192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Crkhab9P
-When I was young I never understood why we hid from them, from mortals. Even the weakest warlock or witch had enough power to summon a storm that could destroy a whole city, we could defy death, our lifespan was of centuries if not more, we were all powerful, beautiful and to the mortal eternal.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KZTT7HaCb
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWFuz29yxx
Myself and many others back then though that we were at the very least better if not wholly superior to the mortals. A not to small number of our generation openly considered them to be an inferior race that we should rule over, as a master rules a slave.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQq7Rpq8qF
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqn9ZKJZzM
Then came that terrifying night in the Forests of Calliope.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ35QUnR5vQ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYrqUJ526l
There and then I knew why we feared mortals.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWdP6JuT8U
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTjulivfQG
- Arch Bishop Philippe 'The Wise' of the Church of Hecate.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm8jz47D8V
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXdsdOPmYa
Taken from the Documentary 'The Anarchy and the Peace.'192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheRB5IE7lG
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsZTTXSLHR
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfDijlDB66
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyeaX1tuNh
Book 1-Ch 3-Nevermore beyond my pane192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKVeEbDPWO
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp5CFEy3MI
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZtdsOaLUX
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeU1u1at2U
He heard it, smelled it, felt the rotten feeling that warned of its danger before he actually saw the wall of Blue flames.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs2Y0zHeHf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsEv4abOPM
Ross did not have a deep knowledge of physics or chemistry but he knew that the more blue-ish a flame was the hotter it burned, this seemed to be Hellfire itself, this was fire so powerful that it felt like it could burn Ross's very soul.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WOzwTqsv2
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeYDRHAB3i
But no matter the universe A is still A.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5GpwAVwzA
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB9CQVuuHM
And fire is still fire.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygEmhNlU6g
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxbwh4RwID
And the blue flames was still fire and any fire needs oxygen, so when Ross pulled out a canister filled with Co2 the flames diminished enough for Ross to jump pass the wall of Hellfire.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu9KZ4r5ps
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8HXWeJmqJ
Then came the beasts of the forest, more savage versions of wolves and bears, built to hunt across realms and nightmares, built to track their prey to the worlds on the other side of the mirror.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvYWnXDh1B
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwCrZ9TzU1
Creatures that even those with magic, light or dark, would fear.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYVpP103Ix
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Yejf4DiB
But they are still beasts, so Ross pulls out a bag of dog treats throws at them and the dire wolves and fell bats all swarm around it, this is not the first time Ross had brought food with him in the forest.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvZGErl1qW
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPcqeiYnMV
After the demonic hound affair he always came prepared and had to use his treats a few times to escape the demonic animals in the forest, and these ones where laced with sedatives.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIeqWqcOsY
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3vG8Yr9bK
Ross was not innocent, but he drew the line at killing animal needlessly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MJAK4A2qU
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzYJZVQRUo
Then came the fell bats, their screeches on the wind and shapes that flew in an out of the little light that Ross had on his person to see through the darkens surrounded him, forming a twister of fang and claw, wing and teeth.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJDgFCF980
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0AVFRZjk9
These where the locust of the Demon Realm, a wave of devouring mouth that could swallow all flesh that they swept over.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9gVnZ0Wzz
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLjYitinMi
But they were still bats, still animals, and they had sensitive noses and ears.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoU2oyK8iW
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXLkm6Udlc
So Ross took out a canister that was filled with a substance that had one of the most foulest stenches known to man.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ25Jhgwu1
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoAl8Y4iIS
The twister of flying dark creatures immediately increased the distance between itself and the scarred mortal.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb5mCxOLOQ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMGbAqeWzK
Then came the subsonic flute that was connected to a small hand cranked pump, with that it was too much for the ears and noses of the fell bats as they flew away.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtQ24CoSvZ
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylVQ7hzuZL
