Oh No, Not The Shortcut!

"This is amazing." They stepped forward past the turnstile and stepped into a world of wonder. Beyond the turnstile, it had seemed, was darkness. A magical shroud, that the splendour of the city would not be spoiled by a preview. As they stepped past the illusion, the first thing they noticed was the sky. Where on the outside the sky had been slightly overcast with a hint of lightning, this sky on the inside was bright and sunny, though not in an oppressive manner as the "Sun" was mostly blocked by the presence of several clouds, the only white spots in an otherwise bright blue sky. The second thing they noticed were the buildings. They were architecturally diverse, the buildings being from separate times, separate cultures, some common, some recognised from documentaries, some ruins seen from the news and others completely alien to them but all blending together to form an odd harmony of form and shape. The third thing they noticed was that a small reptilian creature had flown in front of them and was bobbing up and down in an effort to attract their attention.
"Hello there. What are you?" Lunare asked it.
The creature tried to croak out something and the only words that they managed to hear properly were "Hello" and "I".
It's tail, twice the length of its body, swept up and seemed to indicate frustration. It gave up on its attempt on Common and started to speak in Draconic. Acherus being the only one fluent in the language, he responded in kind.
"Hello? Do you understand me? Can any of you speak Draconic?"
"I do."
"Ah. Cain, right? Okay, would you help me tell the rest of your friends that the simplest way for me to communicate would be to have physical contact. I can transmit my thoughts forward that way. My vocal chords can't handle Common."
"Oh." He switched back to Common. "Guys, this thing says it can talk by touching us and transmitting its thoughts forward. Or we could just use Draconic."
The creature added, "I can understand Common by the way."
"And it understands Common."
"I'm not too comfortable with it touching us. You know why. Couldn't we just use Draconic? I understood a little of what she said. You could just explain to us the words we don't know." Lethe said.
Acherus shrugged and turned back.
"You heard what she said. I suppose we could just use Draconic."
"All of you can understand Draconic?"
"Yes, but I'm the most fluent."
"Then how about this, you guys use Common, I'll just use Draconic, you help translate whatever they don't know."
"Alright." Acherus turned to the group. "I'm sure you guys heard that."
"Mostly."
The creature asked Acherus, "Do you mind if I use your shoulder for a moment?"
"Go ahead."
It landed on his left shoulder, the right already used as a perch by Acheros. It addressed the group.
"Hello everyone, my name is Grei and I'm your guide for your entire stay."
"What are you?"
"I'm a..." She lifted a talon and lightly touched Acherus' neck, taking care not to touch the vocal vents.
"Roughly translated, it's a pseudodragon I think. That's what I'm getting from her." Acherus said, after a moment's pause.
"It's a telepath?" Styx said, eyes wide.
"No, no, no, I can only transmit thoughts one way. I can't read minds. All pseudodragons can. And I would like to point out that I'm not an it, I'm a she."
"Oh. I didn't know there were such things as pseudodragons." Kestrel said.
"Don't they teach you kids anything in school? What happened, didn't pay attention to Bestiary lessons?"
"They don't even teach Bestiary anymore, they say it's not an important subject."
"Anyway, welcome to the Darksun Carnival! I'm one of the newer guides, so no worries about me being too serious or anything. It will be night soon and anyway I'm sure you guys don't want to lug all that baggage around. Did you guys have a hotel in mind?"
"Not really. We were thinking that maybe we could look around."
Grei glanced from side to side and purred. "There's a lot of people. We'd better get moving if you want one of the better hotels. What's your budget?"
"Big."
"Okay. Does that mean you all have enough for the best of the best?"
"Sure."
Grei flapped her wings several times and flew ahead of them. "Follow me."
"Hey! We can't see you through the crowd!" Cocytus shouted.
Grei promptly flew back and landed on Phlegyas' head and curled her long tail around Phlegyas' body all the way down even until his left ankle. He gave a start, then gestured towards the group.
"I know where to go." He said, somewhat calmly for someone who just had information inserted into his mind.
Grei asked, "Do you guys want to take the shortcut? It's through an alley and there may be gangs still around that area. We could go the longer and safer way."
"Shortcut please, my legs are killing me." Styx groaned.
"We just started, how can your feet be hurting already?"
"I'm lazy, okay?"

