“What are we doing with these?” Asks Liv.

“We escort them out east.” Answers Elanor.

“We’ve been nonstop for days now,” says Nora, “What’s the long term goal here? What are we even doing?”

Elanor stands a little taller with the three Humans huddled behind her, “We organize ourselves and fight back. The shadows now rule this world, so we must learn to fight in the shadows. These three,” Elanor sweeps her hand presenting the escorted, “Will help us live and fight in a world of darkness.”

Nora sizes up the three Humans. One is hastily dressed in a gray sweat shirt and pants, one is in khaki pants and a polo shirt, and the third in a button down shirt and slacks. Two men and a woman, at least at first glance.

“How do they help us fight Hell on even terms?” remarks Nora.

“Underworld magic is Human magic, at the end of the day. It is their Underworld, tied to them, a part of them.” Elanor says, “Do you want to know how the Underworld powers their shroud of darkness over this world?”

“I’m alright,” Nora says, “For now.”

“Quick change there.” Liv says.

Nora gives Liv a side eye, “I’m not comfortable with the idea of using that sort of magic.”

“Nor was I,” interrupts Elanor, “but if we don’t want to get bottled up by our enemies we must learn from them.”

“Bottled up?” Asks Bernice.

“. . . Captured and subjected to who knows what torment.” Responds Elanor.

Nora walks away from the others and towards the train platforms heading east out into Long Island, “While you were away Princess we were given our slot to get out of here. We have to go now, I was told either we follow the schedule or we get left behind.”

The five servants of the Central Sun with three Humans in their care make their way to the train platform, and from their are directed towards the tunnel. Once in position at the end of the platform, another servitor with the garrison greets Princess Elanor’s group.

“You’re mostly on your own from here. We have shields up all along the way, but keep moving. We aren’t sure how long this route will last. The last couple of shots taken by a smaller Underworld ship sent our way pushed us to the brink.”

Elanor thanks the servitor with a nod and turns to her own crew, “Alright. We make short, frequent jumps.”

“What about our energy reserves?” Blanche asks, “We will run low quick doing a large number of jumps.”

“The shields will cloak you if all you do is move. We have a few reactors staged along the way, but don’t linger. Lingering while drawing large amounts of energy is what drew down the last two shots.” Answers the servitor standing watch.

“We can’s stand around anymore, we need to get moving.” Elanor says to her crew. Turning to the servitor, “Is there a plan for where we go once we reach the end of the line here?”

“We are gathering a force for a strike, you will likely be given orders to support it. I don’t have the details, you’ll get those on the other end.”

Elanor turns back to her crew, “Alright, lets move.”

Nora, Liv, and Bernice all pick up a Human, and with everyone secured, the five begin light jumping down the Atlantic Branch LIRR line towards Jamaica.

Lito lands and re-materializes on a far, rocky shore in the shadow of stately homes raised above the rough beach into which he slid. As he takes stock of his situation bathed in the low ruby light of the Blood Moon he sees Iníon standing unsure of herself with the five servitors they met in the Kingsbridge Armory.

Leonie is slightly apart from the rest, standing a few yards to the north on the rocks, looking in the direction of Hart Island.

Lito approaches Leonie, asking, “What is it?”

“There’s something . . . someone over there. Someone familiar.”

Lito pauses. This is going to come up sooner rather than later. Dorothea isn’t here to put a lid on it anymore, Leonie will have a reaction to seeing the Witch again, even if they do not consciously recognize her.

This is how we fall, thinks Lito. Leonie’s situation is a major point of weakness in taking on the Witch, especially on ground favorable to her. Lito says to Leonie, “Would you talk to me about it?”

Leonie’s gaze towards Hart Island remains unbroken as they say, “I have a pull, a connection to someone on that island. Their name is . . .”

Lito waits as Leonie’s mind searches. The water where the East River and Little Neck Bay meet laps gently against the shore. Leonie says after awhile, “I don’t know. I suppose there is no reason that I should.”

Lito frowns. Thinking for a moment he casts a glance towards Iníon. The five servitors now surround her, teaching her swordplay. As Iníon struggles to land a blow against Oran, Lito lets thoughts flow by untouched, hoping a mental stillness allows a decision to well up from within the waters of the subconscious mind.

Pouring out from Lito’s soul come his words to Leonie, “Does the name Lucy ring a bell?”

Leonie does not react. They stand on the shore looking north.