Ross fell to his knees there and then as the terror momentarily overwhelmed him to such a degree that he had to stop and recover, this temporary pause in the horrors ahead gave him the necessary time to recover.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNdoDBOvi6
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyNKs3RZE5
Temptation whispered in his ear there and then. Temptation to give up, go back.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgmnNRPpY
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxZLzC9ftE
Ross looked back to the path he had walked upon and he knew that all that was behind him was darkness and beasts, in front of him lie the unknown that send shivers down his spine.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7QCsKPoiO
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiYorcezrR
So he continued on, despite every muscle in his body, every brain cell in his head, every fragment of his soul shouted for him to go back as the whispers continued to say the same.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GM36eFEYD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8gIsZyzN0
"I'm not stupid enough to listen to the reasoning of a crazy man, especially my own." Ross said to himself as he treated forward.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIL0z9QI8Q
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZndaYUd5L
His feet like they weighted a ton, his lungs like concrete, his vision blurry as his body reacted trying to protect him.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq3NEd1Ka0
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pyUqLe8dC
Yet still Ross trudged on, this was the crazy things about mortals. They would march forward in the darkness, and why? Why did they marched into what seemed to be the Belly of the Beast?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa3UwOolfq
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRSOWrmvDd
They did it because it was the unknown, where untold horrors lay, but also wonders.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdXkmV3tgH
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiVKsHq05e
It could be the biggest mistake of his life, but also the best decision he ever made.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhupv42xC7
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uk6smeDcs
And as long as that small threat of hope remained. That single weak ember of a better tomorrow burned, then that ember could light a fire and even the weakest fire could banish the dark.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmZqNI8E0v
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6UqsWYGyP
Some say you'd have to be mad to live like that. Fortunately Ross was.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw3XWrn5ZA
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk3wE6Y9qF
So he took his heart in his teeth and marched forward.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoksjqz1Ah4
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mVc3AC3dD
So he marched forward, with each step his feet became lighter, his lungs softer, his vision cleared.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHR6ZHktwV
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj02xJcytD
He conquered his fear and used it to fuel his resolve.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzArVy0xw9p
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9O0rZ9mfi
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8oR3IZN1L
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFXWoOAPtt
Ross walked past the beasts and now before him stood a golem made of earth and rock, with a skin so thick that no blade or bullet could pierce it.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlDzeb8Og2
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyxxiyy1gB
Yet unlike the curse of before, or looking at the deep dark woods, or the hellfire and beast that he faced, it's not fear that grips him192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwFG1dMqkv
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjBd0qM5rB
"Turn back now or suffer my wr-" The Golems words where cut of as Ross, used not a blade or bullet, but threw a small bag of salt into the Golem's opened mouth.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdsZ8WaTlD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIlFlkF9F6
The Golem collapsed to its feet as Ros moved to run past the now coughing construction of rock, soil and magic, but a great caught his leg and hoisted Ross upside down.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcqUVh4HTN
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWIFVg4By5
The Golem growled at him, but like before when it wasted time with words or deeds it was struck by Ross's quick counter.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm05viSZ3rC
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1lOzIH7C2
This time Ross threw the bell from his belt right at the Golem's face.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSkIIu2AOf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF623nzjP5j
BANG.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuzWxBZfHD
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAeUya4UnW
The golem let go of Ross as it cradle it's head both from the force of the blow but also from the bell's holy sound.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0FSDkVDmv
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7ZoRmUdWc
Ross fell to the ground and quickly grabbed the bell and attached to it a rope that he had for climbing and then swung the bell around and over his head once to gain momentum before striking the Golem once more with the bell.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZUc3W2XSV
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zXkgNStmH
BANG192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSlqxnWcyc
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu2m8X3eRZ
The Golem now shielded it's face and crouched down against Ross who was half the Golem's size, yet was now Ross was the one on the offensive.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqXxc5sFv5
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPTkf3AZjv
BANG192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh0Lz1uNDK