Plans

"A trip, you say?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Like I said, I'm poor."
"Your boyfriend isn't."
"The boyfriend has a name." Solciro remarked drily.
"But yes, whoever doesn't have enough, we could pool money."
"I'm sure our parents wouldn't mind paying for all of us." Lunare said. "So long as we can assure them that nothing will happen that shouldn't happen."
"Lil' sister, you know very well that I can't assure that, not with Lethe." He grinned.
"I'm not your little sister! I'm as old as you are!"
"Ten seconds or so younger than me still makes you younger than me."
Cocytus cut in. "The sibling squabbling not withstanding, it appears that the budget is in perfect hands. So, the question is where."
"I guess we could go visit a major city. The undead recently founded their own city, I think."
"Nah, I don't feel comfortable in the presence of the undead. Elluneril?" Lethe suggested.
"What's with you and elves these days? Just because you're in love with him, doesn't mean you have to be in love with all things elven."
"Fine. What do you suggest?"
"Acheron, what about your race's city? Pardon me, I don't know it's name." Solciro fidgeted slightly. They had taken care to refer to Acherus and his brother by their collective name, Solciro not knowing the precise nature of his identity.
"That's because it doesn't exist. Cains are traditionally nomads." He didn't add in that they were more of travelling brigands than peaceful wanderers. "My parents are one of the few who have moved out of the plains of Cania and into the cities. That's how I even have an education."
"Oh." Cocytus' monosyllabic answer conveyed all of their ignorance with regards to other races.
"Where to, then?"
"Could we go somewhere colder?" Lunare piped up.
"You know I don't really like the cold..." Solciro trailed off.
"What, Kylmir? Don't you ever watch the news?"
"Nope. What's going on there?" Kestrel asked.
"Plague. The Kylmiris have some kind of epidemic going on. Not too sure what disease though. Wasn't really paying attention."
"Not that many major cities around. Port Kraken?"
"Port Kraken? That's the place where the inhabitants somehow have a pact with the local kraken to not screw up their trade routes in exchange for something or the other, no?"
"Yes. But there's not much to do there, it's just a trading port. Albeit a very important one. Anyway I get seasick." Phlegyas put in.
"Seriously. There aren't that many places to go. I doubt that you people would want to go to Haven."
"No. It's just a safe place for people who need it. Obviously, we don't. We're not homeless. This is frustrating."
"Let's just attend the Darksun Carnival. I haven't gone before."
"It's coming to Pero Diaz this year?"
"Yeah. Just in time for our holidays. How big is it anyway? I've heard people talk about it."
"We've been there before." Solciro said, indicating Lunare and himself. "They change attractions every year so I'm not sure about that. It's very big. It's sort of like a travelling city."
"Then how would it fit into Pero Diaz?"
"It doesn't. It should be just outside city limits if I'm not wrong."
"If it's so big, we stay in it overnight, yes?"
"Indeed. There are hotels there. It's like a city made for fun. Oh, and there are guides. They stay with us and tell us anything we need to know."
"Sounds awkward. A complete stranger with us?"
"They can be quite fun to be with. Last time, it was this other elf guy."
"So it's settled? Darksun Carnival?" Lethe looked around and all gave signs of affirmation. Uo was not present.

Darksun Carnival? Why?
"I guess I just want some time off. It ought to be fun."
You're brooding. Snap out of it. Chill out a little.
"That's my plan."
I mean now.
"Right."
Seriously. Hey, stop that. Don't drink anymore.
"It pleases me. The flavour is certainly intoxicating."
That would be because you are, in fact, intoxicated. Stop drinking.
Raewyn ignored him and poured more of the oru wine into her glass.
I'm serious, Raewyn, stop drinking.
Libys' words had no effect as Raewyn took another long drought of the extremely alcoholic wine.
Fine. If you won't stop drinking, I'll make your body metabolize it faster and you will have a hangover. This won't be pleasant.
He was true to his word. It wasn't pleasant.
"Oh, Archon save me, the headache, the headache." She clutched her temples and slumped onto the tabletop.
I did warn you.
"Talk softer..." She whispered.
I do this for your own good.
"I thought demons encouraged overindulgence." Raewyn moaned.
In general, sweetheart. In this case, I strongly disagree.
"Ugh..."
Now tell me, why the Darksun Carnival?
"I've never gone before... Perhaps its best for me to unwind a little. I hate you so much right now."
What, never dealt with a hangover?
"Not of this magnitude... I'm gonna sleep..." She slowly got up and attempted to make for her bedroom. Immediately, she thought the better of it and decided to sleep against the table.
You will have to go back to Kara first. It still puzzles me, why you decided to leave while just at her doorstep. In the end, you'll still have to see her.
Shut up! My reasons are my own and I have no obligation to explain myself to you, demon! Raewyn thought back angrily. I will go where I will as and when I see fit!
Libys mentally backed off, aware that she was close to losing her patience.

