It' was so cold. I couldn't feel a thing. The water was pulling me towards the bottom and there's nothing I could do. I had heard Cassius just a moment ago, whispering his death curse over again "DIE ALONE" and a woman's voice telling him to hush. Maybe I'm hallucinating "You aren't hallucinating" well of course my hallucination would say that I can hardly trust the woman I'm hallucinating to be objective on the subject of her own reality. "I'm sorry, did you want me to let you die?" she sounds annoyed, and obviously I don't want to die.

"Well you're going to" then why ask? "Because you don't necessarily have to stay dead" this was starting to sound like a sales pitch, I was going to have to say no "Don't be insipid, you don't even know what I want" probably my soul "Well, yes" not happening lady. She can obviously hear me thinking this, (it's not like I could be holding a verbal conversation underwater) so I assume she knows how serious I am "You didn't even ask what I want it for" I don't know, lunch?

"Your soul is calling for vengeance, I can give it to you" I don't really feel vengeful at the moment I don't even know who killed me "Maybe not who pulled the trigger, but you know who led you down this path" the Black Council, I really do wish I could've given those bastards what was coming to them. "And so you can" yeah, and all for the low, low price of one Harry Dresden, slightly used. No thanks lady, I've been tempted by a freaking fallen angel, there's no way I'll sell my soul to some freaky water voice.

"My voice is not freaky" well no, it's kind of hot actually "Thank you" I'm still not selling you my soul "Not even to save your daughter?" Maggie is safe, I made sure of it. "Come now Harry, you were such a thorn in the side of the Circle, you really think they wouldn't take the chance to get a new member with what will surely be an impressive talent and one they can train from a young age?" No one knows about Maggie "Kukulkan knew." He's dead, all the Reds are "True but you know he was working with the circle, and that means Maggie is still in danger."

She's right, but I have to trust my friends. As much as I want to be there for Maggie I won't sell my soul to some dark insidious voice to be devoured especially not if I'll come back as some soulless killer who preys innocent people "Who said anything about preying on innocent people? In fact I want you to protect the innocent." Yeah right, things that take souls and raise the dead don't care about innocent people "You presume much mortal, you couldn't begin to fathom the reasons for my actions but questioning me is not wise" you're in my head so you have to know that threats won't make me watch my mouth.

"I am offering to help you attain vengeance on your enemies, the ones you call the black council. In return while we find and destroy them and after that task has been accomplished you will walk the night and destroy the creatures that prey upon humanity." I can't accept even if I want to Mab owns my mortgage now and I doubt she would let me just sign on with someone else "The Winter Queen knows better than to make an enemy of me. Once you are mine you will be beyond her reach." Who the hell did the voice think it was, Mab is a freaking Faerie Queen she isn't so easy to push around.

"Mab does not intimidate me her powers are impressive for a sidhe but hardly a match for mine. I make you the offer once more Harry Dresden,become mine and I will aid you in finding and destroying your black council I will grant you magic and life and the power to prevent those you love from being hurt by the machinations of your enemies." I don't even know who you are. And theres no proof Maggie is in any danger or that you really won't make me hurt any innocents. And how can you protect me from Mab, how can you possibly be stronger than she is? "I am stronger than she is, I give you my word you won't be expected to harm any innocents and I have looked into the future, your daughter WILL be in danger and if you do not accept my offer you won't be able to protect her and she will die."

Then it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice, a promise not to make me harm innocents is a hell of a lot better than the deal I had with Mab, I still don't know who you are though. Suddenly a bright light flares up, and instead of being in the stygian depths of Lake Michigan I'm lying on my back on table in a brightly lit room. A woman stood in front of me, Red hair cascading down over pale porcelain shoulders and over the tops of large firm breasts tightly wrapped in a white Greek toga. Emerald eyes stared at me from atop a regal nose that sat above a lush pink cupid's bow of a mouth. My eyes continued down her body to take in well-shaped legs with strong lightly muscled thighs and I got the distinct impression the view would be even better from behind.

"You always have a choice mortal." I could see that lush pink mouth forming the words and somehow it made the voice even sweeter. "I have offered for the final time already Harry Dresden, accept or decline now. I am Artemis, Goddess of the hunt. Become my creature and rid the world of a menace that plagues humanity I will grant you life and power even greater than you already have." Holy Crap, she was a GOD, how was I supposed to say no to a GOD, especially one that looked like that?

She put her delicate wrist to the generous mouth and tiny dainty fangs bit into the flesh drawing golden blood. She held the wrist out to me. "Drink of my blood mortal and become one of my chosen, my Dark-Hunters, and protect the ones you love or forever damn those you love to suffer." There was nothing else I could do, I had to protect Maggie, I had to keep my friends safe. I drank. Everything changed.