Sarah forced herself to pull away from the sorrow that was about to return. She was a strong woman; she wouldn’t allow herself to fall again. She was already embarrassed enough that she allowed her captors to see her at her weakest point. When she was about to break something inside her stirred. Whenever her mind wandered away from the feeling it surged and pulled her back. Her introspection was interrupted by Logan’s return.

  He entered empty handed. She hoped that her friends and family would receive the lengthy letter. There were some things on those pages that she never thought she would eventually have the courage to say, but never did. She had always thought she would bring it up later or the next time she sees them, but there was no next time.

  “So, what now?” she asked.

  “Now we get some rest until we leave,” he sighed in relief. “Miyuki, head to the visiting hunter barracks and start writing your report. I’ll take Sarah to where she’ll be sleeping tonight before coming back and writing mine.”

  Miyuki grunted but did as she was told. She picked up her bag and left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. “Alright, let’s go,” he said while motioning to the entrance.

  She was soon following him down hallway after hallway, twisting and turning, discovering what was hidden underneath the looming building above. During her walk she was able to see multiple interesting sights. The most memorable was a large man in a workshop hammering away at a cherry-red piece of metal. The man was at least seven feet tall without a single strand of hair, thick callused skin and had one large eye in the middle of his face. She focused on the one eye and missed anything else as she passed by. She reminded herself that she was in a new world and apparently needed to get used to seeing the impossible.

  Giant cyclops smith? Ah that’s just John, nice guy.

  A ghost asking you what time it was? 5:30.

  A waterfall coming alive and giving you the finger? Well that’s just rude.

  Her new life wasn’t just surrounded by living myths, she was one. Stories of monsters and gods were real…maybe? If all of these creatures are real then all creation myths couldn’t simultaneously be true. She was going to theorize further when she remembered where she was. She was in the basement of one of the biggest companies she knew of after meeting a Demon Lord, an Archangel, a Victorian ghost, some sort of fox woman, and, if she was correct, the subject of an ancient Norse hero story.

  Logan stopped them at a door with a bunk-bed symbol on it. “You’ll be staying here,” he said, opening it and turning on the light.

  It was what she expected a barracks to look like. It was about twice the size of Logan’s room while the only furniture was the sets of bunk beds on either side of the door. The walls were without paint leaving them the same light gray as the cinder blocks they were made with. The floor was solid cement that looked equal parts cold and hard. Each bed had scratchy looking sheets and blankets with no pillows. She took tentative steps inside. Even without her newly heightened senses she could smell the dust and leftover smells from the last inhabitants.

  “I recommend you get as much rest as possible, and don’t leave this room under any circumstances. There are things around here that get very hungry and angry if they’re woken up.”

  After that ominous warning he closed the door behind him with a resounding bang. She had to take deep breaths to prevent herself from imagining every different creature that could be lurking in the shadows. She eventually decided to try and get some rest.

  She sure as hell didn’t feel like she had gotten over twelve hours of sleep. She looked down at her wrinkled work clothes and wished she had a different set to change into. She’d be damned if she went commando on those sandpaper beds.

  Her mind jumped around and tried to collect her thoughts. She was now the newest member of the being world and was taken away from her old life. She liked her life, it was ordered and going how she wanted it. She had always dreamed of being an archaeologist like her mother. When she was a little girl, her parents would bury her dolls and toys in the backyard for her to find. So many times her mother brought her on so many of her digs that she felt like an honorary researcher while still in high school. She berated herself for thinking about what she would never have again. She tried to push down the tears, but they forced themselves out. Now that she was alone, she could finally fall into the abyss.

  She lost track of time as she cried. There eventually came a point in which she couldn’t cry anymore. After somewhat recovering she decided to try and get her mind off her loss. She began to try and look at the bright side by thinking of some positives. First, if they was being honest, she could talk to people, beings, she caught herself, that have lived hundreds if not thousands of years. She could talk to them and find the lost truths that have disappeared to history, which spoke to her inner scholar.

  Second, she was apparently immortal, or ageless, or whatever. Though that also means she’d outlast multiple generations of her family. It must have been horrible for that Sigurd guy to have gone through that. She would apparently live to see her little brother’s great-grandchildren age and die, if she didn’t get killed first. Her mind hung on the last point and struggled to find a third positive.