An Apple A Day...

Raewyn passed the vial to Nova.
"That's your phlegm? Looks very bad to me."
"You think?" Raewyn leaned against a wall, face pale and sickly.
"You look just as bad as what the goat dragged out from the sewers, girl." Nova said, as she poured out a little of the phlegm onto a little slide and placed it under a microscope.
"Don't bother, Nova."
She looked up. "Why?"
"I know what's causing it. I only gave you the phlegm so you could synthesize something to stop it."
"What's causing it?"
"Can we go someplace private? I'd have to undress to show you."
"Ah. The private room then. It's got a mirror if you want to admire yourself."
They headed in and Raewyn slowly pull off her top garments.
"Why would you even need a mirror? Your body is the same as it ever was."
"I enjoy the effect of baring my fangs in front of it while my client sits behind." Nova whistled. "That's one badass growth you've got there, girl. And nice breasts by the way." The taint had spread down pass her shoulder blade was beginning to reach across her spine. On her front, the taint had spread down, covering most of her right breast and was reaching across her chest into the cleft behind them as if in tandem with the spread on her back. The taint was also reaching upwards, albeit more slowly and had not quite got past her collarbone.
"Uh huh. Seen enough?"
"Yes. What's causing that?" Raewyn began to dress.
"Demon."
"You take bounties even regarding demons?"
"I wasn't referring to that, but yes, I do. This growth is due to the fact that my skin is a demon."
"Woah."
"Yeah. He's been preventing the taint from spreading but recently, due to certain circumstances, has lost all control over this aspect."
"Since when?"
"A few days."
"No, I meant, how long has your skin been a demon?"
"Long enough. Say, the day my dad died."
"The demon kil-"
"The question here is not what the demon did. The question here is what you can do to slow or stop what the demon managed to for so long."
"I'll be needing a sample of it."
Raewyn reached up and plucked off one of the fiery scales, wincing in pain as the raw wound bled sluggishly.
"Here. You need any blood?"
"No thanks, I fed already today."
"I meant for your samples."
"Oh. Right. No, I've got your phlegm already. I should be able to figure something out. No promises, but I'll do whatever I can, as fast as I can."
"The best anyone can promise, I suppose." Raewyn sighed. "This might be fatal, might not be. Either way, it's screwing with my health." As if to emphasize her point, she coughed painfully and spat out more blood-laced phlegm. "Ugh. Sorry."
"No worries, I'll clean that up. Go get some rest. Don't you go out and work either, you hear?"
"I'm not deaf." She muttered. In a louder voice, she said, "Got you. I do hope you can fix up something that can help."
"Right. Hey, the store's gonna be closed tomorrow. Decem finally went through with the engagement and they're having the wedding tomorrow. Gotta attend."
"Ok. But contact me as soon as you can. This is, as you can see, urgent."
"Right. I suggest you stay in bed in the meantime, you look as if you might fall over at any moment."
"Whatever you say, doctor."
"I'm not a doctor, I'm an alchemist."
"You act like one."

I thought she told you to stay in bed.
"And since when were you such a big fan of obeying orders?"
She is a bloodsucker after all.
"And that is supposed to make a difference."
Yes.
"Never mind what she said."
Where are we going anyway?
"To my ex-mentor's home. She might know something about this."
What's so special about her?
"She's the only known draenix in existence. Surely that's got to count for something."
Ah.
"Yes." As Raewyn stood in the train, awaiting her stop, several people looked at her oddly, hearing her whisper to herself. She had hidden the taint through the use of her illusions, rather appropriate, considering that she would be meeting the one who had taught her most of it. While she could communicate with the two minds in her through thoughts alone, it was always more fun to unnerve people by supposedly talking to yourself.
She felt someone tapping her back and she turned.
"Hello, Raewyn."
"Jack! What're you doing here?"
"She told me to pass this to you."
That bitch? Libys asked.
Raewyn ignored him."Pass what?"
"This." He fumbled a little and took out a slip of parchment from his pocket.
"Huh." Raewyn unfolded it.

