Sunday, March 21, 2010
Grim felt the yank of a teleport that almost tore apart his stomach, and his next moment of awareness was that he was in the middle of a square, with a fountain nearby. People stopped and almost ran away from them.
Grim also jerked back. "Nice, Shadow, real nice. Next time drop us off in the middle of the god damn street, why don't you."
Shadow said nothing. Grim shook his head and looked around in the bright sunshine. At least Shadow appeared as a human here - Grim didn't want to imagine him appearing as his normal "demon" spirit guise. Lue looked green, even with his glamour.
"We need to find a place with a map of the city," Grim said.
"There is a convenience store over there. Let's check."
Lue led them across the street to a small store. "Wait right here."
Grim felt self-conscious, being the only American in the area. Shadow shimmered in the sunlight. Lue came out, bearing a brochure. "Here is a map of downtown."
Grim nodded, and opened up the map. He closed his eyes and centered, and let his hand drift across the paper. It drifted up, and off the paper. "It's not downtown."
Lue frowned. "That was the only map they had. Maybe if we move closer to the airport, they will have better maps."
"The airport is that way," Grim said, pointing on the map and looking in the distance. Then the square disappeared, and he found himself close to a dumpster behind a building.
"GODDAMIT, SHADOW, WARN US NEXT TIME!"
"Sorry," Shadow said. Lue also looked shaky - he had landed in a puddle of water. At least Grim hoped it was water. Grim waited for Lue to regain his composure, and then they all walked around the building. They found themselves facing a very busy but clean street, close enough to the airport to see planes flying in. They were right behind another convenience store. Lue went in, and the two men hung outside. In moments, Lue returned smiling with a booklet. "A street map of Bangkok and its surrounding areas."
"Great." There was a bench nearby, so the three men went to it. Grim hovered his hand over the book, turned pages. Then, he pointed at a spot. "Here."
He fell off the bench, to land onto concrete. Lue stumbled, because he was leaning on the back of the bench. "Jesus FUCKING Christ, Shadow!"
"Sorry," he said again. Grim got up, dusting his butt off. Grim looked up a fire escape. "It's right up there."
"So do we just go in and ask for it?" Lue said.
"What're you kidding?"
Lue grinned. Grim flew up, while Lue leaped up to the second floor fire escape. It led into a bedroom, but no one was in it. Grim peered inside, and saw the spear resting nonchalantly against the wall near the bedroom door. He drew a rune to open the window, and Lue and Grim slipped inside. Shadow hovered outside. Grim could hear voices in the room beyond. They crept across the room and just as Grim reached the spear, the door opened.
A woman looked directly at him, speechless. He grabbed the spear, smiled and said, "Hi."
She started screaming.
"Shadow, teleport out now!"
Grim ran back to the window as a man appeared behind the woman. The man shoved the woman aside and went at Grim and the spear. He tackled Grim onto the bed, and Lue jumped onto him, a spike erupting from his hand to pierce the man. The woman screamed again, and the man was yelling something to her.
"Shadow, teleport dammit!"
"Not with him!" Lue said, trying to pull the man off Grim. But then Grim felt pain as he fell face first onto grass.
Without the spear.
Grim also jerked back. "Nice, Shadow, real nice. Next time drop us off in the middle of the god damn street, why don't you."
Shadow said nothing. Grim shook his head and looked around in the bright sunshine. At least Shadow appeared as a human here - Grim didn't want to imagine him appearing as his normal "demon" spirit guise. Lue looked green, even with his glamour.
"We need to find a place with a map of the city," Grim said.
"There is a convenience store over there. Let's check."
Lue led them across the street to a small store. "Wait right here."
Grim felt self-conscious, being the only American in the area. Shadow shimmered in the sunlight. Lue came out, bearing a brochure. "Here is a map of downtown."
Grim nodded, and opened up the map. He closed his eyes and centered, and let his hand drift across the paper. It drifted up, and off the paper. "It's not downtown."
Lue frowned. "That was the only map they had. Maybe if we move closer to the airport, they will have better maps."
"The airport is that way," Grim said, pointing on the map and looking in the distance. Then the square disappeared, and he found himself close to a dumpster behind a building.
"GODDAMIT, SHADOW, WARN US NEXT TIME!"
"Sorry," Shadow said. Lue also looked shaky - he had landed in a puddle of water. At least Grim hoped it was water. Grim waited for Lue to regain his composure, and then they all walked around the building. They found themselves facing a very busy but clean street, close enough to the airport to see planes flying in. They were right behind another convenience store. Lue went in, and the two men hung outside. In moments, Lue returned smiling with a booklet. "A street map of Bangkok and its surrounding areas."
"Great." There was a bench nearby, so the three men went to it. Grim hovered his hand over the book, turned pages. Then, he pointed at a spot. "Here."
He fell off the bench, to land onto concrete. Lue stumbled, because he was leaning on the back of the bench. "Jesus FUCKING Christ, Shadow!"
"Sorry," he said again. Grim got up, dusting his butt off. Grim looked up a fire escape. "It's right up there."
"So do we just go in and ask for it?" Lue said.
"What're you kidding?"
Lue grinned. Grim flew up, while Lue leaped up to the second floor fire escape. It led into a bedroom, but no one was in it. Grim peered inside, and saw the spear resting nonchalantly against the wall near the bedroom door. He drew a rune to open the window, and Lue and Grim slipped inside. Shadow hovered outside. Grim could hear voices in the room beyond. They crept across the room and just as Grim reached the spear, the door opened.
A woman looked directly at him, speechless. He grabbed the spear, smiled and said, "Hi."
She started screaming.
"Shadow, teleport out now!"
Grim ran back to the window as a man appeared behind the woman. The man shoved the woman aside and went at Grim and the spear. He tackled Grim onto the bed, and Lue jumped onto him, a spike erupting from his hand to pierce the man. The woman screamed again, and the man was yelling something to her.
"Shadow, teleport dammit!"
"Not with him!" Lue said, trying to pull the man off Grim. But then Grim felt pain as he fell face first onto grass.
Without the spear.
Grim awoke, moaned and moved, and the map lying on his chest slipped to the floor. He didn’t have to fall that much further, as he was still on the floor in the center of the magic room.
