247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy5xorR6v9
-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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKatgxMWLjK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshMBo4SzeP
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SJkEPEIVc
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dJnFefWps
Then came that terrifying night in the Forests of Calliope.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI10Cgn1vm
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There and then I knew why we feared mortals.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FsgnVh1yF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE9uSrAdLR
- Arch Bishop Philippe 'The Wise' of the Church of Hecate.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtbrfNq0uM
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn9nFzeZJX
Taken from the Documentary 'The Anarchy and the Peace.'247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakMjzgMlti
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Book 1-Ch 3-Nevermore beyond my pane247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hnDDUWMam
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He heard it, smelled it, felt the rotten feeling that warned of its danger before he actually saw the wall of Blue flames.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuVoow1OJI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOznaTWLJD
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDdPHHdCEk
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFPZGNpQG2
But no matter the universe A is still A.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefrV1G1a84
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And fire is still fire.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFGGitPDkZ
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIHO2XxyjB
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXE4lEQ0sz
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoKIEkoSor
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3PlpHi5Y5
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGITeNL9PRo
Creatures that even those with magic, light or dark, would fear.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXgDlHAUwA
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf2cNiPhCv
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWac8WJe37x
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt2YEJc7jR
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyF2gzqah6
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkgs4xgnEH
Ross was not innocent, but he drew the line at killing animal needlessly.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aACDL56NH
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRadzFMpIZ
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFed3WpGDUP
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsYlTMfNjn
These where the locust of the Demon Realm, a wave of devouring mouth that could swallow all flesh that they swept over.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgI6aVahY6
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcEMuLhVbC
But they were still bats, still animals, and they had sensitive noses and ears.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0EaWott2o
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtX479rsmb
So Ross took out a canister that was filled with a substance that had one of the most foulest stenches known to man.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlBGEFWaRo
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e0bgFeCZG
The twister of flying dark creatures immediately increased the distance between itself and the scarred mortal.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOA2Cj3rBv
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8vofvkUzm
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4MeNR07d8
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr82904G0Ug
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMXSvbQhZT
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHYCoNWcUy
Temptation whispered in his ear there and then. Temptation to give up, go back.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6HyHqKoya
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhTlLJh9cO
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNOZJHpmDa
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaHduEvpEj
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAamMIz2zW
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylElkWXmNK
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v2d5xCi6w
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSd58gSvy6
His feet like they weighted a ton, his lungs like concrete, his vision blurry as his body reacted trying to protect him.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRweEGADYQH
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8QPAIZKDp
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?247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IOAM0PfSP
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfhrBIHg1z
They did it because it was the unknown, where untold horrors lay, but also wonders.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4PA2PI5fC
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It could be the biggest mistake of his life, but also the best decision he ever made.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPItwxb8JB
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vcwmT4NtE
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA5g7o0EpF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1rMHr5mXs
Some say you'd have to be mad to live like that. Fortunately Ross was.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AvTBor9zY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH4csXLEdj
So he took his heart in his teeth and marched forward.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM6vRN6dOb
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So he marched forward, with each step his feet became lighter, his lungs softer, his vision cleared.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tIC9AlCtL
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw8Jyv7aC9
He conquered his fear and used it to fuel his resolve.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIsJyHKgsz
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247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hDKssVehy
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc539HwyNI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcFLG7BpJ6
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 him247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOfetyphjU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLRIS0FDIH
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm25HtQA6dY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjtehzwvLv
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNpNOdYmgh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5tVhWjMmC
The Golem growled at him, but like before when it wasted time with words or deeds it was struck by Ross's quick counter.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKECBYaabI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl75IVnAcB
This time Ross threw the bell from his belt right at the Golem's face.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMErJdvrAI
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BANG.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ6qFowuQD
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIpEr3GIzy
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKzac9MrA1
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMTacTQwmV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLarUTmkkpL
BANG247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O4whKunLC
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EKnpsTP3K
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BANG247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsgQ6kjNyF
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4cBdVlPeQ
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BANG247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTmYMylNcX
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeWey2IDrd
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryjMFMr5g2
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIrG5x7CnE
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPTbkKhBo6
A man can dream can't he?247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zuPMRzwTA
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM4WWQMlYb
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW5v1tHfnU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMzyc2N2va
When the flash dissipated in the Golem's place was a great red orb, one that Ross looked at in disbelief.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkIzzKmRk1
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3eLoOj8JI
"Well now, here's hoping that brute strength is the answer here." Ross said as he instinctly whipped the red orb, smashing it.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjgtovIx0F
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgbsNYsvRc
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrRrsJPSYH
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It seemed like the forest, reality itself, was distorted in front of him as an illusion was broken.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs0pIoQgYY
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT5BoQSbPf
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fPslTh2ju
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWCsUPXbE3
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Yes, truly an illusion had been broken tonight.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSVGz4a4iq
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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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGNpvxeQ3C
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQnN4pALgR
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTsl02YdEg
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That Hexen was a step away from committing a murder most foul.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09raIhXslq
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgQ4CHsibp
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKcipSvdjg
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BQPYxJTCv
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDbIq18vO7
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWZapWTeqN
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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU8BJVwsW0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h2BqjpHu8
Yes, an illusion was broken tonight indeed247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeREKnzkds
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU36CEVwauk
"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.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtSdKJW8lM
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"What?" She said, the knife still at her sacrifice's throat who also looked surprise by the events.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaxHB5Y573
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And with that the clock struck 3.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uvEAR4OGN
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The witching hour, a bell whip, two illusions shattered and confusion reigned supreme now.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqtCkHCqPD
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvL0fs84DI
Just another night in the town of Calliope.
