(No Pictures for this chapter, as it would have meant exorbitant effort to recreate this situation and mods I don't want to install just for screenshot purposes)

Aouregan was falling through the void, facing what she believed to be up. A feeling she knew all too well, even though it turned her stomach upside down every single time.
Absolute Darkness surrounded her, while she was free falling at an increasing speed. She kept her eyes closed, as there was nothing to see anyway, and she felt safety and comfort in the Darkness' embrace. It had given birth to her Lord and Mother, after all. Finally, her descent slowed down and her body was turned upright and into a seated position.
She fell into a room she was just too familiar with and slowly landed on a rustic wooden chair at a small round table with a single candle on it. It was her home back in Poitain.
As her innards came to a more pleasant rest, she let out a loud sigh. On a chair opposite to hers sat Micolau, grinning and chewing on a slice of fresh rye bread.

"Hello, my rose." he said with a loving smile. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"

Aouregan tried to suppress her tears with little success.

"Mother... Mico died aeons ago. You need to stop doing this... using my 'usband's image."

His smile turned into a wide, fiendish grin and a voice, deep and not from this world, bore into her mind.

"We are going easy on you, my child, but you, out of all, should know best that life is suffering. And it will remain that way until death will offer relief. But we both know that death is not coming for you, don't we? That was our gift to you."

Aouregan let out another deep sigh, as she used the sleeve of her blouse to wipe some tears off her cheek.

"I know, Mother." she paused for a moment "You do not call for me without purpose. What is the Black Lord's demand of me on this day?"

Mico leaned back on his chair, hands folded behind his head, as he continued without his lips moving. Aouregan looked at his facial features, his deep brown eyes and hair.... his beard that had tickled her during so many kisses. She started sobbing, while she was listening to the Mother's demands.

"Nothing happens without reason and everything comes at a price. There is a reason we guided you to this place. The place called Midnight Hollow." he stopped to pour both some wine from the painted clay pitcher she had made him for his 32nd birthday.
"Nothing is as it seems, child, and there is one here, who stands in our way. It is on you to find and remove them."

She looked down at the table, tears still running down her face, as she grabbed her mug and took a sip.
"Ordinary cloak and dagger work then. Who is it and why don't you do it yourself, my Lord and Mother? Surely that would be the easiest way, non? I will 'ave my 'ands full raising the new generation of sisters."

Mico clicked his tongue with a knowing smile, as he answered without actually speaking.

"Now, where would the sport be in that. And yes... it would be no effort. They'd be gone like a candle's flame in a storm. But that is not the way things have to be. It needs to be done by you, sweet child. This is how it must unfold and you need to find them yourself."

Aouregan sighed in resignation. She had learned not to question the Black Goat's decisions.

"So be it then, Mother. I will find them, and once I do, they will suffer and die by my 'and, according to your wishes. A life taken, a life given. I know the cost."

Mico nodded with a pleased expression.

"We know you will, child. One of our Young is near, should you require their aid. Do not call on them lightly. You know the price that has to be paid. We will commune with you again, once it is done. Serve us well and take good care of your fosterlings. Until the deed is done, they will be in danger, as will you."

And with that both Mico and the room disappeared.

Aouregan woke up in her bed with a loud gasp and drenched in cold sweat. After regaining her orientation, she got up and speedily made her way on tippy toes across the room, dressed only in her night gown. She stopped at a chest, which she gave a caressing stroke over the wood, before opening it slowly.
She reached inside with both hands and lifted out her rapier with the intricately engraved hand basket. She put it down in front of her and again reached into the chest. This time she pulled out a belt with a holstered flintlock pistol on it and put it next to her sword.

"Oh, my darlings..." she uttered as she slowly drew the pistol and looked down its barrel. "... yet again we 'ave work to do."

She put the gun down and pulled the rapier half way out of the sheathe. Content with its condition, she closed the chest and put both armaments on her bed. The weapons had been unused for centuries... not since her time in New London had she drawn either of them. Not that time had existed in that place anyways. Last time she had drawn them in the face of a self-proclaimed "God". It hadn't ended well. Her heart jumped in excitement. She had missed this kind of work. For a short moment she wondered how the others from the "Last Whisper" were doing, but then decided she didn't really care. They had not exactly parted ways on good terms and any member that was not a demon or like her, undying, probably died thousands of years ago.
"Oh, we will 'ave so much fun, my darlings. Once we find our target, there will be blood and mayhem and death." she said with a crooked smile. She reached for the hip flask that was on the side table next to her bed, unscrewed it and took a good sip from the laced white wine. For a moment a subtle green flash shot through her eyes and she immediately felt her jaw clenching.

"We will 'ave... sooo much fun, indeed!" She burst into a maniacal laughter, as the first rays of sunshine (If one could call it that in this place) became visible through the window.
Soon her first candidate would arrive. Her laugh slowly faded and was replaced by a wide and weird smile. It was time to get ready for the day.

Rozenn Aouregan D'Armand, nicknamed "Rien"... 'nothing', rose up with a determined grin, as she dropped her gown onto the floor. She grabbed her leather pants from the nearby chair and pulled them up, fastening them with her weapon belt. She looked at her reflection in the window's glass for a moment.

" 'ere we go again!" she said to herself and put on her shirt, followed by her blouse. She got used to the familiar weight of the weapons immediately, and, boy, if it didn't feel good. She quickly pulled both weapons at the same time, aiming the rapier at her reflection's face, while the rune-engraved pistol stayed ready in her offhand. She mock fought with her blade pointed at her reflection for a bit. It reminded more of dancing than actual fighting, but it was deadly effective. She hadn't lost the touch. She felt ready for anything the universe could throw at her. That was until she met Katarina Stewart, of course.

Depeche Mode - Ghosts Again

La Verdadera Destreza Rapier Fighting