Maps were spread out everywhere, maps of cities of the world that he was able to scrounge in the library. Some were dated back to pre-Vietnam and still had the markings for East Germany. He looked at the world map that had fallen off his chest. It had three circles marked on the world map, and they were so far away from each other. He had at least found the spear – in Thailand. The arrow was in China, and he had found the Helm in Brazil just moments before passing out.
“I could use a coffee,” he moaned.
“I heard that,” said a voice, and Grim looked over to the door and saw Jack there with a tray in his hands. “You look like you need some.”
“Your coffee?” Grim gave him a look of mock horror. “Gimme.”
Jack chuckled and Grim got up, meeting Jack half way. “What’re you doing down here?” He took the milk and sugar and made it to his liking.
“Raina wanted breakfast.”
“Got anything left?”
He gave him a look. “This is Raina we’re talking about.”
Grim chuckled, “Ha, yeah, right.” He sipped the coffee. “Leaving soon?”
“Yeah, really soon.”
Grim nodded. “As soon as I find the shield, I’ll be off, too.”
“Alone?”
“I’ll be fine.” He looked at Jack. “I wouldn’t ask the team to get involved in my issues.”
“Mike, we’d help you, you know we would.”
Grim shook his head. “I don’t want to pull a LeBeau, you know?”
Jack tilted his head and regarded him. “This is different.”
“Yeah, these are gods, which makes it even worse.” He drank the coffee. “I know Raina is like, ‘Gods, pfft’ but I have a lot of respect for them. They do things for me, and I don’t want to see them angry at me. Besides, I work for one.”
Jack sighed. “Remember that there’s people who would help you. Pyre, Mareo, Mark and Petite, and even probably LeBeau and his motley crew.”
Grim suddenly went pale, and handed the coffee back to Jack. “Thanks for that, I need to get back to work.”
“What’s wrong?”
“On Judgment Day, Gabriel came over and quoted the Bible to me, Luke 17:3. ‘So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him.’ “
Jack said nothing, and Grim turned to the circle. “Hope you guys like roller coaster rides, because between them and me, this is going to be a doosy.”
“Mike, it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Grim walked down to the circle. “We’ll see. Thanks, Jack. I’ll let you know when I leave.”
Jack watched Grim sit down and then turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Maps were spread out everywhere, maps of cities of the world that he was able to scrounge in the library. Some were dated back to pre-Vietnam and still had the markings for East Germany. He looked at the world map that had fallen off his chest. It had three circles marked on the world map, and they were so far away from each other. He had at least found the spear – in Thailand. The arrow was in China, and he had found the Helm in Brazil just moments before passing out.
“I could use a coffee,” he moaned.
“I heard that,” said a voice, and Grim looked over to the door and saw Jack there with a tray in his hands. “You look like you need some.”
“Your coffee?” Grim gave him a look of mock horror. “Gimme.”
Jack chuckled and Grim got up, meeting Jack half way. “What’re you doing down here?” He took the milk and sugar and made it to his liking.
“Raina wanted breakfast.”
“Got anything left?”
He gave him a look. “This is Raina we’re talking about.”
Grim chuckled, “Ha, yeah, right.” He sipped the coffee. “Leaving soon?”
“Yeah, really soon.”
Grim nodded. “As soon as I find the shield, I’ll be off, too.”
“Alone?”
“I’ll be fine.” He looked at Jack. “I wouldn’t ask the team to get involved in my issues.”
“Mike, we’d help you, you know we would.”
Grim shook his head. “I don’t want to pull a LeBeau, you know?”
Jack tilted his head and regarded him. “This is different.”
“Yeah, these are gods, which makes it even worse.” He drank the coffee. “I know Raina is like, ‘Gods, pfft’ but I have a lot of respect for them. They do things for me, and I don’t want to see them angry at me. Besides, I work for one.”
Jack sighed. “Remember that there’s people who would help you. Pyre, Mareo, Mark and Petite, and even probably LeBeau and his motley crew.”
Grim suddenly went pale, and handed the coffee back to Jack. “Thanks for that, I need to get back to work.”
“What’s wrong?”
“On Judgment Day, Gabriel came over and quoted the Bible to me, Luke 17:3. ‘So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him.’ “
Jack said nothing, and Grim turned to the circle. “Hope you guys like roller coaster rides, because between them and me, this is going to be a doosy.”
“Mike, it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Grim walked down to the circle. “We’ll see. Thanks, Jack. I’ll let you know when I leave.”
Jack watched Grim sit down and then turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Gods never sleep, but they get distracted.
Ares picked up his spear and wondered who he would use in Fallujah to do his dirty work. It had been a while since he’d smelled burning flesh, so he thought a car bomb would be perfect for this. He shifted his form into that of a typical Iraqi soldier, gun at the ready. He walked over to a young man, a freedom fighter, and put it into his head that maybe that car right over there would be ripe for a car bomb.
The young man thought it was a great idea, and went to his leader and got the parts for the bomb. When he returned an hour later, the car and the soldier were still there. He broke in easily, tossing the C-4 in the passenger seat. Then the young man got into the car and drove away.
Ares smiled, and followed. As he was stopped in traffic, Ares thought this would be a great place to have the bomb go off. He raised his spear, aiming it at the passenger side door. He threw it, knowing it would easily pierce the metal and hit the C-4 inside.
The spear hit the door and exploded like glass.
Ares stared at what had happened. The young man broke free from traffic and continued on his way. He was heading to the Green Zone, but that didn’t put him in a better frame of mind. Still as an Iraqi soldier, he walked into the middle of the street, getting honked at by horns but being driven around, and looked to see if there was anything left of his spear. Bits glittered on the street, bits of magic.
Mortal magic.
Athena grabbed her spear and shield and laughed at her companion, Nike. “I would spar with you again.”
“You could spar with Eris.”
“She cheats.”
Nike also laughed, holding her own spear and shield loosely, and they went to the sparring area of Olympus.
“What about Herakles? He’s always good to watch.”
“You want to see him in the lion’s pelt.”
“That too.”
Athena took a simple battle position. “Have at me!”
