The musty scent of old books and simmering herbs lingered in the air of the safe house. Ashley stood by the window, her silhouette outlined by the moonlight as she searched the darkness for any sign of her Supreme.

"So Ethel fell for a human and your sister wanted to 'help them'," she put the last two words in air quotes, her gaze never leaving the window. "None of this helps us find her, and we can't go to the Wiccans, they're helping Greed,"

"Don't blame them, they have to remain impartial," Kyle interjected, his eyes fixed on Rob sitting across the room. "There are consequences if they push things too far in either direction,"

Rob's heart skipped a beat. "Still, Ms. McLeod was our student councillor, how do we know she didn't let Greed in on our weaknesses," He felt the sting of betrayal.

"That's not how they work," Kyle said with a shrug. "A tip of the scales too far in any direction will lead to the ability to see how all things are connected being severed,"

"So they lose their powers," Rob questioned. "That's why Paulina always seems to give us some riddle to figure out,"

"That's right because there was a time when Paulina did become too involved," Kyle tilted his head with a knowing look. "She used to take an active role in the council of covenants. The results changed everything and tipped the scales."

Rob slumped back into his chair, "But she still has her powers, so what gives?"

"No, what she did caused something even worse," Kyle whispered before starting the story.

Years ago in Paulina's detective office, she sat back at her desk listening to the covenants. Tara, Ethel's mother, her arms crossed as Danny explained his idea. Youthful and brimming with idealism, Danny hoped to end the bloodshed between them and the exorcists.

"I'm proposing we meet with this Pablo guy and work out terms to find peace and stop the killing," Danny continued, his voice filled with resolve. He was met with silence, as the other covenant leaders seemed less than excited by his idea.

Tara shook her head, her expression grave. "Pablo isn't the man for peace talks. He's a psychopath, he finds join in ending our lives and hunts us for sport,"

Paulina leaned against her desk, arms crossed. "This all started because an untrained vessel lost control while an exorcist questioned him. Now there are ten bodies in the morgue and the chief of police is asking questions."

Danny nodded along. "See, if this continues we risk exposing our world to them. Pablo must see the cost of this feud, six of those bodies are exorcists."

"Before you go, let me tell you a story," Paulina began, seeing the conviction in Danny's face. "Once there was a scorpion who needed to cross a lake, he saw a frog by the shore and asked him for a ride. The frog was worried the scorpion would sting him but the scorpion assured him he wouldn't. So the frog agreed and the scorpion climbed on his back and they began to cross. About halfway the scorpion stung the frog. The frog asked why since now they would both die, the scorpion replied it was in my nature,"

"I know what you are trying to say but I can't watch more lives end," Danny declared, slamming his fist against the wall. "I am going to meet with Pablo,"

"Then please be sure you don't go alone," Tara warned.

"I'm a Supreme," Danny retorted with a wry smile. "I never walk alone,"

In the present Kyle continued, "You see, while Ethel was busy falling in love, a war was brewing," He turned to look over at Ashley by the window, "People always get so desperate in times of war. Tara remained neutral and as head of the council, it meant the other covenants didn't have to aid Duncan's. But if Duncan could gain favour, thought it would sway her to join the fight..."

Kyle's story faded back to the past, where Rowan waited in the dark outside of the high school. He paced outside the front doors, his hand tightened around the crumpled note, he had assumed it was from Ethel. He peered through the darkness before checking his watch; she had never stood him up before.

"Waiting for someone?" The voice came from the darkness before Duncan stepped into view, his eyes glowing like a metallic platinum.

Rowan froze in place as his mind raced to give him instructions, and he bolted, his footsteps echoing through the deserted schoolyard. Behind him, Duncan smirked at his attempt to escape. He gave him a head start before beginning the chase.

In the locker room, Ethel sat cross-legged on a bench, the rhythmic bounce of a basketball as she listened to music. Each thud was drowned out by the distant sound of Rowan's panicked cries, muffled through the walls stood up sensing his distress and raced for the doors.

"So, did Ethel stop Duncan?" Ashley asked, finally turning to face Kyle.

