by Randi Darren
“Is it… weird… that I don’t get tired from that anymore?” Wren asked, turning her head toward him and catching his eyes with his own. “Shouldn’t I be absolutely exhausted?”
“You would be if I wasn’t feeding you a very thin stream of Essence. No sense in punishing you for feeding me,” Sam admitted with a laugh. He’d never done that in the past for anyone.
It was a newer “Human” development, as he’d begun thinking of them.
“Oh. Well, thanks. Makes it easier,” Wren said. Then she adjusted her rifle strap and rejoined the rest of the team.
Sam nodded, feeling rather awkward once again. The longer he stayed on the plane, the more he changed.
Most of it, he could admit was a positive change.
But any change at all was still dangerous. He’d survived since time immemorial by doing exactly the opposite of what he was doing now.
Finding Reix not far off, Sam wandered over to join the other Torment.
The older man was fussing over an incredibly large diagram drawn out in what looked like a thirteen foot by thirteen foot square.
Looking up from the work, Reix paused for a second. Then he dipped the tip of the stick in his hand into a bowl of what looked like blood and went back to his diagram.
“Come to help an old man?” Reixhitz asked as he dragged the bloody stick along a new line.
“No. We both know diagrams were never my specialty,” Sam said, crossing his arms in front of himself. “Essence sorcery and sex. Those are my domains.”
“You could easily become a great Diagram Magician. You’ve got the mental faculties for it,” Reixhitz. “You know I’m right.”
“Right, wrong, whatever. It’s just too much work. No reason to go through all that work when I can just form it straight from Essence,” Sam retorted.
“At ten times the cost,” Reixhitz muttered. “There’s a reason I survived my entrapment you know. And it certainly wasn’t stockpiling Essence.”
“I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m just saying it’s wrong for me,” Sam said.
Reixhitz made a non-committal “hmph” and continued to work.
A few minutes passed in silence as Sam merely watched the other man work.
Eventually, he looked up at Sam. Or more accurately, to the point next to Sam.
Turning his head, Sam found Decima standing next to him. She’d been watching Reixhitz work.
“It’s strange,” she said when she noticed both men watching her.
“What is, young lady?” Reixhitz asked, his brows pushing together. Sam would bet on the fact that Reixhitz hadn’t recognized who Decima was.
“Your work,” Decima said, shaking her head slightly. “It looks a lot like the language of the ancient blessings. They were no longer suitable for use in my time, but I saw a few that were powered. They were quite strong.”
Reixhitz looked very confused, then his face smoothed out and his cheeks flushed red.
“Well, Lady Decimation, your Church of One and All has spread nothing but lies for as long as it’s been around,” Reixhitz hissed.
“I know,” Decima said, her voice going whisper soft. “I know. I found out in the worst way possible.”
The silence after that statement felt heavier than a mountain.
“Hmph. Well. Hmph,” Reixhitz grumped. “As to your ancient blessings… chances are that I or someone like me wrote them. I bartered with your deities as well as your clergymen in times long past.
“Sam did quite often as well, you know.”
“I heard,” Decima murmured. “Apparently priestesses and nuns would trade themselves to him.”
“That’d be accurate,” Reixhitz said, taking up his work again. “To be fair, the world was a much darker place in times past. Mostly because Rome fell, mind you. Once the Weres lost control of Europe everything became a free lunch for the Vampires of the world.”
“Rome… Rome was…?”
“An Empire of Weres. Byzantine was as well,” Sam confirmed. “They were the great defenders of Humanity for quite a while. After all, Weres don’t eat people. A few do, sure, but that’s about as rare as cannibalism.”
“I… but—”
“Ah, and here we are,” Reixhitz said tossing the stick off to one side. “Now it just needs a little bit of power.”
Taking something from one of his pockets Reixhitz tossed it onto the diagram which flared to life in bright golden flames.
In the center of the working blossomed a glowing oval eight feet tall and three feet wide.
“Reix,” Sam said, immediately sensing exactly where this went.
“It’s just a pocket dimension there. Just a pocket,” Reixhitz said before Sam could continue. “They never noticed it before, and they won’t now.”
“A pocket where?” Decima asked.
“The higher planes. Those who watch over the planes and make sure everything adheres to the rules put down at creation,” Sam muttered. “Where the overseers did their jobs even after the Silent One won his war. They didn’t even bother to lift a hand in defense of their original lord and simply bowed their heads.”
“Mm, that was a mighty blow to the Originator at the time,” Aster said walking up to them. “He took it very badly. He’d been counting on them to close the planes down and prevent the Silent One from his march.”
“The… Originator?” Decima asked, looking from Aster, than to Sam.
Except Sam didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his story to tell. He really hadn’t known any of the original players at the time. He’d come into existence slightly after that.
“The one who made everything in this entire universe. Every plane, every person, every blade of grass. Him and him alone,” Aster said. “He was an interesting individual. I thought he was funny.”
“You knew him?” asked Decima incredulously.
“Of course. I was one of the first,” Aster said, staring off at nothing. “I even fought for him. I was there when Retribution laid low the Swordsinger. A grand and mighty victory for us.