Raewyn. I know that the sword has given you certain complications. I apologise if this has brought you trouble. However, I did it to help you. I do hope that the rash I saw the other day has been resolved. Come and see me, we have to talk.
-A

"Resolved it hasn't, bitch." She muttered.
"I'm sure she had her reasons."
"Doesn't change the fact that she is a bitch."
The train stopped and a metallic voice announced the station.
"I'll be getting off here, Raewyn."
"Alright. I'll see you soon."
As he stepped out of the doors, Raewyn could hear him talking to the air. She wasn't the only one who heard voices apparently.
But you are the only one who hears the voices of a demon and a demonsbane.
"Not really."
At the same time.
"Of course. That is a completely different matter."
When are we getting off anyway?
"Next stop."
This is taking forever.
Quiet. You're annoying me.
"And me. Go and sleep or something."

They're All Sick

Lethe leaned against Solciro, her long, dark hair falling over his shoulder.
"Something troubling you?"
"Nothing. You know, people have been talking."
"Let them. They act as if its some heinous crime against nature for us to be together. Some of them came and congratulated me. Funny, the way they act."
"Mmm." She made a non-commital shrug and snuggled closer to him, warm and content. They were happy together and that was all that mattered to them, regardless of what others thought.
Abruptly, she placed a hand on his groin.
Frowning, he lifted it away and said, "No, Lethe."
"Why not?" She grinned like a Chesire cat.
"It's not right. Don't."
"I felt it and it was hard. I know you want to."
"No, I don't."
"That's not the message I was getting from your body."
"Just don't, Lethe. Don't."
"Aw, you're no fun." She pouted.
He softened. "I'm sorry, but you know, I-"
"I know. I was just fooling around." She turned to him and kissed him. After awhile, he pulled her off, shaking his head.
"You and your insatiability."

"How scandalous. Anyway, did all of us get our first choices?"
They all nodded and gave signs of affirmation. All of them except Uo. By an ironic twist of fate, he had chosen the same tertiary subjects as Styx for his second choice. The class next year would be the same and only split up to their various classes during tertiary periods. The two of them had gotten off the wrong foot and never bothered to find the right one. Neither of them were too happy about it.
"No, I got Higher Engineering and Higher Languages." He said sullenly and walked away. "I'll be on my way first, got things to do."
"Hey Styx, how's your Aspecting?"
"Fine." She shrugged. "It's the same as ever. I still find the Feral part of me freaky."
"I guess so."
"How's your blood thingy going then?"
"Um. I haven't been practising." To handle his veins which were continually getting in the way of anything he did, Cocytus had tied them up in the same way girls braided their hair and now the veins were tied somewhat tightly against his arm.
"Meh. Lazy bum."
"You're no better."
Phlegyas stood. "I'll go exercise a little."
"Exercise? Big guy, you're as fit as they come."
"Nevertheless. I am bored and I have nothing to do." With which words, he left.
Acherus.
Hmm? He looked at them, his hawk head looking around in that jerky manner of birds.
Where's Acheros?
He scratched his wings with his beak uncomfortably.
He's... got stuff to do.
What stuff?
It's strictly confidential.
It's got nothing to do with sadism, does it?
Not at all.
Oh.
"Hey, any of you want to go on a trip or something for the holidays?" Cocytus suggested.
"I'm an orphan, no money, dude. The most I could do would be a sleepover." Lethe pointed out.
"Better not, otherwise Cocytus and Kestrel, you and Solciro would have to get separate rooms."
"Actually," Lethe said with a grin, "I think that would be very true."
"Archon save me, this girl is insatiable!" Solciro exclaimed. "There wouldn't be a sleepover, I'd have to spend the whole night trying to stop her!"