"She was a disadvantage," Kyle responded, his tone impassive. "She heard his cries but by that point, it was too late,"

"So if Rowan was turned into a vessel, where is he now?" Rob interjected, hands clenched.

"I'm getting there," Kyle said, eyes dark, "let's not rave to the end just yet..."

Back in the past, Ethel raced to the door of the school, abandoning her basketball as she pushed through them. She allowed her eyes to shift to their dull green colour; now she could see through the darkness. In the field, she found Rowan, a trail of blood across the grass where he'd dragged himself.

"Stop!" Ethel's commanded as Duncan turned, seeming confused by her request.

"I'm doing this for you, so he won't grow old and forget you," he explained, advancing towards her.

"I never asked you to do this," she looked down at Rowan and back to Duncan, her claws beginning to extend. Duncan seemed almost amused by her attempt to threaten him, with a raise of his hand she found herself bound in chains. She struggled against her bindings as Duncan placed his mark on the whimpering Rowan, pain wracking his body in waves.

"It's done," Duncan whispered, his breath hot on her face. "Now be a good girl and go tell your mother what I did for you,"

"Rowan..." Ethel reached for him, ignoring Duncan completely, causing him to stomp off in a rage.

---

"Paulina knew what would happen, arranging that meeting with Danny," Pablo recounted to Zack and Deb. "You didn't need a Wiccan to predict that outcome,"

"So then why would she arrange this meeting?" Zack murmured, eyebrows lifting as he glanced at Deb, who chewed on her lip, deep in thought.

"She hoped it would fall through before it took place," Pablo continued, relishing his own narrative. "Danny was a Supreme, his covenant had killed an exorcist. We knew what he was really planning,"

"No you just assumed he was like you," Deb said, glaring at the man.

"You had already decided what was going to happen," Zack added with a wry edge, "Did he even get the chance to talk to you about his plan for peace,"

Pablo's lips twitched before he spoke. "We did meeting, it was a gamble but I wanted to hear what he had to say. But I was prepared for things to go sideways"

"Now exactly were you prepared?" Zack asked, leaning forward.

"As you know, we have been watching them," Pablo agreed, his gaze cold. "When I received the letter about peace talks to end the bloodshed I was skeptical, especially since we had records saying they were out there growing their numbers,"

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"So you assumed they were building an army?" Deb said as she thought it over.

"What if they were just trying to rebuild the covenants you were destroying?" Zack asked, challenging Pablo's narrative.

"Back then I was a lot like you Zack, believing that there could be real change," Pablo admitted, "I brought back up to the meeting just in case, but even I couldn't predict what was about to happen that night,"

"What happened?" Zack conceded, looking over at him. "How did you take him down?"

"Ah," Pablo said, shifting slightly against his propped pillows, wincing from the effort. "You see, the tale of the scorpion and the frog is universal—yet, I prefer the rendition where a turtle plays the ferryman." He paused for effect, relishing their attention. "The outcome, however, remains unchanged. Inherent nature cannot be suppressed."

"Meaning?" Deb interjected, her fingers drumming an impatient rhythm on the armrest of her chair.

"Meaning," Pablo replied with a thin smile, "a Supreme acts within the confines of their nature. Peace was never Danny's true intention."

"So what happened?" Zack observed, leaning back. "Quit playing around with us!"

"Oh my, dear Zack," Pablo sighed, smiling at the young man, "We met at a place I think you are already very familiar with an old shack lost in the woods..."

Danny waited with his covenant at the old shack, Pablo entered the rotting building with a dozen exorcists. "Thank you for meeting me here," Danny declared, "I believe that we can stop this before anyone else dies,"

"I'm listening," Pablo said, "I think we can all agree this cycle of violence will continue unless we can come to an agreement,"

"I knew you would listen," Danny said, a note of triumph seeping into his words. "I have a plan that will ensure nothing like this ever happens again,"

In his excitement, Danny didn't notice Pablo give a subtle wave to a fellow exorcist, who slipped away from the crowd. They descended into the basement, where several gas canisters were waiting, the exorcist slipped on a gas mask before turning the valves.

