Two men wearing identical black trench coats stood in a dark alley watching Innocence as she pick pocketed an acquaintance of hers. Child’s play, thought the taller of the two men. With a grim expression he spoke with authority as he addressed the younger man at his side. “Wait until there are no witnesses then get Innocence and bring her to me.”

“Yes, Master.” The faithful follower replied. “Will she be the blood we spill for our sacrifice tonight?”

“No.” The tall man answered and shook his head. “I have bigger plans for her.”

“The night Innocence was born I became her master, her teacher and her father.” The man explained to his follower as he thought back to years earlier. “It was so easy to take over her mind. Her mother left her with nannies often. Every night I looked in from a window as they put the girl to bed then I went into the room and watched her sleep.” With a sinister grin he continued, “As she dreamed I taught her about the path of blood and glory I see in my visions. Night after night my whispers guided her until she subconsciously accepted our dark ways.”

“On the night she started her sixteenth year I lit one hundred candles and sacrificed thirteen people in her honor.” The man continued the story. “It gave me the power to reach the deepest depths of her mind when she is awake. A few simple words put her under my control. After her mother's soul was welcomed in hell I set Innocence on the path of blood and glory. In order to carry out my commands and follow the dark ways I ordered her to join the mafia.” The man’s dark eyes stared down the alley at Innocence. “Along her journey she will spill blood every night in our honor.”

Innocence counted the money from the successful pick pocket and wondered if she would ever be talented enough to steal $5000 from her friend. With a sigh she gave the money back to Neon and they agreed to meet later for drinks. As they walked away from each other in opposite directions down the alley Innocence looked at her watch. It was almost time to meet Lancelot and Adonna at the HQ for a meeting.

“Innocence.” A stranger’s voice called out and startled the mobster.

“Who are you?” Innocence asked when she didn’t recognize the young man in a trench coat.

“Follow me.” He said with a grand sweeping gesture down the alley. “We have work to do for our master down the path of blood and glory.”

“What?” Innocence asked with confusion and looked in the direction he indicated then back at him. “What are you talking about? What path? It’s just an alley.”

“The path of blood and glory is for those that are truly evil and wicked.” The man recited words he had heard thousands of times. “You have been chosen by our master to take your next step. If you do not come with me willingly I will force you.”

“Fuck you!” Innocence said as she took a few steps away. “And fuck your mumbo jumbo! I’m not going anywhere with you. Go fuck yourself!”

“Hello, my child.” The tall men greeted as stepped out from the shadows. His deep voice quietly said a few more words that put the young mobster under his control.  

“Hello, Master.” Innocence was in a trance as she spoke to the tall man. “I’m ready for my next step down the path of blood and glory.”

“Good girl.” The tall man beamed with pride and walked towards the mobster. He put a hand on her cheek and smiled affectionately. “I’ve been watching you, my child. You’re getting stronger every day. I have a gift for you.” He lowered his hand into the pocket of his trench coat. “It will help you along the path.”

“Thank you, Master.” Innocence said and stared at the gun he put in her hand.

“Blood must be spilled to honor our dark ways.” The tall man instructed. “Fulfill your destiny, my child. You were born truly evil and wicked.” He put his hand on the gun and added, “You were born to use this on the path of blood and glory.”

The next morning Innocence woke up with a pounding headache and blood on her hands. The headache was from a long night of drinking and the blood…. “What the hell?” Innocence mumbled with confusion as she sat up in bed. She didn’t know how the blood got on her hands.

Having sent one of his best men to keep an eye on Innocence to make sure she didn't come to any harm, Lancelot was made aware of the previous evenings events...

"Boss there is something strange going on with Innocence, i followed her like you said and watched her mug countless people she sure got the knack boss, but then in the alley she had an altercation with a small fella i pulled out my gun ready to wack him then another taller man appeared from the shadows i couldn't make out who it was" looking rather shaken the guard wiped the sweat from his brow, "Thats when things started to get strange boss and i swear i haven't touched a drop whiskey in weeks, i was stone cold sober and as straight as a dye, when the tall man appeared he seemed to mumble something and in that instant not only did Innocence go to him but i found i couldn't move a muscle i seemed to have no control over my body, then they disappeared and i lost them im really sorry boss".

Lancelots eyes widened "Merlin warned of this in his journals, i always thought it to be another one of his stories maybe there is some truth to all this after all" pausing for a few moments deep in thought Lancelot suddenly shouted "A hypnotist its gotta be, i want you to take as many guys as you need and bring me every known Hyponotist i dont care how you do it break some damn legs if you have to i want to know what the fuck is going on around here" Lancelot starts to rummage through his desk mumbling something about finding Merlins journals.

Never being far from Lancelot, Adonna was told of the events with Innocence. This seemed completely out of character from the Innocence she knows. She thinks about this. While this can not be good for some, Innocence’s newly found blood-thirst could become useful to the family when certain individuals need to be taken care of. Adonna watches as Lancelot rummages through his desk for something.

This may not be as bad as it sounds Boss. It seems that Innocence has a gift that may come in handy. There are always certain elements that need to be eliminated. If we could find a way to harness this talent and direct it where we need it ..

Adonna drifts back off in thought before speaking again.

A hypnotist will be able to give us a better idea of exactly what we have here IF, and it is a big IF, they are able to break through the barriers. It seems whoever has the ultimate control over her is very powerful. We might have to make a deal with the Devil, so to speak.

Chris had spent the night tracking Innocence locateing her had cost him a pretty penny and he hated dealing with P.Is they where scum in his eyes some where worse then the crooks he had day to day dealings with,But that was the price he had to pay to get back what was rightfully his. Jordan had made sure Innocence was not in New York when the Mob war flared up and Chris had to deal with these private dicks all the while wanting nothing other then to put a bullet between his eyes,

Creeping into a darl ally he had seen Innocence talking to some guy dressed in Black Robes " What the Fuck???" Thought Chris is this some kind of bizzare club? He felt the air begin to chill as the robed man spoke to Innocence, Chris felt froozen to the spot unable to move as Innocence and the robed man disappeared into the darkness taking his .45 out of his shoulder holster Chris crept further into the Darkness the hair on the back of his neck felt like it was standing up his body screamed at him to turn and run his heart pounded like a drum in his ears Chris tripped and fell his gun clattered onto the ground  Chris reached out to get it his had touching somthing wet and sticky looking down Chris could see the body of a hobo his throat slashed from ear to ear a pool of blood forming around the lifeless body.

Chris grabbed his gun looking further into the allyway he noticed it was a deadend " Fuck where did the go?" Chris spat kicking the corpse in frustration chris started back out of the ally way " Fuck i will have to deal with that Private Dick Again"

The though of shooting the fuck between the eyes bought a smile to his lips as Chris made his way to his car.

From his spot in a dark alley, where he does most of his...questionable activities, Jimmy watches the scene play out in front of him. He's seen these darker men before, and he's heard stories of this woman. She has her unwilling master, and he knows all about it from the one he chooses to serve. Jimmy may live the life of crime, but he also serves a greater cause. After he first turned to the life of crime and his sister died because of it, Jimmy flew into a rage. He pushed too hard with the wrong man and ended up left for dead on a street corner. A pastor from a local church took Jimmy in, and Jimmy swore himself to the Church above all. Jimmy is allowed to do as he pleases, but when the Church calls, he must answer. It rarely happens, but today he was called upon to watch this young lady. There's a lot of interest in her from both sides, and Jimmy is there to observe and report.

"Jimmy gon' be seein' you again, young one..."he whispers to himself before disappearing into the shadows.