Disapointed.

“What happened to trusting me?” Keira frowned.

Hope winced in frustration. “Fine but stay close to us.” The redhead conceded.

“Okay.” Keira smiled at her. Hope led the three of them into the woods, peering at the ground. “Are you a tracker?”

“I’m still an amateur, but I can use thermal vision, and sense bodies of heat nearby, which gives me an edge.” Hope shrugged, as they progressed deeper into the forest.

After several minutes of traversal, they spotted a young woman sitting against a tree. Her skin was dark complected, a few shades lighter than a Hershey bar. Her face was perfectly sculpted with softly chiseled features. Her brown eyes were so dark they were like staring into the dead of night. Her long black hair was done into a multitude of long twisted braids that stretched down to her pert buttocks. Tasteful diamond earrings dangled from her delicate lobes, giving the only contrast to her beautiful face. Her clothing was all black and made of leather. The pants were practically painted onto her long legs, and firm bubble butt, while her crop top fought to contain her large breasts and allowed her smooth stomach to lay bare for all to see. Her black leather boots crawled up just beneath her knees and had silver buckles evenly spaced along the shins.

“Fuck.” Keira murmured, mesmerized.

The woman smiled at her. “I’ve been waiting for you.” She said standing up and stretching her long limbs. “You must be Hellfire, and Dagger, but you, I don’t know.” The woman frowned at the tattooed beauty.

“Keira.” The pink haired woman blushed softly.

“Pleasure.” She smiled in surprise.

Alaric stepped to the side, away from the others. “How do you know who we are, and why were you waiting for us?” Alaric asked.

“You have something I need.” She smiled coyly.

“Which is?”

“The Dagger of Oblivion.”

“Its powers are a myth.” Alaric frowned at her.

“Then you won’t mind giving it to me.”

“I think not.”

“As you wish.” The woman said her eyes narrowing, dangerously.

Keira raised her hand. “Quick question.”

The woman looked at her perplexed. “What dear?”

“Who are you?”

“Phase.” She smiled. “Now stand back child, you need not get hurt.” Suddenly she threw her arms out in front of her, and clapped her hands together, with her fingers pointed at the Hope, Thunder echoed around them, as a wave of energy slammed into the three of them and sent them flying backwards.

Hope rolled to her feet and ignited a ball of flame in her right hand, then her left, and one by one hurled them at Phase. The young black woman drew her hands away from one another and held them up palm first. The deadly projectiles hit an invisible field and dissipated into nothing. Alaric was the second one to his feet, as he dashed out and to the right, to flank their assailant. Summoning a series of tranq needles, he threw them at her in rapid succession.

Phase smiled as the needles passed through her body and flew into the woods behind her. Lifting her left foot up, she brought it down, and another crack of thunder occurred. This one was muffled as it resonated beneath the ground and the earth shifted in protest, as clumps of dirt spit into the air. The wave of earth, rolled forward, forcing the blond man to leap into a dodge, and roll away from the oncoming attack.