Pablo’s hand was steady as he administered the autoinjector syringe, an eerie calm settling over him as he watched his fellow exorcists and Danny's vessels begin to collapse.

“What did you do!” Danny coughed, struggling to breathe, "Those are your own men, you lead them here,”

"They were fools" Pablo laughed, drawing his sword. "They truly believed peace was possible, so they need to be removed,"

"You're a monster!" Danny accused, trying to transform, but the gas prevented him.

"Look at the pot calling the kettle," Pablo mused, bringing his sword down on Danny's leg, and serving it. He smiled as the man screamed out in pain, "You know I should thank you for this, when I come back claiming you killed everyone here, the exorcists will eliminate every covenant in the area," He watched as Danny succumbed to his wound before leaving.

"We were set up from the beginning," Pablo boasted, though his face contorted briefly with the pain, "If I hadn't fought back, I would have died there too,"

"So Danny set up this gas to kill you and frame you?" Zack countered, his eyes piercing. "You're lying,"

"I would never," Pablo retorted with a smirk, "Danny tried to kill us all, but that was a predictable move. He was overly confident,"

---

In the past, the cave was damp and humid. The cave painting sat silent on the stony walls as Ethel, her face etched with sorrow, cradled Rowan's head gently against her knee. His breaths were shallow and pained, the curse wasn't changing him like it normally would, leaving him in extreme agony.

"Duncan's curse should have worked," Kyle explained as he continued to tell Ethel's story. "But there are rare cases where it doesn't. Rowan was young and full of energy, he would have made a perfect vessel."

Rob paced beside him, an uneasy furrow marking his brow. "So that's why Ethel has never mentioned Rowan..."

"In truth, a Supreme's mark has been used to save lives, this time it took one..."

Back in the past Kyle's sister Mary had followed them to the cave, she watched from the shadows as the tragedy unfolded.

"Ethel," Rowan whispered, wincing in pain as he reached for her. "I always knew you were different... your eyes changed... you seemed so guarded..."

Ethel's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Rowan, I don't know what to do. I don't know how to stop it,"

Rowan coughed, his body shaking uncontrollably. "I'm not going to make it, am I?"

The silence was her only reply.

"It's ok," he gently touched her shoulder, taking in a ragged breath. his hand fell away as he started to convulse, "It hurts, it hurts so much" he began to cry.

Ethel stroked his hair back from his forehead, her other hand trembling as she placed it around his neck. She began to draw in his aura, his body went limp, and tears streamed down her face as she took in the final traces.

"That was the first time Ethel had ever taken a life," Kyle trailed off, looking up at the ceiling. "Even though she did it out of mercy, it didn't matter. It gave the demon inside of her just a little more control."

"How is that fair?" Rob asked, wiping away a tear.

"Our world isn't fair. When you kill an innocent person, even out of kindness, the demon gets another piece of your soul." Kyle turned to face Rob. "Yet another reason most vessels find people like you insufferable,"

Rob absorbed this, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the tale. "But how do you know your sister told you everything? Where is that cave?"

Kyle's lips twitched, "There is still more to the story..." he changed the subject, bringing them back to the past

Back in the past that shack in the woods Kyle told the end to Danny's story. Danny Blackwood lay in the dirt, his leg severed cleanly by Pablo's sword. The cold steel was stained with crimson as Pablo stood over him, his expression devoid of mercy.

"Look at your so-called vision of peace?" Pablo scoffed, wiping his blade with a towel. "Men like you fail because you expect the best of people. You don't know people at all."

"You don't know what you've done," Danny gasped, his voice hoarse with pain and desperation. "I won't let you get away with this,"

"My dear boy, in a few minutes you'll be nothing but a memory," Pablo turned away, leaving Danny alone to die.

Kyle continued his recounting to Rob. "But we both know what happened after Pablo left, Danny made his deal,"

"You're avoiding answering my questions," Rob huffed, annoyed they weren't talking about Ethel or where this cave she used to visit was.

"I am just trying to give you the full picture, so you understand how we got here," Kyle replied with a shrug.