Nike looked side to side, and thrust once with the spear. Athena moved to block it with her shield.
The shield shattered like glass, and the spear went through it, hitting her armor and deflecting off it.
“What…?” Athena stared at the floating bits of light that settled down on the floor of the sparring grounds. Nike put her hand to her mouth in shock. Athena’s brow furrowed in anger, and Nike knew better than to stay in the same area.
Athena stormed to her father, where she saw Artemis also there with Hecate. Athena bowed to Zeus and nodded to her half-sister.
“What are you missing?” Zeus asked Athena.
“My shield, my lord father.”
“There can, of course, be only one who could do this.”
Artemis and Athena said at the same time, “Hermes.”
Zeus sighed. “It seems, fair Athena, that Hecate has noted who created these imitations.”
Hecate nodded. “His magical name is Grimaulkin. He’s a mortal magician. A very good one.”
“Where is Hermes?” asked Athena.
Zeus gave her a look. “Where do you think? Hiding.”
Athena looked exasperated. Artemis glanced at her. “We know who made them—“
Ares thundered into the room. “He will find them.”
Athena looked at him. “How?”
“Because I told him to.” Ares glowered. “I took away my blessings from his beloved. He’ll do anything for him.”
Athena said, “Why did you do that?”
“Because I can’t do anything to him, he’s protected by a seraphim.”
“So you’re taking it out on your champion. Brilliant as always, Ares.”
“I want my spear back.”
“Holding a man hostage won’t bring it back any faster!”
“Cease,” said Zeus, his voice rumbling. “This Grimaulkin is a servant of Hades. His fate is already sealed and you are not going to cut it short, Ares.”
He raised his head defiantly. “I can do what I want to my champions, though.”
Athena turned away, muttering. “The horse bites you so you kick the dog,” Hecate said, shaking her head at Ares.
“Hermes can disappear for years,” Athena said.
“Then we must use the mortal.” Zeus looked to Athena. “You will go to Grimaulkin and assist him. Give him your blessings until this is over.”
“I will help too,” Hecate said, stepping forward. “He’s a mage.”
“He has magical help,” said Zeus. “He has many friends who can help him with that.”
Athena asked, “What is missing?”
“Some of Artemis’ arrows, your shield, Ares’ spear, and my brother Hades’ helm.”
Athena nodded. “I will give him wisdom and foresight.”
“He will see his own future, Athena.”
“Yes, my lord father.”
“Go and mend the rift Ares caused.” Zeus looked at Ares who, at first stood defiant, then backed down slowly.
Hecate stepped forward. “Wait, Bright-Eyes, I will walk with you and tell you about him.”
Athena went to go put on her armor, and listened to Hecate tell of Hades' newest servant.
Ares picked up his spear and wondered who he would use in Fallujah to do his dirty work. It had been a while since he’d smelled burning flesh, so he thought a car bomb would be perfect for this. He shifted his form into that of a typical Iraqi soldier, gun at the ready. He walked over to a young man, a freedom fighter, and put it into his head that maybe that car right over there would be ripe for a car bomb.
The young man thought it was a great idea, and went to his leader and got the parts for the bomb. When he returned an hour later, the car and the soldier were still there. He broke in easily, tossing the C-4 in the passenger seat. Then the young man got into the car and drove away.
Ares smiled, and followed. As he was stopped in traffic, Ares thought this would be a great place to have the bomb go off. He raised his spear, aiming it at the passenger side door. He threw it, knowing it would easily pierce the metal and hit the C-4 inside.
The spear hit the door and exploded like glass.
Ares stared at what had happened. The young man broke free from traffic and continued on his way. He was heading to the Green Zone, but that didn’t put him in a better frame of mind. Still as an Iraqi soldier, he walked into the middle of the street, getting honked at by horns but being driven around, and looked to see if there was anything left of his spear. Bits glittered on the street, bits of magic.
Mortal magic.
Athena grabbed her spear and shield and laughed at her companion, Nike. “I would spar with you again.”
“You could spar with Eris.”
“She cheats.”
Nike also laughed, holding her own spear and shield loosely, and they went to the sparring area of Olympus.
“What about Herakles? He’s always good to watch.”
“You want to see him in the lion’s pelt.”
“That too.”
Athena took a simple battle position. “Have at me!”
Nike looked side to side, and thrust once with the spear. Athena moved to block it with her shield.
The shield shattered like glass, and the spear went through it, hitting her armor and deflecting off it.
“What…?” Athena stared at the floating bits of light that settled down on the floor of the sparring grounds. Nike put her hand to her mouth in shock. Athena’s brow furrowed in anger, and Nike knew better than to stay in the same area.
Athena stormed to her father, where she saw Artemis also there with Hecate. Athena bowed to Zeus and nodded to her half-sister.
“What are you missing?” Zeus asked Athena.
“My shield, my lord father.”
“There can, of course, be only one who could do this.”
Artemis and Athena said at the same time, “Hermes.”
Zeus sighed. “It seems, fair Athena, that Hecate has noted who created these imitations.”
Hecate nodded. “His magical name is Grimaulkin. He’s a mortal magician. A very good one.”
“Where is Hermes?” asked Athena.
Zeus gave her a look. “Where do you think? Hiding.”
Athena looked exasperated. Artemis glanced at her. “We know who made them—“
Ares thundered into the room. “He will find them.”
Athena looked at him. “How?”
“Because I told him to.” Ares glowered. “I took away my blessings from his beloved. He’ll do anything for him.”
Athena said, “Why did you do that?”
“Because I can’t do anything to him, he’s protected by a seraphim.”
“So you’re taking it out on your champion. Brilliant as always, Ares.”
“I want my spear back.”
“Holding a man hostage won’t bring it back any faster!”
“Cease,” said Zeus, his voice rumbling. “This Grimaulkin is a servant of Hades. His fate is already sealed and you are not going to cut it short, Ares.”
He raised his head defiantly. “I can do what I want to my champions, though.”
Athena turned away, muttering. “The horse bites you so you kick the dog,” Hecate said, shaking her head at Ares.
“Hermes can disappear for years,” Athena said.