The taint was still spreading. Her right shoulder was covered in the sickly scales, as was the top half of her right breast. It seemed obscene for her to derive pleasure from rubbing that area, disfigured as it was.
I think you ought to see a doctor.
No.
Why not? A doctor might be able to find something to stop it.
It's demonic in nature. Anyone with an ounce of sense would feel it in me.
Then maybe an alchemist would be able to brew something up for you?
Perhaps we should see November about this.
I'm not that sure.
She's a bloodsucker, they're just as mistaken as anyone else and would sympathise with you.
What about Alice?
What? Why would you want to ask for help from that bitch? All she knows is to hurt people. Not that I disapprove, of course.
Alice would know little about these matters.
Yeah. Best go back to Nova then. I'm so tired. Raewyn lay down on her bed, feeling the soft linen rub against her bare body. There was little she enjoyed these days and she tried to enjoy whatever she had left.
Wake me up somewhere after Halflight, will you? I'm gonna go and have some fun.
What, a strip club?
Don't be silly. The getting naked bit comes after the dancing, not during.
Oh. Right.
And I thought demons knew all these sort of things.
You weren't being specific!
I'm just kidding.
I've got my honour to protect! As well as that of all demons!
Oh, shut up, you babbling fool.
Raewyn coughed violently and spat out a globule of red phlegm. She stared at it.
"Tell me, Libys. When have I ever spat out red phlegm?"
Libys kept quiet.
"You've shut up. That's a first. Maybe this illness or whatever it is was worth it." She coughed again, harder than the first and this time, blood was mixed with the phlegm, though it was hard to tell. "Or maybe it wasn't. What is this, some terminal disease with splices of magic in it?"
No, just the by-product of a forced merging between a human and a demon. Also the effects are magnified, I believe, due to the fact that it has long been suppressed.
"Oh Archon, can't I just get some damned peace? Both of you, shut up!" Raewyn growled angrily. She pulled the blanket over her and dreamt troubled dreams.

Prologue

[eyes open, hazy vision]
See the word WARNING on every screen. Hear nothing but a klaxon barreling. Feel bone-jarring vibrations rock the Fury apart.
[eyes close]

A streak of red burned a black trail through the sky. Startled by the sudden rain of black ash and burning metal, a group of indigenous Avians took to the sky.

[eyes open]
Metal popped. The klaxon still was blaring. But now all was Red, all was Fire. Unbearable heat. The Fury was in a cradle of fire, boiling clouds and atmosphere as it descended into the planet beneath.
[eyes close] 

Anti-fire systems tried and failed to put out blaze that was the Fury. Trees cracked as the small freighter thundered over them. 

...

A colossal explosion rocked the jungle.

...

Chapter 1: Ouch. My bad.

Evoric awoke to the sight of a large Raven bending over him.

Woa!

Finally you awake.

Ouch.

Yea?! Tell me about it! You lucky idiot, at least you had your evac suit on when you jumped
out of a burning wreck falling out of the sky. You are lucky that I could slow your fall enough to let you survive the fall. But no, no. You wake up a day later and tell me ouch, of all things ouch. Seriously?! A THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAVING MY LIFE would have been fine. In fact ,it would have been much better. But no, not even a thank you.

Evoric stood speechless.

Eh?

Don't just stand there drooling! Help me light a fire, I have already gathered the firewood, but I can't do everything you know, I am still an Avian, I have no hands.

Can't you magic out the fire.

Did you not listen to what I was screaming you when we were still in orbit?!  The is a very strong and not to mention HUGE , HUGE  Anti-Magic in this place, if my calculations are correct the field should cover the whole planet. And I susp-

Okay nevermind.

Looking around, evoric could tell that he was in the wreckage of the downed Fury. It's  charred and blackened hull making the whole thing seem like a burnt... burnt ... burnt something. Avarice had made a small shelter out of some hull plates and stacked a stack of dry wood and sticks in the middle of the wreck. There were some crates of food and supplies in the shelter, a good few weeks worth of them. Evoric reached into one of the supply crates and found a survival kit, but the kit was old, very old. Neither evoric nor avarice had ever bothered to replace it. Opening the kit, evoric found a FusionCutter, some knives, a medkit, a canister of compressed water, and a few energy bars, a folded piece of paper containing basic spells and, sealed in a metal airtight casing, a cookie.

"Aww, crap. The FusionCutter ain't working!" Evoric said, "and there are no freaking matches, or lighters, or some fire making tools at all! What kind of survival kit is this!"

Well, maybe it's to teach people to survive without a match?

Avarice.

Yes?

Shut up.