“Squandered in an instant as we were betrayed. And then… he left. He left all of us, his creations, rather than let us perish. The Silent One held us hostage, and has ever since.”
“Was he different after that?” Reixhitz asked. “Retribution that is. I only knew him afterward and he’s always been… well… him.”
“Yes, very different,” Aster said, looking down and to the side, then back up with a small smile. “He was never the same. Now. Shall we get going?”
“No!” Decima said. “This is… all too much to just let go there. I want to—”
“Later,” Sam said, laying a hand on Decima’s back. “Because we do have a job to do, and I think this is a story that would take considerably longer than you think.”
“I… alright. Okay,” Decima said with a nod of her head. Then she turned partway to the rest of the group. “Pack it up and in! We’re moving out in five. Swap your position, front to back, back to front.”
“Fuuuuuuuuck. I’m going to get shot again,” Tiffany complained loudly, going over to her pack to exchange her shotgun for her rifle. “I always get shot. Right in the damn tits, too.”
“You should write a song about it,” said Hillary. “A country tune, maybe?”
“Fuck you, Hill. Wren never gets shot. I always get shot,” Tiffany grumbled.
Decima shrugged her shoulders and looked back to Aster, Sam, and Reixhitz.
“She does get shot in the chest a lot,” Decima muttered. “She’s like a giant magnet.”
Much to Decima’s annoyance, it took them six minutes to get through the portal rather than five.
Once they were through to the other side, the blinding glow of the portal was behind them and they could see the other side now.
“This is a pocket dimension?” Aster asked with a soft laugh. “Bout as much of a pocket as my asshole is. This is as big as his other plane.”
“And completely barren,” Sam muttered.
All around them, as far as the eye could see, was death.
Long since dead and dried out bushes, and non-existent grass with scorched and blackened trees.
“Quick perimeter, twenty feet in every direction,” Decima said. “Shields up, as well.”
“Pretty sure we don’t have anything to worry over,” Hillary said, using a booted foot to nudge a skull to one side. “This isn’t just dead, but a graveyard. It’s bleached by the sun.”
“I’d say whatever happened here isn’t something Reix was expecting. Pity we can’t just march right back around and ask,” Jes muttered. “These one way portals aren’t much to my liking. Like bringing a woman into the feed harem that can’t handle me joining in.”
Sam smirked at that. Jes had made sure his feed harem could accommodate her. Those who were allowed to be in the building also had to be alright with three-ways that included her.
“You mentioned once that someone talked to you about the higher planes,” Aster said, looking every which way in a slow survey.
“Yeah,” Sam said. “Didn’t know the voice and they didn’t give me a name. But yeah. She said she killed everyone.”
“I think they did more than that,” Abigail grumbled. “She killed everything. What kind of sick fuck just casually kills every—”
“Hello, there,” said a female voice from everywhere. “How’d you get here? What are you doing? Why are you here?”
Everyone had frozen where they stood, each person looking toward the sky above them.
I think… this is my time to step in, isn’t it?
“Uh, hey there. We spoke not long ago, I think,” Sam tried.
“Yes, we did. Hello. You’ve been following the rules. Good job. Good boy, very good boy,” said the woman. The voice was accompanied by Sam feeling like someone was petting him from the top of his head to his feet.
Including his soul.
There was a laugh that started low and then ramped up to a higher pitch.
“How’d you get here? Why are you here? What are you doing?” asked the woman again.
“We’re following a thief,” Sam said. “They stole something from a friend and came through here. I didn’t realize this was in the higher planes until we were here.”
“You’re not in the higher planes. Not really. If the higher planes was a house, you’re in the garden shed,” explained the woman. “Quite a few of those stuffy old fools tried to hide here.”
Suddenly the skull Hillary had touched jerked up into the air and floated at about a six foot height.
“‘My names Horatio, blah blah blah, I was the first amongst the higher planes and my power is great’,” said the woman in a mocking voice. “Foolish thing. He couldn’t understand the truth. Do you think you’d understand the truth?”
“Probably not,” Sam said honestly, looking at the skull who had likely once been Horatio. A powerful entity that even Sam had made concessions to. “Because it isn’t my place to know it, I think. Is it?”
The skull slowly tilted to one side, then fell to the ground with a thump.
“That’s a good point. It’d be a lot like attempting to explain court politics to… a farmer,” said the woman. “Maybe the farmer could surprise you though… maybe… maybe he could… surprise everyone.”
As she spoke, her tone had become softer.
“Ah, yes, well, we’re just here to find a thief. As to how we got here, we followed them,” Sam said. “We’d be happy to move through this space and into the next without troubling you.”
“Hm? Oh. Yes. That’s fine,” said the woman. “That’s… that’s fine. Okay.”
“Do you know… which way we should be going?” Sam asked.
“Hm? Which—ah. Yes. I see,” said the woman. “Head north, you’ll find a road. Follow it east. There’s a portal at the end, it goes somewhere else.”
“Wonderful,” Sam said. “Thank you for your help.”
“I didn’t help you. You’ll probably die here. I never bothered to call back my pets,” said the woman. “They’re probably still wandering around. Maybe? I’m not sure.”