“Then we must use the mortal.” Zeus looked to Athena. “You will go to Grimaulkin and assist him. Give him your blessings until this is over.”
“I will help too,” Hecate said, stepping forward. “He’s a mage.”
“He has magical help,” said Zeus. “He has many friends who can help him with that.”
Athena asked, “What is missing?”
“Some of Artemis’ arrows, your shield, Ares’ spear, and my brother Hades’ helm.”
Athena nodded. “I will give him wisdom and foresight.”
“He will see his own future, Athena.”
“Yes, my lord father.”
“Go and mend the rift Ares caused.” Zeus looked at Ares who, at first stood defiant, then backed down slowly.
Hecate stepped forward. “Wait, Bright-Eyes, I will walk with you and tell you about him.”
Athena went to go put on her armor, and listened to Hecate tell of Hades' newest servant.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Grim got hit over the head with the wooden sword again.
Kalius waited for Grim to get back into position. Grim shook his head to clear it. “There must be a spell to learn sword fighting.”
"There would be no fun in that." Kalius grinned.
“You like to kick my ass, and you know it."
Kalius merely chuckled and turned from him to toss a water bottle to him. Grim was able to catch it easily. He set down the sickle, which changed into its usual silver dagger. “How can anybody fight with this thing?”
“It’s not meant for fighting, Grim. It’s meant for harvesting.”
“Well, I should learn how to use it as a weapon.”
“Speaking of weapons…” came a voice from the door.
Grim and Kalius turned in unison to regard the blond man at the door. Dressed in a simple white tunica, Grim knew exactly who he was. He took one step, and was inside the ring with them. He smiled at Kalius, “Greetings, Ares’ Bulldog.”
Kalius glowered, and his armor appeared, along with the sword, which he held at the ready.
“Easy, Rover,” the blond man said. “All you Ares types, temper, temper.”
Grim reached out instinctively to guide Hermes away and put a hand on his arm. The feeling Grim suddenly got was beyond anything he’d ever dreamed – he knew how to pick locks. He felt he could run like a gazelle. He knew the ways to Olympus and Hades, how to unlock the gates, the paths through the dreamscape, and the utterances of command. He felt suddenly lucky and with a sense of wanderlust and thought he could change shapes – all at once.
Hermes slowly disengaged Grim, and almost everything he had felt slipped his mind, except the paths to Olympus and Hades, through dreams and travel. Grim stared up at Hermes, not realizing he had fallen flat on the floor and Kalius was kneeling over him. Grim looked at Kalius, blinking, and said, “It was a message.”
“What was a message?”
"Ares cares for his warriors.”
“What?” Kalius sat back.
Hermes folded his arms over his chest. “I would have let him figure it out.”
Grim blinked, and everything he was going to say fled from his mind. "Nothing, nothing." He shook his head at Kalius.
Kalius looked up at Hermes. “And what do you want?”
“To collect my payment.”
Grim stood up slowly. “You said a couple of months. I'm not done."
“Give me what you have.”
Grim climbed over the fence. "I'll be right back," he said to Kalius.
"I'm going with you." Kalius followed Hermes, keeping a close eye on him. They went into the magic room, and Grim pulled out some items from the endless magical chest put there.
Hermes watched as a quiver of arrows, a spear, a helm, and a shield - all made of bronze. Hermes smiled. "This is good enough," he said, and picked up one of the spears. "Excellent work."
"Yeah, thanks." Grim had tried to keep his signature off of them, knowing that whatever Hermes had planned, it couldn't be good. He hoped that the gods wouldn't know who made these things and wouldn't go hunting him.
Hermes waved his hands and the items disappeared. "Your enemy is in the deepest pits of Hades, as you asked."
"Thank you," Grim said.
Hermes motioned to the dagger at Grim's belt. "You plan on using that as a weapon?"
"I might as well, since I carry it."
"Lord Hades would find that amusing. You have noted my gift?"
He nodded once. Kalius stared at him. "What gift?"
"I know the way to Olympus and Hades," Grim said quietly.
"Heaven and hell, and everywhere between. You are the Mapquest of the universe."
Grim actually started to laugh at the look on Hermes' face, as he had delivered the line in a total deadpan. Hermes smiled, took another step, and disappeared.
Kalius looked at the area the weapons had been. "Something tells me this isn't going to end well."
Kalius waited for Grim to get back into position. Grim shook his head to clear it. “There must be a spell to learn sword fighting.”
"There would be no fun in that." Kalius grinned.
“You like to kick my ass, and you know it."
Kalius merely chuckled and turned from him to toss a water bottle to him. Grim was able to catch it easily. He set down the sickle, which changed into its usual silver dagger. “How can anybody fight with this thing?”
“It’s not meant for fighting, Grim. It’s meant for harvesting.”
“Well, I should learn how to use it as a weapon.”
“Speaking of weapons…” came a voice from the door.
Grim and Kalius turned in unison to regard the blond man at the door. Dressed in a simple white tunica, Grim knew exactly who he was. He took one step, and was inside the ring with them. He smiled at Kalius, “Greetings, Ares’ Bulldog.”
Kalius glowered, and his armor appeared, along with the sword, which he held at the ready.
“Easy, Rover,” the blond man said. “All you Ares types, temper, temper.”
Grim reached out instinctively to guide Hermes away and put a hand on his arm. The feeling Grim suddenly got was beyond anything he’d ever dreamed – he knew how to pick locks. He felt he could run like a gazelle. He knew the ways to Olympus and Hades, how to unlock the gates, the paths through the dreamscape, and the utterances of command. He felt suddenly lucky and with a sense of wanderlust and thought he could change shapes – all at once.
Hermes slowly disengaged Grim, and almost everything he had felt slipped his mind, except the paths to Olympus and Hades, through dreams and travel. Grim stared up at Hermes, not realizing he had fallen flat on the floor and Kalius was kneeling over him. Grim looked at Kalius, blinking, and said, “It was a message.”
“What was a message?”
"Ares cares for his warriors.”
“What?” Kalius sat back.
Hermes folded his arms over his chest. “I would have let him figure it out.”
Grim blinked, and everything he was going to say fled from his mind. "Nothing, nothing." He shook his head at Kalius.
