"We have lost the Sentinel trail."

Tora felt Cimerus's half-disappointed, half-pissed-off sigh reverberate through her head. She would have echoed that sentiment had he not sounded so much like Beiomolt, and she couldn't help but tense at the familiar sound. But the enraged tirade from her father never came; the fatal thump of a fist taking it out on a poor passing demon never reached her ears. This was a different era now. Beiomolt was gone.

"Our troops have mostly made it, but there are no Sentinels here. It seemed they used some kind of Lyre magic to create hollow men to lure Abaddeon; they were never here in the first place."

"So we are back to the beginning," said Azyazel, not without a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Be calm," said Abaddeon in his toneless voice. "We are closer than ever. We are in the correct realm."

"And we aren't really back to the beginning," came Piricca's flirty voice. "There's a surprise for you, Lilitha."

"There are more pressing matters." Tora frowned. "And the last time you gave me a surprise we nearly died in the world of Fae of the Greens."

"This is better! I'm sure you'll be pleased—"

"Save the pleasantries for later, Piricca." Cimerus's voice was sharper than usual. "We have not much time. The Frostites' presence has put a significant block in our plans... we need to plan further."

With that, he eased out of their minds. Tora shook her head. It had been a while since her mind had connected with a demon, and she couldn't get over the unpleasant sensation. No, it wasn't that speaking with these demons that were the problem; it was how deeply her father used to probe into all the generals' heads back then that made her uncomfortable. No doubt that had contributed to Maraduc's downfall.

When they returned to the Shifter realm, Abaddeon paused before they even set foot into the castle. He raised his head. Even though she could see nothing, Tora knew he was taking in scents through the pores on his face.

"What is it?" Tora said, wary. She wouldn't put it pass Markl to leave a surprise for them. Abaddeon remained relaxed, his head tilted.

"I believe Piricca has procured food for us."

Tora brushed past him. It wasn't unexpected for Piricca to lighten up the mood with something like food or fresh prey. Much as she loved killing, she also believed their survival was to be celebrated, and she certainly wouldn't let something like Sentinels bring her streak down.

Tora, however, was in no mood for frivolities.

Her claws clicked with each step on the glittering black stone floor. The tiny demons along the corridors bowed out of the way on sensing her brewing irritation. Abaddeon kept up in silence beside her. Tora's tail flicked left and right, her shoulders tight. Her fists clenched and unclenched.

"You are anxious," said Abaddeon.

Tora ignored him. Her steps echoed along the corridor.

"You might have been gone for four red moons, Lilitha, and there is no denying your time away has changed you, but deep down you are still a Shifter, and a Shifter general, at that."

They approached the conference room.

"Whatever personal vendetta you might have, you have more things to consider now."

She whipped around, her cheeks flushed.

"You are the second person to insinuate that I feel loyalty towards the Shifters, and here's some news for you, assface," she said, heated, "I don't give a crap who lives and who dies. Not even me. All I want is Markl's head on a plate for what he did to my friends. That's the only reason I'm here. I might still physically be demon, but I'm much more than that now."

She glared at him and turned to march ahead without waiting for a reaction. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, the demon side colliding with the humanity, the compassion mingling with the bloodlust. The only clarity in her head was Markl's betrayal and his imminent death.

Tora kicked the door open. It slammed against the black wall, the sound echoing in the conference room.

"Whatever this is, Piricca, I don't have the time for--"

"Tora!"

She froze. That familiar voice gripped her heart like a steel claw and twisted it, filling her with painful joy. She thought she'd never hear it again.

Whipping around, she stared with wide golden eyes at the scene before her.

Carlos. Ross. They huddled at the other end of the room, looking uncertain. Carlos's face lit up at the sight of her. His mouth was open, about to call her name again.

Fury surged in Tora's core.

"What the hell is this?" she screamed at Cimerus. He blinked at her.

"What do you mean, sister?"

She hissed, baring her teeth. Muscles clenched all over her body. Abaddeon reached a long arm across her front, evidently sensing her desire to pounce.

"I've had enough of your trickery. You've crossed the line. How many times do I have to tell you I will not side with the Shifters?!"

"It's not what you think," said Piricca. She crept up beside Cimerus.

"You are sick, brother," she spat, her hackles raised. She could strangle him right now. "You saw me at my lowest, seeing Damien die. What's in store now? Do you want to replay how the rest of them got killed, too? Shall I get you popcorn?"

