They left the burning house to the Strigoi and Uzo and Daemon were left hurrying to catch up to her as she left and then turned on them, stretching out her hand for Daemon to take.
He hesitated but then took it, searching her face but she kept her expression calm and blank.
The two men exchanged a look and then Daemon was guiding her through the tear in reality to a different but equally large house. It was as bright and friendly as the Strigoi house had been dark and foreboding, leaving her somewhat shocked by the difference but they were back in the human world at least.
Their arrival seemed to have set off an alarm, because the door burst open and a tall, slender young woman stalked out.
She had dirty blonde hair and bright green eyes, pale skin and was wearing a dark purple and black corseted dress that ended in tatters around her booted feet. A cloak with a tall hood covered her head and she wore a star around her neck on a long chain.
She stared down at the three of them, her lips pursed as she considered them all.
"Her only," the woman said.
Etani immediately started forward, leaving them behind her without a word.
It was not uncommon for men to be refused entry to a coven, given the witches tended to believe men were little more than animals if they weren't also witches, and mythical men were the worst of the worst. She was glad that her clothes hadn't been burnt off in the flame this time though. The magic had been expelled outwards, leaving her skin and clothing singed but unharmed.
Her boots thudded on the steps as she followed the swishing skirt of the woman and directly into an overfilled sitting room.
It was filled with couches, large cushions, bird cages and hanging herbs. Plants in pots were everywhere and it was packed with women of every shape, size and description.
She froze at the sight of so many hostile faces and she contemplated leaving, but the door shut behind her before she could turn to it.
"Come in," the blonde witch said.
Etani stepped forward slowly, nervous at the air positively vibrated with the restrained magic of so many witches.
"Hecate told us you would be coming,"
Etani looked at the blonde witch and nodded. "Yes, I saw her," she said slowly, unsure of what to say.
"You saw Hecate?" A tall, buxom redhead demanded.
"Yes, she was attending a party," Etani said warily, unsure how to speak to the women.
Witches were usually quite peaceful creatures, but she was a dangerous intruder and that made them wary and hostile towards her. She didn't blame them at all, but it was making her very aware of how many there were and how few she could take down if she had to try and fight. It wasn't a good number.
"I'm Naile," the blonde said and offered her hand. Etani took it and did her best not to jump at the spark of energy that leapt between them. Naile only smiled at the exchange.
"Why are you here?" A small, dark-skinned brunette demanded and Etani turned to her, taking in the chocolate colour of her skin, eyes, and hair and leaving her wondering again about the possibilities of the humans. The girl was not human, but still.
"I have come to ask for the blessing of your magic in order to return to my own powers."
"We know exactly who you are, Pulchra Morte, you'll not have us."
The name sent a shiver down her spine, and she gritted her teeth, frustrated by the stupid title.
"I am neither interested in witch souls, nor capable of taking them even if I did want them," she replied, knowing it sounded rude.
"Too good for you, demon?" the redhead snarled.
Etani snorted. "I enjoy life. No one messes with the witches if they want to live," she said, and they exchanged looks. "You thought we left you alone because we don't want to eat you? Please, witches are rumoured to be delicious. But no one wants to cross Hecate, if they survive the magic you lot throw out," she crossed her arms under her chest, staring the redhead down. "Witches have been off limits for as long as anyone can remember," she said when none of the witches said a word.
"What if we refuse?" the redhead demanded and Etani looked up at her, frowning slightly.
"Then we'll keep going until we find a witch who will help. But we are running out of time, the Creators have closed most of the gates and will be coming here to bring down this world in less than a week," she said.
The news made the witches anxious, and she could feel the change of mood in the air. They were no longer angry, they were scared.
"How do you know that?" Naile demanded and Etani turned to her.
"We were being taken to The Underneath in order to take us through the only remaining gate in this area, the Ifrit even said it," she said slowly and watched as they grew even more afraid.
"Surely Hecate told you?" she demanded, not understanding.
"Hecate will take us to Faerie if things turn bad," the small, dark woman said.
"All of the witches?" Etani frowned, highly doubting it.
"All of us," Naile said and Etani laughed gently.
"There is no way all of the mythicals who can get to Faerie, plus whatever creature they can drag along, and then all of the Gods bringing their people will fit in Faerie," she said and the witches exchanged another look.
"Faerie isn't that big and there are a lot of us. That's why this world was created, because Faerie isn't big enough. Not only that but how do you expect to eat? You're modified humans, you can't eat Faerie food." She shook her head at the nativity of the witches. "No, that's impossible. Assuming we all fit shoulder to shoulder, Faerie could never sustain that many lives, that many hungry mouths. So, they either have to start a new human world straight away, or else start removing the less vital creatures." It was cruel, but it was logical. "Or, we can avoid all of this by you agreeing to give me magic and I take back the power of the Creators."
"What's to stop you from doing what they are doing?" A heavyset blonde woman demanded and Etani glanced at her, smiling faintly.
"I don't like Faerie all that much. I'd like to stay here," she said.
"And if we give you our magic?" Naile demanded and Etani looked at her, head cocked to the side.
"If what? There is no catch. I need a trace amount, then I leave you in peace. Or I leave you in peace and find someone else. As I said, I'm not stupid enough to mess with witches." She folded herself down into a crossed legged position on the carpet, tugging at a spot in her hair that was pulling. "Honestly, I can take it or leave it. I'm quite content to stay as I am without the rest of you. It's not like I enjoy running all over the worlds trying to convince creatures to give me magic, and I could use a real break. We've been at this for far too long." She undid the braid and redid it, her eyes on her work. "In all honesty I simply prefer this world, but I could live in Faerie just as easily and I'm quite good at adapting to new surroundings." She looked at the ends of her hair and frowned at the tattered look of the red strands. She had never had that issue before, and she wasn't sure what to do about it. "But I tend to think it's all of you who care about this world given you have always been here. I was born in Faerie, so it's not like I don't know it." Her eyes lifted from her braid as she tied it off again and they were all staring at her in horrified silence. "So it's up to all of you, we can go hand in hand into Faerie and damned be this world, or you can give me what I need and I go on my merry way hunting down the rest of these creatures and we all get to stay here." She was smiling at them, her hands on her knees as she looked from face to face. "What'll it be, ladies?"