Kalius looked up at Hermes. “And what do you want?”
“To collect my payment.”
Grim stood up slowly. “You said a couple of months. I'm not done."
“Give me what you have.”
Grim climbed over the fence. "I'll be right back," he said to Kalius.
"I'm going with you." Kalius followed Hermes, keeping a close eye on him. They went into the magic room, and Grim pulled out some items from the endless magical chest put there.
Hermes watched as a quiver of arrows, a spear, a helm, and a shield - all made of bronze. Hermes smiled. "This is good enough," he said, and picked up one of the spears. "Excellent work."
"Yeah, thanks." Grim had tried to keep his signature off of them, knowing that whatever Hermes had planned, it couldn't be good. He hoped that the gods wouldn't know who made these things and wouldn't go hunting him.
Hermes waved his hands and the items disappeared. "Your enemy is in the deepest pits of Hades, as you asked."
"Thank you," Grim said.
Hermes motioned to the dagger at Grim's belt. "You plan on using that as a weapon?"
"I might as well, since I carry it."
"Lord Hades would find that amusing. You have noted my gift?"
He nodded once. Kalius stared at him. "What gift?"
"I know the way to Olympus and Hades," Grim said quietly.
"Heaven and hell, and everywhere between. You are the Mapquest of the universe."
Grim actually started to laugh at the look on Hermes' face, as he had delivered the line in a total deadpan. Hermes smiled, took another step, and disappeared.
Kalius looked at the area the weapons had been. "Something tells me this isn't going to end well."
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Dmitrius heard the footfalls as he fed. He had been at this long enough to not be totally enraptured with the Kiss, but to still pay attention to his surroundings. The footfalls were light, a dancer's movement. He licked the wound closed but kept his head bent over the Warrior he claimed. Then he moved like the wind, appearing behind the approaching woman.
She shrieked, as Dmitrius stood still, waiting for her move. She was a wraith of a neonate, so new as to be at least 30 or 40 years dead. She consciously made herself breathe, a waste of thought as far as Dmitrius was concerned. He no longer bothered. He breathed enough to speak.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he demanded.
"You're the Elder who came to Court," she said, turning around to look up at him.
"You didn't answer my question." His hand flashed out and grabbed her by the upper arm, holding her in a tight grip of stone wrapped around flesh.
"They call me Revant. I wanted to see if you were real."
He removed his hand and studied her.
"I'm sorry if I bothered you." She motioned to the prone Warrior. Dmitrius hadn't put the teleporter on him to send him to the Zig.
"Finish him if you wish," he said.
She looked up at him adoringly and ran to the prone body. She finished him quickly, draining him totally dry. Dmitrius kept an eye out, to make sure they weren't disturbed. She got up, wiping her lips, and again looked up at Dmitrius in awe. He wondered fleetingly if her curse was adoration.
"So, I am real. Is that all you require?"
"I stopped Leander from attacking you when you came to Court."
He remembered, the young man who came at him in Elysium. He couldn't tell clans from sight, but he assumed he was Brujah. He couldn't quite tell what clan this woman hailed from, and he thought it was impolite to ask.
"You expect that I should owe you?"
She blushed - a waste of blood, Dmitrius thought. "No, no, I...I don't know what to expect."
He regarded her. "Revant. I am not a rock star, nor am I a powerful god, nor am I here to lay waste to you and yours. I am here because something I care deeply for is here as well, and I won't leave it."
"What is it?"
"If I wanted you to know, I would tell you." He started walking away.
"Wait!"
He turned to see her kneeling. "Please, I want to be your servant."
He made the human motion of sighing. He went back to her and barked, "Get up."
"I'll be Blood Bonded if you want!"
"I don't need or want a servant."
"Please! I'm begging you!"
Dmitrius shook his head and walked away, and then he stopped a short way beyond. If she knew what he was, what would stop...
He shook his head again. No, he won't worry about them, but he would tell Kalius. He didn't think they would travel to ancient Rome looking for him, but one never knew.
She shrieked, as Dmitrius stood still, waiting for her move. She was a wraith of a neonate, so new as to be at least 30 or 40 years dead. She consciously made herself breathe, a waste of thought as far as Dmitrius was concerned. He no longer bothered. He breathed enough to speak.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he demanded.
"You're the Elder who came to Court," she said, turning around to look up at him.
"You didn't answer my question." His hand flashed out and grabbed her by the upper arm, holding her in a tight grip of stone wrapped around flesh.
"They call me Revant. I wanted to see if you were real."
He removed his hand and studied her.
"I'm sorry if I bothered you." She motioned to the prone Warrior. Dmitrius hadn't put the teleporter on him to send him to the Zig.
"Finish him if you wish," he said.
She looked up at him adoringly and ran to the prone body. She finished him quickly, draining him totally dry. Dmitrius kept an eye out, to make sure they weren't disturbed. She got up, wiping her lips, and again looked up at Dmitrius in awe. He wondered fleetingly if her curse was adoration.
"So, I am real. Is that all you require?"
"I stopped Leander from attacking you when you came to Court."
He remembered, the young man who came at him in Elysium. He couldn't tell clans from sight, but he assumed he was Brujah. He couldn't quite tell what clan this woman hailed from, and he thought it was impolite to ask.
"You expect that I should owe you?"
She blushed - a waste of blood, Dmitrius thought. "No, no, I...I don't know what to expect."
He regarded her. "Revant. I am not a rock star, nor am I a powerful god, nor am I here to lay waste to you and yours. I am here because something I care deeply for is here as well, and I won't leave it."
"What is it?"
"If I wanted you to know, I would tell you." He started walking away.
"Wait!"
He turned to see her kneeling. "Please, I want to be your servant."
He made the human motion of sighing. He went back to her and barked, "Get up."
"I'll be Blood Bonded if you want!"
"I don't need or want a servant."
"Please! I'm begging you!"
Dmitrius shook his head and walked away, and then he stopped a short way beyond. If she knew what he was, what would stop...
He shook his head again. No, he won't worry about them, but he would tell Kalius. He didn't think they would travel to ancient Rome looking for him, but one never knew.
