"He's taken over Debauch, Mistress." The Phoenix cringed as it said the words, knowing what would happen next.

"Gurrgh!!" Jessica pointed at the Phoenix, which screeched as her magic wracked its beautiful body. "The entire plane?!"

She walked away from her useless minion, trying to calm her frayed nerves. Her last wish was short sighted, but she had placed invisible stalkers all around herself and they filled her in on what happened.

Wasting that wish ruined four hundred and seven paths towards world domination. There were still two hundred and three left, but most would require sacrifice she wasn't yet ready for.

The problem she kept running into was Tristan: whenever he showed up in one of her possible paths to dictatorship, things got fuzzy. He was a variable, a variable that needed to be removed.

She had access to hundreds of Contracts, she had been confident in her personal power. Tristan threw a wrench in that confidence when he fought an army of Contract mages with only a wendigo for help.

Jessica felt something she never felt before: threatened.

It was well that she knew exactly how to get stronger.

---

Duke Eluvith was trying his best to keep control of the situation, but for once, he was completely out of his depth.

"I asked you a question, vampire." The Auric said, holding one of his most powerful minions by the throat. "Are you going to threaten my son again?"

Tradition demanded he answer this insult by striking down the insolent. He had no choice.

"I don't answer to you, pathetic old man." The Duke replied. "You lost my game, I owe you nothing."

"That wasn't a good idea." Said the lunar vampire with the sword.

"I have endured your disrespect for the last time, leech. How about I let you feed on my power." The Auric's voice echoed through reality, somehow his son was safe, but all others held bleeding ears.

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"Accept. My. GIFT."

The Duke, and all his men, ended that night; in an explosion of blood and gold.

---

Samson stood over the corpse of his comrade, a young woman who'd given her everything to stop the skinstealer. Her flayed remains would probably feature in many a nightmare moving forward. The vacant lot was a horrible place to leave her body, but she would have to be satisfied with vengeance instead of a funeral.

Attacks had been up a lot in the past month or so, and there was no obvious reason why, but Samson suspected it had something to do with the woman who had threatened his daughter. He still felt a little shame at selling his friend out, but he knew Tristan would understand once he knew it was for family.

Speaking of Tristan, Samson definitely needed backup for this monster. He got out his red wax candles and a few old relics and drew a basic summoning circle, he hoped it was enough.

After assembling the final touches, Samson knelt on the ground and held his silver hunting knife in front of him like a cross before a vampire.

"I call upon you, Tristan MacLennan. Come to me in my time of need and I will grant you respite."

---

I shot upright at the call. My friend needed me. I hoped he didn't blame himself for what happened. Hestia stirred and sat up next to me, blearily looking around.

"What is the problem, Tristan?"

"Samson needs me, he is a friend I made a deal with. I know it's not a great time to ask, but could you use your last wish? If he's in danger, I want to help him out."

Hestia didn't answer immediately, first getting dressed and stretching as if warming up.

"Hestia?" I said.

"My last wish will be to come with you." She announced with one of her signature deadpan gazes. "Will that be an issue?"

"It's not an issue, but may I ask why?" I replied.

"Because I lose my ability to read the future when you're around, and after millennia of always knowing what's next, I'm excited for the unknown," she said with a rare smile. "I also enjoy your company and would like to pursue a relationship if you're amenable."

It was an easy decision to make. I loved Hestia's straightforward attitude and easy to read personality. She has depth and power that I look up to; she is a true immortal, and more than that, someone I can depend on.

"I'd love that, Hesty."

"I wish to accompany you on your travels, until a point where I no longer wish to."

"As you wish."