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  She did eventually find one. It came to her when she was thinking about the changes to her physiology. She remembered back to the assault in which she was stuck in the back of the car. Much to her own surprise she was able to look out the window after Logan and Miyuki had left. Only then did she realize that Logan must have used his abilities to shift into a werewolf. Did that mean she could turn into a weretiger? Something inside her told her that she could.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever be able to amount to the level of power they had shown. After forcing back another sob she turned her focus onto falling asleep. Without turning off the light, she decided to forgo the comfort of getting under the sheets out of the fear of what might be crawling around in the mattress itself. She laid down and closed her eyes. Instead knocking out like she hoped, she fell into a semi-conscious state on the border between awake and asleep

  She continued as such for a little while before she heard a booming voice. “WAKE UP!”

  Her mind shook as she started falling. She opened her eyes to find absolute darkness. She flailed her now controllable limbs through the air until she felt her fall slowing and eventually stopping. She floated weightlessly in total darkness. Even though her surroundings were black she could still see her body like she was under a spotlight.

  Out of the dark, two enormous golden eyes opened and looked directly at her. Each one was easily larger than she was tall and felt truly incomprehensible.

  She once again heard the woman’s voice. “So, you are the one holding the spirit of my precious servant.”

  Sarah then realized she was speaking to the former master of Dawon, the Hindu Mother Goddess Durga. Sarah was speechless. She couldn’t believe she was meeting an actual goddess. There goes her atheism.

  She was mesmerized by the sheer power and presence in those eyes. It truly felt as if an all-powerful being was judging her. Her eyes continually changed as the colors fluctuated. Bolts of lightning flashing occasionally radiated from her pupil and jumped to the edge of her cornea. They were like hands ready to reach out and crush Sarah at the first opportunity.

  “It has been almost a thousand years since my servant had fallen,” the goddess continued, “it is good to see her spirit once again outside that chamber.”

  The overpowering voice froze Sarah. She couldn’t breathe under the sheer weight of the goddess’ attention. Durga’s eyes thinned like she was smiling. When she did, the power shown in her eyes and the oppressive energy weakened.

  “Are you able to answer me now?” Durga asked like an adult talking to a stressed child.

  The weight forcing Sarah down lessened. She was able to gain enough control over her body to nod her head.

  “Good. As I was saying, I am relieved that my servant is finally free of their prison.”

  Sarah swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I-I thought I was cursed.”

  The goddess chuckled. “Yes, that is what it would normally be, but I made that vessel special.” Sarah would have sworn she heard the goddess sadden. “During our final moments together I made sure that we could meet again one day.”

  Another voice then entered the fray. “For which I am grateful, mistress.” A female voice behind Sarah said. The voice was low and rough, almost bestial. She spun and tried to discover the origin of the voice. Like before there are two eyes, just as large as Durga’s. They were gargantuan, glowing, and hungry. The eyes clearly belonged to a tiger.

  “Without you I would have perished without the opportunity to serve you again.” Dawon had apparently entered the chat.

  She looked back and forth between the two powerful beings trying to decide what to do. “You misunderstand, old friend.” The goddess said, “You no longer serve me.”

  Dawon’s eyes tightened. “Why mistress? I thought you preserved my soul so I could have the honor of once again joining you. Since the day we met, I have been your servant.”

  Durga sighed. “No, that is not why I preserved you. I did it so that you would be free from your life of servitude. For your entire existence you have been a servant. From now on you are a partner.”

  Durga’s eyes turned to look directly at Sarah. “Girl, I am giving you the task of protecting my old friend. If you die, then her soul will be released and would disappear forever. Do you understand?” The pressure returned, causing Sarah to nod her head dumbly. “Good.”

  Durga’s gaze returned to Dawon and hardened. She spoke in a tone as if giving an order. “You will now live with this girl as both her friend, guide, and power. In exchange she will be your friend, protector, and give you the opportunity to once again look upon the world.” Her eyes softened. “If you are ever afraid or uncertain, speak with Fenrir. He has had the same partnership as you for many years and will help you if you seek it. He may be a beast of evil, but he will still help those whom he would benefit from.”

  Sarah looked to Dawon and saw tears around the corners of her eyes, though they were of happiness or sadness she couldn’t tell.

  “Yes mistress,” the tiger said solemnly. “I thank you for this second chance and the freedom you have given me.”

  Durga’s eyes smiled again. “You are welcome, old friend. It is time for me to take my leave of you two, for you are tired and have a long journey ahead.” Her eyes then closed and drifted from view.

  Even with the goddess disappearing she remained floating. Dawon was the first to speak, clearly unhappy. “As she said partner,” they said like they were chewing on something unpleasant, “we have a long journey ahead and must rest. Sleep well.” Just as her mistress did, Dawon closed her eyes and disappeared.

  “Uh,” she said into the emptiness, “can I go back now?…Hello, anyone out there?...Shit.”