The pendant began to glow on Rebeccah's chest. Released from inside the pendant Mordred, Compton, and I were forced out like a black hole in reverse. Mordred was fully armored except for her head in a purple tinted steel plate mail and wielded a giant greatsword which held the same purple tint. She rested her blade against Medea’s neck who didn’t even seem fazed by the attack. Compton was already behind her with his blade pressed against her spine while I stood to her side with my pistol aimed at her head.

“It’s been a long time hasn’t it, Medea?” Mordred said with a tinge of anger in her voice.

“It has, Mordred. I see you still wield Clarent.” She replied. Her voice was like a soft but stern melody. It almost seemed in pain.

“Please, don’t hurt Mama!” Rebeccah shouted from behind Mordred.

“We don’t plan on hurting her Rebeccah. We just want to take her into custody.” I replied to Rebeccah in hopes of calming her down. However, I don’t think that’s possible in this situation.

Medea began to slowly chuckle in a vile tone. All I could think was that this woman was more capable than I realized as she laughed. It sent a chill through even the marrow in my bones. I could tell that even Compton was phased by it as he began to shake ever so slightly.

“You think you can hurt me! Such arrogance. I am more powerful than the lot of you combined.” Medea stated with prideful authority.

“I doubt that highly.” Mordred replied as she slid Clarent a few centimeters across her neck. A small bead of blood began to run from below the blade and down to her chest. Yet, Medea didn’t even flinch.

“You say that but let me ask you. Did you beat my master or did he let you live out of mercy?” Medea asked as she glared at Mordred.

“That doesn’t make you stronger than me!” Mordred yelled before ripping the blade through her throat and spine. Medea’s head flew through the air before slamming into the floor beside me with a splat.

“What the fuck Mordred! We were supposed to capture her, not kill her!” I yelled at Mordred. Rebeccah fell to her knees behind us as she screamed. Tears began streaming down her face as she cried.

“It was necessary. She would have killed us otherwise.” Mordred said in a harsh tone, ignoring the screaming child behind her. Compton stood up, letting Medea’s body fall to the floor. Blood seeped out of her neck creating a small pool of scarlet. He looked just as surprised as I was.

“My, my, you made my daughter cry.” we all heard Medea say. We looked over at her head which was laying on the floor beside me. Even Rebeccah who was still crying looked over at her mothers head.the head laid there still as a corpse before it melted into a pool of blood as did her body. We watched in horror as the pools of blood defied gravity and flew into the air before morphing into a human shape behind Rebeccah.

It quickly remade its skin and hair using the blood. Everything about her body was the same as before, only this time she was naked. She grabbed one of the many pieces of clothing, a grey cloak and put it on. She then began to caress Rebeccahs head like any good mother would to calm their child. Rebeccah then fell to the floor unconscious.

“I see that you are no better than me, Mordred.” Medea said.

“I am leagues better than you, Whore.” Mordred replied with a sneer. Medea scoffed at her remark before speaking again.

“You really think that? Then tell me how you’ve lived this long?” Medea asked.

“Merlin used the abilities granted by the Elder Ones to stop our aging.”

“Then I guess he hasn’t told you or you just don’t want the others to know.”

“Know what?” Morded asked in a stern tone.

“The Elder Ones power allows oneself to live as long as they are not killed but it cannot grant that to another. You’re being kept alive using an ancient magic more forbidden than my own.”

“What are you talking about?”

“To keep someone alive requires the sacrifice of another human life. The remainder of their lives are then given to whomever they wish.”

“Does that mean that you have done the same ritual?” Mordred asked.

“Not at all. After I escaped your wrath I fled to the African continent where I was aided by a traveler. The traveler had been given the powers of an Elder One and wished to die, so in exchange for killing him I was given the powers of Shezmu. With this I was given my blood magic which can be passed down to my children.” Medea said.