"This is not a trick, Lilitha." Cimerus remained impossible to read, his head tilted.

"He's right, Tor!" called Carlos. "We're real! I'll--I'll prove it! I, uh, I like those squeezy ice cream from ice cream vans. And playing video games. And I really hate garlic. Like, really hate garlic. Like, it stinks up my nose and right out of my head--"

He yelped as Ross yanked his ear, a thunderous expression on her face.

"Ow! Ow! Okay, and, uh, the first joke that I told you that made you laugh was that cows in the sea joke, and that was 'cos it was such a bad pun. Remember?"

She did remember. And it was something that the Shifters couldn't have known. It was hard to believe they could have forged that murderous look on Ross's face, either.

"But that's impossible," Tora whispered, her shoulders sagging. "You're dead."

Ross crossed the room in four strides and clutched her shoulders, staring straight at her with fiery green eyes.

"Does this feel like the grip of a dead person to you?" she said vehemently.

Tora's mouth half-opened. She shook her head slightly, out of words. Ross looked like she'd aged ten years in the few days they'd been apart. Her usually immaculate hair was a bird's nest. Dried dirt hid in the creases of her eyes and under her chin. Her clothes were stained with blood and god knows what. She reeked of Frostites, but her green eyes were bright and true, and burned with a fury Tora had never seen.

"We're alive, Tora."

Tora flung her arms around Ross. The lieutenant stiffened initially and hugged her back just as fiercely, her fingers digging into Tora's bare back. Tora was careful not to crush Ross's delicate frame, but breathing in her scent and feeling the shape under the clothes, there was no doubt in her mind they were real.

Ross released her, her eyes bright and shiny. Carlos had come up behind her, looking awkward.

"Uh... If you don't mind..."

Tora blinked at him, confused. Then it clicked.

"Oh. Well, if it makes you feel better..." She closed her eyes. The leathery skin melted into soft human flesh. Her tail rescinded back into her spine. Claws disappeared, turning to stumpy human nails. She brushed her black fringe out of her now-blue eyes. Carlos grinned and clasped her hands. "But I don't understand... how?"

"We aren't the delicate flowers Markl had banked on us to be," said Ross, her voice dry. She crossed her arms before her chest and rubbed her elbows. "Sure, he'd made us so reliant on him and his thinking we were a bit screwed initially, but we've survived without him in the past and we can do that again."

"Ross was pretty good at keeping me alive and feeding me," offered Carlos. "Even when the ice giants came and started knocking the place down--"

Tora buried her head in her hands. "You survived the Frostites. Oh god. I should have been there."

"Is that what they're called? Well, it doesn't matter. You couldn't have known. But hell, what did they do to everyone? Are they actually dead? It looked like it..."

"Instant disintegration," said Tora in a small voice. "That is the effect of their presence. By now, the whole of the human world is wiped out. Fragile beings cannot withstand the instant Frostite conditions."

Ross sighed, rubbing her temples.

"How did you make it?"

"We did a lot," said Ross. "Managed to survive for a few days, but... it didn't seem to be much point in struggling to live in that kind of world. Then you Shifters showed up."

"But how did you make it here?"

"Me," quipped Piricca. Tora had almost forgotten the other Shifters were present. "I brought them."

Tora's mouth fell open. "But why?"

"I made a bargain with her," said Carlos, glancing quickly at Piricca and then averting the demon's yellow-eyed gaze.

"Piricca doesn't bargain. Whatever she promised, she won't deliver it."

Piricca snickered.

"That is true. I was going to eat them, even though they really aren't my type." She shrugged, grinning at the blanched faces of Ross and Carlos. "They were annoying me anyway, going on and on about you and trying to bargain for their lives – is this a human thing to do? I was going to kill them, but then that one—" She pointed at Carlos, who shrivelled away from her. "--I've tasted before on one of the Morphlings. When I'd tasted you, too. So I figured you might want to dispose of them however you see fit."

"Dispose of us?" Carlos said, his eyes huge as satellite dishes.

"You're safe with me, I promise." Tora turned back to Piricca. "Under no circumstances are they to come to harm at the hands of any Shifters. Do I make myself clear? If they are even scratched, I will disembowel every demon involved in the process."

Piricca grinned, showing pearly teeth. "I rather like the new you, Lilitha."

Remember to vote!