Grim locked the door to the magic room, and turned slowly to face the chest. It looked like a simple Circle of Thorns chest, no glowing, buzzing, humming, or strange runes on it. He went over to it and lifted its lid. They didn't even lock it.
Inside were about twenty tear drop shaped glass vials, about a foot long each, of different hues and colors. He thought he could see some of them have items swirling in them, but if he focused on them, they just were a different color. He could see his, a dark navy blue with dark gold swirls. He took it and held it up. Inside was liquid which swished around when he moved the vial back and forth.
They took it out through his ear, and he didn't know if he could - or should - stick it in his ear and pour it back. He went to Pyre's grimoire, and put his hand on a blank page to see what answers it would give. Ingest, imbibe, inject.
Grim looked at the vial. "Well, bottom's up." He put his mouth on the tip and tilted the vial up. The liquid was warm on his tongue, tasting like warm, but slightly thick, water. He drank it all, feeling the warmth go down his throat to his stomach. He waited.
The vial changed color, back to a clear glass, then started cracking. It fell apart in his hand. At the same time, he felt warmth, pleasant and gentle, like a blanket covering his nerves and body, bringing him peace, and strength, and memory. The knowledge of the runes came back immediately, and he laughed at the simplicity of them.
Still filled with that peaceful feeling, he turned again to the chest. He sat down in front of it and pulled out the vials one by one. The ones that he thought had items actually did, like a bird in one, and a flowering rose in another. All had markings in corrupted Theban, that looked like names or parts of names. The symbols were written in different hands, different styles, but the same corrupted language. He guessed that a higher mage had his acolytes do the work - was there someone in that lair that this chest belonged to?
"Oh well," Grim said, and started putting some of them back. He stopped, staring at one, silver with black lines twining through it, and the letters SKL in Theban etched on it. He peered inside it, but couldn't see beyond the silver glass. Grim put the rest back, but kept this one out.
The warmth had faded, but the knowledge, luckily, had not. Mage curiosity got the better of him. "All I need to do is the same thing," he said to himself. To be sure, he went into the magic circle with it and called a protective circle. He sniffed the opening of the vial - it smelled of anise. He could stand that.
He tipped the vial into his mouth and it tasted horrible, like mud and mint, hot pepper and candle wax. He forced it down, all of it, and waited for the warmth to fill him. Again, the glass became clear, and shattered in his hand.
Nothing happened at first. "Well, that--"
I AM SKYLITE!
Grim fell to his knees as his persona slipped away, and he thought for a fleeting moment that he was Skylite, Heroic Mage of Mirrors and Glass, real name Cassandra Dawn, married to the hero Flightpath, with three daughters--
NO. Grim dragged himself back into the forefront of his mind. He didn't realize that he was curled up on the floor, his body contracted in spasms. I am Michael LeBonte, Grimaulkin, I know runes, I'm loved by Stefan--
SKYLITE! Each personae fought for dominance. He saw memories of Skylite, her long (fake) red hair cascading forward as she cast a spell along the glass, drawing images out from them that became solid and real. He saw her memories of her daughters, how she trained them in magic with her husband watching, amused, and the love that they shared...
GRIMAULKIN! Roughly, he shoved her memories and essence aside in his mind. What remained was her spellwork. He took all that in, absorbing it into his own psyche. He coldly and calmly detatched her persona from the spellwork, like taking color out of a picture. Her persona, being slowly dismantled, tried to constantly reform, her voice and essence getting smaller and smaller. Finally, he savagely used runes of destruction upon the persona remaining. It shattered in a million pieces, like the glass he was rolling in.
He came back to himself, breathing hard. He hurt everywhere, inside and out. He waited, unfocusing, not wanting to go traipsing in his mind again. He didn't know how long he lay there, breathing, his eyes closed. The pain subsided until it was a dull ache, and he pulled himself out of the fetal position. He took a deep, deep breath, causing another ache.
He sat up. The barrier of the circle remained, the door to the room still locked. He wanted to lie right back down. He crawled to the edge of the circle and banished it, then lay face-first on the floor. Rest a little more...
Finally he felt like he could move. He got up, and climbed out of the circle in the floor. He stood on shaking legs, and looked for the glass on the floor. It had turned into piles of dust.
Mage of Mirrors and Glass, he thought, and called up the spells in his mind. A warmth filled his chest, power ready to be used. He looked down at his chest, and it glowed with a silvery-grey light. The glow flowed down his arm to his right hand, his projective hand. He uttered a spell, and a small glass orb, the size of a golf ball, formed in his hand. Gold swirlings covered it, constantly shifting.
Gods, he had a headache. He brought the ball to the magical chest and placed it inside it. As soon as he did, though, it turned to dust.
He suffered through the headache, and left the magic room. As he did, he went through the spells, of the things that he could do now. According to Skylite's beliefs, anything glass or a mirror had imprinted on it the images of whatever passed on them or through them. She could view the images in glass or the mirror. She could also create an image in the glass, and pull those out as illusions. This extended to any reflective surface, including water, computer screens, and TV screens. She could also tint the glass darker or lighter at a touch.
However, he lost concentration when he saw Pyre, and saw that she wanted to apologize...
Inside were about twenty tear drop shaped glass vials, about a foot long each, of different hues and colors. He thought he could see some of them have items swirling in them, but if he focused on them, they just were a different color. He could see his, a dark navy blue with dark gold swirls. He took it and held it up. Inside was liquid which swished around when he moved the vial back and forth.
They took it out through his ear, and he didn't know if he could - or should - stick it in his ear and pour it back. He went to Pyre's grimoire, and put his hand on a blank page to see what answers it would give. Ingest, imbibe, inject.
Grim looked at the vial. "Well, bottom's up." He put his mouth on the tip and tilted the vial up. The liquid was warm on his tongue, tasting like warm, but slightly thick, water. He drank it all, feeling the warmth go down his throat to his stomach. He waited.
The vial changed color, back to a clear glass, then started cracking. It fell apart in his hand. At the same time, he felt warmth, pleasant and gentle, like a blanket covering his nerves and body, bringing him peace, and strength, and memory. The knowledge of the runes came back immediately, and he laughed at the simplicity of them.
