Return of the ever living Womb. [fin]

"A pleasure to meet you Diana," The Womb replied sincerely after the girl introduced herself. They stopped breifly at a veding machine and the Diana picked up some food and drink to consume on the way. She then went on to analyze The Womb somewhat, declaring him non human and quizzing him as to the how's and why's of his being. The Womb was about to answer, but as he did he noted the creeping sounds of sirens and helicopters behind them, and motioned to Diana to follow him into an alleyway and away from the main road. After The Womb felt comfortable with the distance they had put between them and the search teams set out to find them, The Womb resumed his conversation with Diana.

"You are correct Diana. I am not truly of this world. Though I am tied to this universe, or perhaps all universes in a very tangible way," He said ominously, "Unfortunately, I fear I have forgotten my true purpose, my true calling in this existence. All I have come to know is being questioned in my own mind. I once thought myself to be the bringer of Life to this world, and so dubbed myself The Womb. Being the giver of life to all things, however I too know myself to be the giver of Death, as there is no Life without Death. These two forces would manifest themselves to me as my children, yet I have not seen or heard of them in so long. I often feel that much of my existence has been nothing more than an illusion, a mirage, a pantomime of self indulgence so these fanciful thoughts of children and Life and Death, perhaps were never real. It is a trying time for me Diana. I do not know who I am anymore. I used to be so sure of it all..." he trailed off there, not even stopping to really explain what he had just said or supply any sort of real context.

Diana remained silent, since she was in the presence of a strange being with a stranger claim.

"...Are you saying you're some kind of ancient primordial being? Well, that must make it hard to connect with human beings then. Fragile, transitory creatures." Diana said, her vocabulary seeming to expand on its own.

She listened intently to the Womb speak in a tone of worry about his history and purpose. She decided to chime in. "You shouldn't worry too much about your past, you know. You can't change history, and you don't choose where you come from." She said, though she was talking more about her own experiences.

"But instead, you should look at where you are now, what you've got, and where you'll go. Staying with the past is like talking to a ghost. They're never going to move on. They stay where they died, and keep talking about what happened to them." She doled out the advice, which she admits, she too could use.

"Are there any others like you?" She asked, thinking it must be lonely. She knew what it was like, to be separated and alienated from mainstream society.

The Womb was impressed with the girls introspective observations, he had not anticipated such a response. It seemed the young woman was more than impressive theatrics and deadly steel.

"I can only be what you perceive me to be. I believe that perhaps I am what you say, though I feel in myself that I am beyond even that. I feel as though I was part of something greater than this once. Perhaps all of us were," The Womb said, "in regards to my past, I think you may be right my dear Diana. Perhaps tis best to move on from my past, rather than try desperately to remember what may or may not have been. I suppose, I only sought to remember what my purpose is, as it has long since been forgotten, and I do oft times feel lost," he replied thoughtfully.

They walked together through more alleyways and side streets until eventually Womb stopped Diana in her tracks and motioned towards a dilapidated doorway. As they ascended the stairwell inside Diana asked a very simple and direct question which, although seemed harmless, deeply affected The Womb.

"I can not know for certain if there are any others like me. However," The Womb emphasized, "my heart yearns to say yes. But I am uncertain of what that means. My blood screams it is true, and it must be true. Yet I have no proof, and my memory is a murky pool of faded dreams. All I know is that I have met no other in my time that ever resembled me, save for the shapes and structures of the Human form."

Diana looked at Womb as he responded, always waxing deep and philosophical. Diana herself didn't bother to dwell on things too long, knowing thinking too much meant acting too little. She did feel that The Womb was too caught up on his past and his 'purpose', rather than seeing where he was now.

"Well, you're certainly a piece of work. I'm not a judging type, so I hope you find what you look for... but if you can, also appreciate what you've got and keep your feet in the present. Myself, I find being happy is not the destination but the journey. You got to choose what to feel despite what you've been through, and let go of things you're not in control of." She said, offering a little advice to help someone cope with being essentially too complicated.

Their conversation went on as they walked, even following him up to the strange door. But Diana checked her phone for the time, since nobody has watches anymore, and decided to was time to move on. She also wasn't in the mood to enter strange places more than once a night.

A dark blue Mercedes Benz came up on the street and slowed to a halt beside Diana. The window rolled down very slightly, to discourage peeking inside. Diana wrapped her coat about her, becoming cloaked in a mist once more, assuming the guise of an Angel of Death.

"Is it done?" A gritty, gravelly voice emitted from behind the window.
Diana took out her device and forwarded the grisly photos to him. A minute later, an envelope was produced, and Diana took her earnings, taking out the wad of cash and counting it quickly.

"Good job, though the cops didn't need to die... Keep in touch." the window rolled up again, and the Benz drove off.

Diana looked at The Womb. "Well... I believe this is where I leave. It was... interesting to meet you, my sword didn't even want to try fighting you."

As The Womb tried to guide the girl into the abandoned hotel he now used as his home, Diana moved away and declared that she would be leaving. It seemed she had completed a task, and she was now to be on her way to complete another. She turned to Womb and offered her parting Words, all of which were a somber relief to The Womb's ears.

"I doubt for a moment I could stand against such a ferocious power," The Womb replied, a hint of seriousness and playful mocking in his voice. His fondness for his new acquaintance apparent, "will I see you again mon cherie?"

Diana smirked at The Womb's words. She held out her hand, pulling back the sleeve to reveal her amorphous metallic armor. It bubbled and reshaped itself to produce a single throwing dagger, and she offered it to Womb.

"At night, light a circle of candles on the floor. One minute before the clock strikes twelve, prick yourself with the dagger and place the dagger in the center. Speak the name 'Blood Sword' three times, and I will be there. Later then."

Her cloak wrapped around her and she sank into the shadow, bidding The Womb adieu. In the blink of an eye, there was no more trace of the angel of death, the Blood Sword.

So mysterious. Wooosh.

(Aaaand we're done. For now.)