“Pets?” asked Sam aloud.
There was no response.
“I think—” Aster said slowly.
“Time to go,” Decima said interrupting the other woman. “I don’t know what her pets are, but I don’t want to meet them. On the double.”
Not waiting, everyone started moving at a light jog to the north.
They found the road relatively quickly.
It was right around that point that dark black clouds appeared on the horizon.
“Those aren’t normal,” Aster said, pointing them out as everyone noticed them at the same time. “I can feel it from here. They’re not right.”
“Those’d be her pets then,” Sam grumbled. “Except I get the impression that as soon as we go to the next portal we might have problems getting back.”
“Why’s that?” Jes asked, jogging along in front of Sam.
“Because I’m betting we’ll have to use the token to power it that Reix gave us to get back,” Sam said. “Those not clouds are moving awfully quick. I’m betting we won’t have the time or luxury to try and get the portal open with Essence sorcery.”
“This open flat land makes me really nervous,” Carissa said as they ran along. “Places like this can hold a nasty surprise if you suddenly find a fold in the land.”
“Speaking from experience?” Wren asked, bringing up the rear.
“Yes. I am,” admitted Carissa. “And I hate running. Hate it.”
“Run!” Decima shouted as if Carissa’s words were a prophecy.
Looking back at the clouds, Sam realized they were moving far more quickly towards his group now. Far more quickly and with purpose.
They were sentient and his group had clearly been spotted.
Gritting his teeth, Sam held his hands up and started pushing Essence into everyone around him. Driving them onward and powering their bodies beyond normal limits.
Some more so, some less.
Pounding down the road, they kept in a loose formation but were moving at speed.
“Up ahead, I can feel it,” Jes called out. “It’s completely shut but there’s a trace of something left over.”
Sam couldn’t feel it himself because he was channeling Essence, but he trusted Jes completely.
Reaching into a pocket he pulled out the small token and held it out to Jes.
“If you can pop it open, do it. If you can’t, open it with this,” Sam called. He didn’t believe for a second that he’d have enough strength or presence of mind to rip any portals open. There was no reason to take it slow and assume they could outrun the clouds.
Sam was emptying himself into the others rather than try and be frugal.
Can regenerate Essence. Can’t bring everyone back if I lose my shell, too.
Jes took the token from him awkwardly as they ran, nearly tripping in the doing.
“There it is!” Jes shouted, pushing up ahead of everyone else. Sam could feel her using her own Essence to power herself.
Panting, Sam could only thank whatever grace there was left in the universe that it seemed like they’d outrun the “pets” as they’d been called.
If they killed Horatio, or others like him, than they’re more formidable than I am. They’d probably destroy my soul even as it rested in the Shell.
This is not worth it. Not worth it at all.
But then again, I don’t think Reixhitz had any idea it was this bad here in the higher planes. He knew less than I did.
“No time,” Aster growled sliding to a stop next to Jes. She held her hands up and her eyes began to glow an electric blue color.
Bolts of lightning leapt out of her hands and began to reach out across the air toward the clouds in the distance.
The amount of power she was putting out to do such a thing would be enormous.
“Have I mentioned I love the modern world,” Aster said as Sam pas
sed her and then collapsed to his hands and knees. “More power than I’ve ever had in my life!”
Aster jerked a hand to the side as soon as the bolt hit the cloud.
There was an inhuman screech and the blackness exploded. Black bits tore away from the cloud and began raining down on the land below it.
Then those same bits reformed into something else, reared up, and started sprinting for their location across the ground.
“Oh fuck,” Aster exclaimed, abruptly cutting off her light show. “We can’t fight this. At all. Jes?”
“I’m trying to— oh, whatever,” declared the Succubus.
Her hand whipped downward and the token Reixhitz had given them smashed into the ground.
Instantly, a gray portal opened up that led into what looked like absolute nothingness.
Damn. We’re going to limbo, aren’t we?
“Everyone in!” shouted Decima, standing next to the portal. As each person ran by her she counted out loud.
“Six!” she shouted as Sam crawled through the portal. He wasn’t empty of Essence thankfully, but he was mentally exhausted and had used up at least half of his tank.
People kept coming through the portal until finally Decima went through.
“Everyone’s here, now how do we shut this? Cause those things are still coming,” Decima said, her voice tight.
“I got it,” Irene said stepping up to the portal. Passing one hand through the side of the spell work, she snapped the whole thing in half.
With a thunderous explosion, the portal collapsed on itself and billowed out an ungodly amount of power in every direction.
Sam promptly passed out from the force of it.
Nine - Limbo -
Sam let out a soft groan.
Everything hurt. From the top of his head to the tips of his toes, everything had a strange pulsating ache.
Forcing his eyes open, Sam found he was staring into the eternal and ephemeral gray that was the Void.
Sam braced himself with his hands as he slowly sat up.
Looking around, he found he was surrounded by his compatriots. They were all unconscious or unmoving.
Or both.
Except for the Cambion.
Wren was kneeling in place, her rifle pressed up to her shoulder. Her head was on a swivel as she scanned their surroundings.