In the past, Paulina did her best to stem the bleeding from Danny's leg, her hands stained crimson. Tara watched with worry from the corner, knowing now that a war with the exorcists would be almost unavoidable, "This wound will heal, but you won't grow the leg back," Paulina said, knowing the cost of Danny's survival.

"Leave me," Danny growled, staring down at his stump.

Tara and Paulina exchanged a glance before retreating, leaving Danny alone with his vessel, Edward.

"Leave," Danny repeated, still able to look away from his wound.

Edward hesitated, but sensing weakness in Danny he decided to try to take the Supreme's power for his own. He extended his claws and attacked the injured man.

"Traitor!" Danny roared, partially transforming into his demonic form, his eyes becoming a sapphire blue. His eyes allowed him to see Edward's true potential, his weakness was obvious.

With a swift and decisive move, Danny dug his claws into Edward, draining his aura until the young man was lying lifeless on the floor.

"Danny realized he didn't need a covenant of weak vessels," Kyle said, finishing his tale, "He saw them simply as a power source. A way to recharge his battery after a long day."

"He couldn't trust anyone anymore, Making the Supremes kill their own covenant is more about proving to him that they will obey him than it is about power," Rob muttered, considering the weight of secrets and lies that bound their lives together.

---

Pablo’s tale wound down just as visiting hours were up. “As you know now I did fail in one regard, Danny became Greed at that moment,” he said, eyes locked on Zack with a calculating coolness. “And now he can see a person's full potential,”

Deb crossed her arms, as she got up from the chair. She thought over this ability. “That is why he's gone out of his way to protect Zack. Maybe we can use that against him,” she mused.

"Exactly," Pablo murmured before a grimace contorted his weathered face. He turned to Zack once more, voice barely above a whisper. "I’m in agony, boy. Take some of it away, will you?"

With a sigh, Zack stepped forward and placed a hand over Pablo's frail one. An intimate silence filled the space as pain visibly drained from the old man's features.

Pablo looked up at Zack. “I often wonder what would have happened had I chosen differently. What if I hadn’t let vengeance consume me after Abby...” His voice trailed off. “When did it become my nature to kill and ask questions later?”

Zack, unfazed, cocked an eyebrow. “You're full of shit,” he stated flatly. “You may think you could fool us but you seem to forget I can see your aura. You lied about Danny setting you up,”

Pablo's lips twisted into a semblance of a smile. "I would never..."

"Save it, it's always been your nature to be cruel," Zack countered, staring right through the man. “If you’ve played us, and people get hurt because of it…” He leaned in, right next to Pablo's ear. “I’ll come back here and take away more than just your pain.” Zack stood up and nodded toward Deb, the pair leaving Pablo alone in the dark room.

---

Meanwhile, Rob paced the safe house, as he thought about the story. “Rowan's body is still in the cave, isn't it? That's where Ethel is” he reasoned, stopping to fix Kyle with a sharp look. “Am I right?”

Kyle nodded. “Rowan became just another in a long line of missing people, but Ethel has never forgotten him. She is the only one who even remembers where that cave is,”

Rob dropped into the old leather chair next to the couch, resolve shining in his eyes. “So we can't find her until she wants to be found,”

---

The memory unfolded like a delicate, blood-stained flower in Ethel’s mind. Her younger self had locked the door to her room after coming that fateful night, she didn't want anyone to know what she had done. Tara’s voice came from the other side of the door, both knowing and tender. “Ethel,” she called out. "What's wrong?"

“I did it, Mom,” Ethel confessed, tears mingling with the blood on her cheeks as she opened the door to her. "I had to kill him, he was hurting so much..."

Tara stepped closer, before embracing her daughter. “I know, sweetheart.”

“I feel different now,” Ethel whispered, a vulnerability cracking her voice.

“You will be different now,” Tara affirmed, cupping her daughter’s face with gentle hands, and wiping away a few of her tears. “But still beautiful, inside and out.”

Ethel recounted that memory as she sat alone in the cave, the same place where her life had changed forever. The haunting strains of classical music drifted to her ears, as she remembered everything and everyone she had lost over the years. She closed her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, she was back there, listening to Rowan play.