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglmq477YOo
Another blow from the whip like weapon as this time Ross aimed at the Golem's right leg, making the creatures topple down, then Ross struck again.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO8TQbOsrN
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qpi9OEdq6
BANG192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQtkibfAU8
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTyRqLir3e
The Golem disintegrated into a flash of energy as Ross took a breather to regain his strength and vigor. His leg ached like it had been a slightly stronger squeeze away from being broken, Ross was certain it would swell like crazy and be as purple as an eggplant tomorrow.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAqDKvxIlP
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FuR6SM4sP
Only the painkillers he took in advance before entering the woods helped. For not he managed to avoid using the stronger ones like opioids and he hoped that the worse was behind.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX0dqkTLSX
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeVN6QkXMK
A man can dream can't he?192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaqZnrVeBT
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmmlCQRSNb
"Needs something sturdier, perhaps a chain and something on the handle if they get into close range." Ross said out loud as he studied the whip like bell tipped weapon and it's surprising effectiveness.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLlVRzNxkr
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduPyyLf8b6
When the flash dissipated in the Golem's place was a great red orb, one that Ross looked at in disbelief.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaVGB6ATRf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjGbSBOwmr
"Well now, here's hoping that brute strength is the answer here." Ross said as he instinctly whipped the red orb, smashing it.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWPP3x8bFW
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUnCK9qzOs
Immediately in front of him a curtain of energy flashed and reformed itself like the image of waves crashing into white foam on a beach.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvx0hRNK5K
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdjNlzz88h
It seemed like the forest, reality itself, was distorted in front of him as an illusion was broken.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePidDVZvlY
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3O3ZmWCUA
And in front of him was Hexen surrounded by other witches and warlocks and standing over a bound and gagged woman, with a knife at her throat.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoMoJkzFc4
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8cheyAb6L
There, Ross's closest friend, a flawed yet kind and caring person who had come to his aide many times before despite danger, stood over another ready to kill her in cold blood.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7StTNYrd6
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWXvWGbZHc
Yes, truly an illusion had been broken tonight.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaew0iWVfv
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYy8wPXsM4
Ross froze at that, he was tired, scared, lost in the woods, exhausted and from the brief touch of the Golem his leg was close to making him limp, only the shock of the sight before him was what made his brain ignore all of that and focus on the image of Hexen.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRiBDJ2Zp1
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWGJ2UQhtj
Kind Hexen, sweet Hexen, always there for him Hexen, who called him so many wonderful things and made him laugh so often, brave and noble Hexen who always rushed to protect him when this mortal was in mortal danger.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe4QemWSum
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1ZE2JVlNC
That Hexen was a step away from committing a murder most foul.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZQPEVzhR1
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNBIVN3RQr
"Ross, there's something I have to tell you. I'm a witch." Hexen said awkwardly and gave a smile belonged on the cat that caught the canary. Which in Hexen's case was the poor struggling girl at her feet that was the same age as Hexen.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vEjKLCeU0
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ0hyVCGV2
Ross still speechless then and there realized why the Myr had affected Hexen for that Hexen was not just a witch, but a dark witch.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSOMr2qOEf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCglbWrvOyh
A very, very dark witch. Dark enough to be affected by the Myr like full blown demons and Ross had just interrupted a human sacrifice.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJb4rWbSdM
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPcb44Dsa6
Yes, an illusion was broken tonight indeed192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyXtmaS9Nm
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvmQ6snKMb
"I always thought you to be an elf." Was his reply as a confused Hexen and the other witches and warlocks presented looked at him in surprise.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlneZMeiFO
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkB2WK2edH
"What?" She said, the knife still at her sacrifice's throat who also looked surprise by the events.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAOUVye2Ed
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3GdQO5sC0
And with that the clock struck 3.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptTUNnZBcC
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctsJhPESPb
The witching hour, a bell whip, two illusions shattered and confusion reigned supreme now.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr1OX7foKf
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPUglXY6TO
Just another night in the town of Calliope.