Still filled with that peaceful feeling, he turned again to the chest. He sat down in front of it and pulled out the vials one by one. The ones that he thought had items actually did, like a bird in one, and a flowering rose in another. All had markings in corrupted Theban, that looked like names or parts of names. The symbols were written in different hands, different styles, but the same corrupted language. He guessed that a higher mage had his acolytes do the work - was there someone in that lair that this chest belonged to?
"Oh well," Grim said, and started putting some of them back. He stopped, staring at one, silver with black lines twining through it, and the letters SKL in Theban etched on it. He peered inside it, but couldn't see beyond the silver glass. Grim put the rest back, but kept this one out.
The warmth had faded, but the knowledge, luckily, had not. Mage curiosity got the better of him. "All I need to do is the same thing," he said to himself. To be sure, he went into the magic circle with it and called a protective circle. He sniffed the opening of the vial - it smelled of anise. He could stand that.
He tipped the vial into his mouth and it tasted horrible, like mud and mint, hot pepper and candle wax. He forced it down, all of it, and waited for the warmth to fill him. Again, the glass became clear, and shattered in his hand.
Nothing happened at first. "Well, that--"
I AM SKYLITE!
Grim fell to his knees as his persona slipped away, and he thought for a fleeting moment that he was Skylite, Heroic Mage of Mirrors and Glass, real name Cassandra Dawn, married to the hero Flightpath, with three daughters--
NO. Grim dragged himself back into the forefront of his mind. He didn't realize that he was curled up on the floor, his body contracted in spasms. I am Michael LeBonte, Grimaulkin, I know runes, I'm loved by Stefan--
SKYLITE! Each personae fought for dominance. He saw memories of Skylite, her long (fake) red hair cascading forward as she cast a spell along the glass, drawing images out from them that became solid and real. He saw her memories of her daughters, how she trained them in magic with her husband watching, amused, and the love that they shared...
GRIMAULKIN! Roughly, he shoved her memories and essence aside in his mind. What remained was her spellwork. He took all that in, absorbing it into his own psyche. He coldly and calmly detatched her persona from the spellwork, like taking color out of a picture. Her persona, being slowly dismantled, tried to constantly reform, her voice and essence getting smaller and smaller. Finally, he savagely used runes of destruction upon the persona remaining. It shattered in a million pieces, like the glass he was rolling in.
He came back to himself, breathing hard. He hurt everywhere, inside and out. He waited, unfocusing, not wanting to go traipsing in his mind again. He didn't know how long he lay there, breathing, his eyes closed. The pain subsided until it was a dull ache, and he pulled himself out of the fetal position. He took a deep, deep breath, causing another ache.
He sat up. The barrier of the circle remained, the door to the room still locked. He wanted to lie right back down. He crawled to the edge of the circle and banished it, then lay face-first on the floor. Rest a little more...
Finally he felt like he could move. He got up, and climbed out of the circle in the floor. He stood on shaking legs, and looked for the glass on the floor. It had turned into piles of dust.
Mage of Mirrors and Glass, he thought, and called up the spells in his mind. A warmth filled his chest, power ready to be used. He looked down at his chest, and it glowed with a silvery-grey light. The glow flowed down his arm to his right hand, his projective hand. He uttered a spell, and a small glass orb, the size of a golf ball, formed in his hand. Gold swirlings covered it, constantly shifting.
Gods, he had a headache. He brought the ball to the magical chest and placed it inside it. As soon as he did, though, it turned to dust.
He suffered through the headache, and left the magic room. As he did, he went through the spells, of the things that he could do now. According to Skylite's beliefs, anything glass or a mirror had imprinted on it the images of whatever passed on them or through them. She could view the images in glass or the mirror. She could also create an image in the glass, and pull those out as illusions. This extended to any reflective surface, including water, computer screens, and TV screens. She could also tint the glass darker or lighter at a touch.
However, he lost concentration when he saw Pyre, and saw that she wanted to apologize...
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Grim knew he was tied up because he tried to bring his hand to his head. And he was cold, so he knew he had been stripped of his armor. Okay, think, think, think...it was you and Pyre, you finished off the mages, and then suddenly you felt totally drained so you sat down for a second, and you closed your eyes for just a second, and now you're...
He opened his eyes. The cave he was in cast and eerie blue light, and he could see things around him. Nothing was in his room. He smelled the heavy Envoy incense in the air, incense that was typically used by the Circle.
"Shit." He tried to move his hands, but they were smart, these Circle, binding his hands so that his index and middle finger were bound together, and the ring and pinky were bound also, so that he couldn't create runes or cast spells behind his back. He thought he heard movement, and saw a thorn acolyte peek over the hole in the floor.
"Hey, what's a guy gotta do to get some coffee around here?"
The acolyte ducked back below. Grim looked around and started singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of his lungs.
He got to the first chorus when he saw the Madness Mage cresting over the entrance way to the room. Following him was a man in red and yellow robes and markings. The Madness Mage immediately sent out an attack, but Grim was ready for it, and flared a rune in his mind to block it.
The Sealer in red looked at Grim casually. "Tell me what you know of the Strategist and the Vessel."
"The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true."
They stared at him, and the Madness Mage tried to force his way through, but Grim gave him some porno for his trouble. The Sealer conjured a ball of flame. "You will tell us."
"What do you want to know?"
"What are his plans?"
"He's thinking of growing a little garden in Atlas Park, way in the northwest corner. He'll have zucchini, lots and lots of zucchini."
The Sealer approached with the flame, holding it very close to Grim's face so that he could feel the heat. Grim refused to flinch from it, and stared steadily into the glowing green eyes. "You will tell us," he said.
"Or you'll set me on fire? Been there, done that. Doesn't hurt anymore."
The Sealer pressed the fire into Grim's shoulder. Burning flesh filled his nostrils, and Grim refused to show any pain, but it hurt like hell. He closed his eyes and swallowed the screams of agony that came to his throat. He involuntarily let out a suppressed cry. The pain traveled along his shoulder to his arm, and then the agony was too much.
"Stop, stop!"
The Sealer kept his hand on Grim's upper arm near the shoulder. "What are his plans?"
"To take over the world!"
"And the vessel's?"
