in front of them. It could have easily blasted them all off the mountain but to her relief, it set down on the edge of the plateau and the doors opened. The Evolved just kept coming. 

She counted thirty. 

It seemed impossible for the number of people to come out of that sized aircraft and Hera looked to Zeke confused. He smiled down at her and her fears eased slightly before her attention was drawn to Azrail. He looked as fearsome as ever and awfully smug. 

"What's this girl? This is the welcome party I get? Pathetic." He paused for a second, likely giving an order to his Evolved puppets. Hera sent out her energy curiously but could not feel him. He was well guarded somehow. After a brief once over of the people surrounding Azrail, Hera realized fearfully he had a Shield Evolved helping him. Azrail returned his steely gaze to hers and the group slowly advanced. She swallowed her fear and realized their plan was going to have to unravel fast.

"We are going to kill everyone you love and then you will join us, little girl." He didn't even look worried, which may have been the reason he didn't notice the tremor beneath his feet, nor have time to react as he plummeted two stories into the mountain face. Hera quickly collapsed the earth to give them more time as two Evolved began clawing at the dirt to free their puppet master. One of them must have been the Shield. They were insanely fast and Zeke took his cue without a peep from Hera. 

The mountainside lit up like the night sky. 

Each Evolved twinkled beautifully, twelve had dimmer lights, nine had bright lights and another nine had none. This confused Hera but she had no time to process this as her father stepped forward and wrapped his telekinetic embrace around the dimly lit Evolved. They struggled under his grip but he was powerful. They disappeared into the forest at speed and Joseph hurtled them towards the portal. 

Zeke has vanished into the forest leaving Hera alone. The two Evolved had already freed their master and he shook with rage covered in dirt, mud, and dust. He was still ridding his eyes of debris when he screamed, "Kill her, Red!" 

Ten evolved sprinted at her and she didn't have time to blink before Theo leapt in front of her, touching the forehead of one of the attackers. The young woman fell unconscious and the nine others disappeared in a blink. Theo whisked her into his arms and sprinted to the forest before Azrail got a chance to spot him. She heard a muffled cry from Jean before her siren song poured from her lips. She hoped everyone had properly positioned their earplugs as to not be affected by her. 

It was breathtaking, haunting, and alluring. She stepped from the forest looking ethereal as she called to their kind. They staggered under the weight of her voice. Her power was immense. Everyone besides the shield and Azrail ran to her beautiful voice. 

Even Hera wanted to turn to it before Juno drew her attention back to the monster before her. He was red and swollen-looking, Hera didn't know if he was trying to call them all back or resist Jean himself. Probably both. Jean walked backwards into the forest, followed by the small group and Hera sent a surge of energy to her. She hoped it would give her enough juice to reach the portal. Hera and Juno were now totally alone and weaker than she had hoped. She knew Theo was somewhere deep in that forest, but it was up to her now.

"You little bitch." He gritted through his teeth. "Nothing will stop them from killing your people if I command it. You walked right into my hand." He was breathing heavily, sweat dripped from his colossal forehead and onto the dirt.

 Hera refused to be frightened of the oversized thug. "I trust my people. Do you?" 

He growled at her menacingly in response before drawing a knife that was already dripping in blood. "I've already killed one of your little friends. Ash was it? Should have seen the look on his brother's face. Quite uncanny, the resemblance. Twins perhaps?" His grin was pure evil as Hera's heart sank. She bit back the bile in her throat and hardened her resolve. 

She would have time to grieve later. She wouldn't let him get under her skin. Hera's hands shook as she raised them to her shoulders placatingly. "I just want my people to be free. Let them go." 

He scoffed at her, but her plan to keep him talking was working for now. She needed more time to regain energy. She could feel the mental attacks that Juno blocked over and over. Soon it would be too much. 

Take some from me. She heard Theo's voice then. Her head shook no but she heard a rustling in the trees. 

Fuck. Don't you dare, Theo! She wanted to cry out as he appeared through the forest. Azrail sported a shit-eating grin.

"Son! So good of you to show yourself. It's not like you to hide behind little whores." Theo was furious as he came to her side. She knew he wanted her to take his energy but she wouldn't. She nudged him away, and he told her with his eyes he loved her before turning to face the beast. 

"Take me, and let the others go." Theo walked over slowly and Azrail furrowed his brow in thought. It looked like he was about to consider it. "How about I have my cake and eat it too?" he said before taking control of Theo.

Hera sank to her knees and tucked her chin to her chest. She hoped she looked pathetic and Azrail's chuckle confirmed her wishes. She buried her hands into the dirt and sent out her energy to the Shield Evolved, still glued to Azrail's side. Her energy snaked up his legs and into his body. 

She was met with no resistance. 

He was using his shield entirely on Azrail and wasn't protecting himself in the slightest. She quickly found his power, glowing brightly. 

"Stand up."

She heard Azrail's voice briefly before wrapping her energy around the Shield's power. As easy as plucking a ripe apple from the tree, she took it. An anguished cry poured from the now powerless man's lips before he lost consciousness. She drew his power into herself and her energy was immense. Too much for one person, let alone the two consciousnesses that lived within her physical shell. She split his energy and shared it between them before she stood, grinning menacingly at the pathetic sight before her. 

Confusion crossed Azrail's face as he noticed his fallen companion. "What have you done?" He turned on Theo, grabbing his throat in a veiny fist. Hera instantly sent out a shield around Theo's mind, breaking the control and he slammed his forearm down on Azrail's.  The grip around his neck loosened as the bones of Azrail's arm snapped in half.

Azrail shrieked in pain before thrusting his other occupied hand into Theo's chest, a knife now buried to the hilt.