Isolde sat, straight backed, in the dining chair to the right of Hamish Buchannon. She wrapped herself in dignity as he offered his services as executioner. Even though he had not offered her a seat, she was shocked enough to need to find a chair to hold her. Without a by your leave, the witch picked up his strong, well- crafted hand, allowing her thumb to pass over the palm. She examined it boldly and then gently laid it back on the snowy white table cloth.<br/><br/>“Herr Buchannon, I see blood on your hands but oddly enough, I do not hear the cries of the innocent, an odd combination to be sure. Your heart is pure and you serve a higher purpose. Those you kill deserve to leave this world screaming in torment as justice for their evil. You do what I cannot. I am bound to only vanquish the souls from Hell that would corrupt the world. I have to see all mortals as innocents, no matter how vile they might be. I have need of one such as you. Your hands are not tied as are mine.”<br/><br/>The maid brought a service of hot, steaming tea and proceeded to pour. Isolde held up two fingers to accept the sugar cubes.<br/><br/>“I have few allies,” Isolde continued as she cautiously sipped the scalding liquid, feeling warm spread to her insides. “I believe I will trust you but first, wisdom dictates that I must be transparent with you. I am a witch. Not the kind who dances about on the full moon or rides a broom across the darkened night sky, but a witch by birth. My power is neither good nor evil but will become what I will it to be. I am powerful and I am immortal.  My bloodline is pure as is Darcy’s.”<br/><br/>At Herr Buchannon’s look, she held up her hand and continued,<br/><br/>“Darcy is my cousin. She sold out to evil many centuries ago in another lifetime, in another place.  She is the example of corrupt power unbridled. I, on the other hand, took sacred vows and hold them closely. I bring life and help to all who are innocent. I protect them from demons and from black arts. This is why I must warn you. If you go against Darcy, you are going against Satan and his army. You are mortal. You will be as a sheep in a wolf’s den. However, if you had my power protecting you, you could eliminate the mortals that are in her thrall. I could cloak you so that you might get close to her and I could give you power to accomplish your task. “<br/><br/>Isolde leaned toward him, putting a slender hand on his wrist,<br/><br/>“Hitler must be stopped and Darcy must be stopped. There is madness afoot in the world and we could be vehicles for change. But you have an appetite for blood. If I empower you, will I be sending you to your doom? Will the hunger abate when the mission is over?”