242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMlCW71Fwp
-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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3zmdZJ9pO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUQwT6WPpR
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3c0z2ITmX
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnZAEgglLd
Then came that terrifying night in the Forests of Calliope.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6ns1hoJif
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONxD351wcm
There and then I knew why we feared mortals.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64eCUFHM1Z
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriTxDprthU
- Arch Bishop Philippe 'The Wise' of the Church of Hecate.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJKDm2imOR
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YGMxQLGZn
Taken from the Documentary 'The Anarchy and the Peace.'242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCiztSlXfN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpPHPMvdUX
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCEDq7wCwS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpAbXcAp72
Book 1-Ch 3-Nevermore beyond my pane242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRTsxEfq4k
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Ca2r3sEp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b6QxxEDYm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfO5ZPk21N
He heard it, smelled it, felt the rotten feeling that warned of its danger before he actually saw the wall of Blue flames.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ0g1ON0V4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAFsOwcryC
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUA8RXoUjA
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLGQBtDw2m
But no matter the universe A is still A.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHQlj4nH4W
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0OwfrO01m
And fire is still fire.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JTXJbKE6U
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlfFn8qhNW
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt7LnAOqta
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkXJy4s7AX
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXauWdvPQDg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrXMdF90v3
Creatures that even those with magic, light or dark, would fear.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KWR6nxLCU
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslIi9mrsk4
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxEH20dfPk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutkEIRWakV
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53qBsNnJdl
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkTqiuReW2
Ross was not innocent, but he drew the line at killing animal needlessly.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrdKhz5j9M
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2pjZRt5t1
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZQbhr3QOi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHATnR5kst3
These where the locust of the Demon Realm, a wave of devouring mouth that could swallow all flesh that they swept over.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUV0erLu1Io
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76OWGtbT77
But they were still bats, still animals, and they had sensitive noses and ears.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyJn0IzH4r
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KwevBjAaM
So Ross took out a canister that was filled with a substance that had one of the most foulest stenches known to man.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWNeEGnUfm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxMgC5M1XC
The twister of flying dark creatures immediately increased the distance between itself and the scarred mortal.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj75I1xuSKO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GuzQ9SFQv
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNv8HoD5vL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxASFWWRt3R
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe67ANCJQnA
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3IZISPn02
Temptation whispered in his ear there and then. Temptation to give up, go back.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK9aZWPIey
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aieAMWQoD
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtoljfX2AS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYkzEhA0Hy
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi44oZFSznb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5gXFEiv1S
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyaOkdOqIG
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWnaGnV2Id
His feet like they weighted a ton, his lungs like concrete, his vision blurry as his body reacted trying to protect him.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwiH6AeqUt
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeuF3NTqDE
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?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjUKJr7EHr
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL78BsO7WDj
They did it because it was the unknown, where untold horrors lay, but also wonders.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EfZ1veiPl
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6lSDDcsSt
It could be the biggest mistake of his life, but also the best decision he ever made.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiAo2WPAvS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwGRT98kaB
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZahRalVCh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CM5DLTEKw
Some say you'd have to be mad to live like that. Fortunately Ross was.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP6aBcVch4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDbcLFd8Hx
So he took his heart in his teeth and marched forward.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz90AjAtWit
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMetXgOc5tE
So he marched forward, with each step his feet became lighter, his lungs softer, his vision cleared.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E4mdEkg0A
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHpQErtTmM
He conquered his fear and used it to fuel his resolve.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVisvKfE46
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2KGQZ5Q5J
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KYTpvGqjj
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua8mthRz1K
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcTGFCOa4m
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUztzsAzQT
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 him242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpheSvCOan
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCWj4tKhJf
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQnuya8t5S
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjMp0kkFgG
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpipFFb52Zm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kO1GUPfFJ
The Golem growled at him, but like before when it wasted time with words or deeds it was struck by Ross's quick counter.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXeXzlj9v0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY13BpIkli
This time Ross threw the bell from his belt right at the Golem's face.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMlprsUCLk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2La74NkDe
BANG.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hUohSYW1n
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2ndjlczMs
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX7d9zkPwH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeD3XjNiuW
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PCQsMYknH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCB4Tr8pRs
BANG242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1NEqCn5q9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQkvN6CHwt
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m88RUl2Gg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiHmReij9z
BANG242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4SWIj7wwK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71i4BLOFtQ
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSbI4TUBg3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOrspgLfZO
BANG242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wc5Dkt1NV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO8Tez92RJ
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclErCXhynS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c0wvqIkmG
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYJncoxSuW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbGHQ5uTgA
A man can dream can't he?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDWAvTNSuS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDolY1jkgk
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOqwJY6Fa6
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrvAv1I2Wb
When the flash dissipated in the Golem's place was a great red orb, one that Ross looked at in disbelief.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBrrlkxC6c
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs496OlNI0V
"Well now, here's hoping that brute strength is the answer here." Ross said as he instinctly whipped the red orb, smashing it.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw5dPCdkmU
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCewpQGbqw6
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCxW9rATfw
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPavPXVpgA
It seemed like the forest, reality itself, was distorted in front of him as an illusion was broken.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgISfaImpHc
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBgPdkKQV6
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuCnPrH1wM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0PuVRES1x
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqavedqXI9e
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGWOoKfrT3
Yes, truly an illusion had been broken tonight.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg3NmDhUoZ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHx2Kx6rOR
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ027sV5BfKq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff9MVdZf9R
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2xax2mwDY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN7QhrCbo2
That Hexen was a step away from committing a murder most foul.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LF7SgIfyL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vn0SEFy9e
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXByrS8XQ2q
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kj3YtqSYN
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wx5nhTdP0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeeEOwQVtl
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdiQdV0pqV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9iIXzhnUx
Yes, an illusion was broken tonight indeed242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE82oaWb9b
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OdBhuv8Cz
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDoYv6VltR
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95A5HiBEmX
"What?" She said, the knife still at her sacrifice's throat who also looked surprise by the events.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP3t1JrAzM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUtFs9rcK9
And with that the clock struck 3.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo64AdTnfaw
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xyIcjNuu4
The witching hour, a bell whip, two illusions shattered and confusion reigned supreme now.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO6vkd7aN9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zFtYVsTkB
Just another night in the town of Calliope.