"Her too!"
The Sealer removed his hand, and Grim slumped against his bonds. Raina's blood healed him, albeit slowly, but the pain was still there. The Sealer regarded Grim. "I will be back." He looked at the Madness Mage. "In the meantime, do what you had planned to do, it will make things easier."
The Madness Mage nodded, and grinned at Grim. "Welcome back to the fold, Initiate," he said. Grim watched the Sealer walk away, then slowly turned his gaze on the Mage.
"Ha, fuck you."
The Madness Mage laughed. "Thought you'd say that, but that's okay. We have plans for you."
"Everybody's got plans. Whatever happened to spontaneity?"
The Mage motioned with his hand, and an acolyte appeared with a small box. He opened the box and took out a clear glass thing that looked like an AquaGlobe, a teardrop shaped item that had a long stem. The Mage smiled and set the tip of it against his ear. Grim tried to jerk back but someone else held his head still. The Mage grinned at Grim, and then shoved the tip in further. Grim screamed at the pain, feeling that tip seemingly pierce his brain.
The rune blocking the Madness Mage faded away and disappeared. Grim searched for another one in his mind, grabbed a hold of it, but felt it slip away. He tried to find spells, but caught only pieces before those too slipped away. He searched through the agony, pain-blocking runes, offensive runes, wards, spells, anything...nothing stuck. Then, there was nothing in that part of his memory. Languages, gone. Spells, gone. Runes...gone.
Slowly, the pain in his ear dwindled and he opened his eyes to see the acolyte put the glass teardrop back. It was colored a dark blue, and he could see symbols in brighter colors swimming in the round part of the teardrop. The Mage smiled. "This will be useful." He looked up at Grim. "So, come back to the fold?"
"Hell, no."
The Madness Mage filled his mind with horror, but Grim had seen this stuff before and it did nothing to him. "You can do better than that, can't you?" Grim said mockingly.
The Madness Mage walked away, "Maybe not me, but there's a whole line of us to get to you." He chuckled darkly, and walked down the ramp and out of the room.
Grim cast his head back and started building the stronghold of memories that Jack had taught him.
He opened his eyes. The cave he was in cast and eerie blue light, and he could see things around him. Nothing was in his room. He smelled the heavy Envoy incense in the air, incense that was typically used by the Circle.
"Shit." He tried to move his hands, but they were smart, these Circle, binding his hands so that his index and middle finger were bound together, and the ring and pinky were bound also, so that he couldn't create runes or cast spells behind his back. He thought he heard movement, and saw a thorn acolyte peek over the hole in the floor.
"Hey, what's a guy gotta do to get some coffee around here?"
The acolyte ducked back below. Grim looked around and started singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of his lungs.
He got to the first chorus when he saw the Madness Mage cresting over the entrance way to the room. Following him was a man in red and yellow robes and markings. The Madness Mage immediately sent out an attack, but Grim was ready for it, and flared a rune in his mind to block it.
The Sealer in red looked at Grim casually. "Tell me what you know of the Strategist and the Vessel."
"The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true."
They stared at him, and the Madness Mage tried to force his way through, but Grim gave him some porno for his trouble. The Sealer conjured a ball of flame. "You will tell us."
"What do you want to know?"
"What are his plans?"
"He's thinking of growing a little garden in Atlas Park, way in the northwest corner. He'll have zucchini, lots and lots of zucchini."
The Sealer approached with the flame, holding it very close to Grim's face so that he could feel the heat. Grim refused to flinch from it, and stared steadily into the glowing green eyes. "You will tell us," he said.
"Or you'll set me on fire? Been there, done that. Doesn't hurt anymore."
The Sealer pressed the fire into Grim's shoulder. Burning flesh filled his nostrils, and Grim refused to show any pain, but it hurt like hell. He closed his eyes and swallowed the screams of agony that came to his throat. He involuntarily let out a suppressed cry. The pain traveled along his shoulder to his arm, and then the agony was too much.
"Stop, stop!"
The Sealer kept his hand on Grim's upper arm near the shoulder. "What are his plans?"
"To take over the world!"
"And the vessel's?"
"Her too!"
The Sealer removed his hand, and Grim slumped against his bonds. Raina's blood healed him, albeit slowly, but the pain was still there. The Sealer regarded Grim. "I will be back." He looked at the Madness Mage. "In the meantime, do what you had planned to do, it will make things easier."
The Madness Mage nodded, and grinned at Grim. "Welcome back to the fold, Initiate," he said. Grim watched the Sealer walk away, then slowly turned his gaze on the Mage.
"Ha, fuck you."
The Madness Mage laughed. "Thought you'd say that, but that's okay. We have plans for you."
"Everybody's got plans. Whatever happened to spontaneity?"
The Mage motioned with his hand, and an acolyte appeared with a small box. He opened the box and took out a clear glass thing that looked like an AquaGlobe, a teardrop shaped item that had a long stem. The Mage smiled and set the tip of it against his ear. Grim tried to jerk back but someone else held his head still. The Mage grinned at Grim, and then shoved the tip in further. Grim screamed at the pain, feeling that tip seemingly pierce his brain.
The rune blocking the Madness Mage faded away and disappeared. Grim searched for another one in his mind, grabbed a hold of it, but felt it slip away. He tried to find spells, but caught only pieces before those too slipped away. He searched through the agony, pain-blocking runes, offensive runes, wards, spells, anything...nothing stuck. Then, there was nothing in that part of his memory. Languages, gone. Spells, gone. Runes...gone.
Slowly, the pain in his ear dwindled and he opened his eyes to see the acolyte put the glass teardrop back. It was colored a dark blue, and he could see symbols in brighter colors swimming in the round part of the teardrop. The Mage smiled. "This will be useful." He looked up at Grim. "So, come back to the fold?"
"Hell, no."
The Madness Mage filled his mind with horror, but Grim had seen this stuff before and it did nothing to him. "You can do better than that, can't you?" Grim said mockingly.
The Madness Mage walked away, "Maybe not me, but there's a whole line of us to get to you." He chuckled darkly, and walked down the ramp and out of the room.
Grim cast his head back and started building the stronghold of memories that Jack had taught him.