An Angel’s Road to Hell

Cassandra Pendragon

I had wanted to ask Barzuk what he had been on about but the images on the magma screen shut me up. Galathon had been in conversation with one of the pirates, a burly man with a dark tricorne on his head. Suddenly he erupted with a howl I thought I could actually hear and his hand cracked the poor bloke’s rib cage. A fountain of blood gushed from the wound and when Galathon pulled back, his claw-like fingers encircled a still pulsing hunk of flesh. We weren’t close enough to see many details and thankfully smells weren’t conveyed through Erya’s magic but the look of poor horror on the mutilated man’s face, his rolling eyes and the frantically working mouth made my stomach churn. What a terrible way to go. Whatever he had done, nobody deserved to end like that. His agonised and desperate expression reminded me of the fallen and turned kitsune I had seen on Boseiju, his panic and pain palpable even through the spell.

To distract myself from the rising nausea I focused on my companions. While Barzuk and Erya followed the scene with rapt attention and no apparent unease, Viyara’s eyes were roaming about as well and when our gazes met, I realised the immense snake in front of me was shaken to the core. She hadn’t told me what had happened to her family exactly but I imagined Galathon ripping the beating heart out of someone must have triggered her more than me. Silently I rose into the air and hugged her snout, as much to comfort her as to calm myself. I didn’t speak, I simply held her until Barzuk’s voice brought me back to reality.

“There, can you focus on the scrawny fellow that’s crawling away. No, the one behind the mast. Is it just me or is he crying?” I squeezed Viyara’s neck one more time and sat down on top of her head, between her horns. When she turned towards the image I saw a human boy, not older than 17 summers. He appeared much closer than before, close enough to make out the stream of tears that was running down his cheeks. His blonde mop of hair shook with every ragged breath he took, his body trembling and his arms slung around his middle. A dirty white shirt and brown leather trousers were his only garments, both had seen better days and had been patched multiple times, not necessarily with cloth of the same colour.

“Lady Viyara,” Barzuk continued, “could you reach him? Maybe even read his thoughts? I would love to know what’s going trough his mind. We could possibly find ourselves a turncoat or two. I can’t imagine the crew is taking the murder of one of their officers lightly.”

“If he’s branded and spelled it won’t matter what he wants. Can we check for magic on him without direct contract?” I interjected. “It’s not the best idea to telepathically contact someone who is directly linked to the emperor. I don’t think it’s likely but we should make sure if we can.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t.” Erya replied. “They would have to come closer for me to use the placed enchantments and they’re much too far away for my own magic. Unless we find some form of focus, all I can do is conjure up the images.” My second sight wasn’t much help either, I could see the magic running through the curtain of magma but I couldn’t see through. Maybe I could pull off the same stunt I had used to reach the ship with the children but bursting from thin air, hurt and over exerted in front of a dragon seemed like a bad idea. But maybe… I rapped my knuckles against Viyara’s head.

“Could you work your telepathy or some of your arts through me?” Confusion flowed through her and brushed against my mind.

“I mean, if I can reach a place you can’t, will you be able to channel your abilities through our bond? For example, if I had a way to, let’s say reach the ship physically in one form or the other, could you work your magic through that connection and influence what’s going on over there?”

“I don’t know. Id have to try.”

“Go ahead, let’s see if it works. Maybe try pushing a spell through the spark in your carbuncle.”

We hadn’t shared our conversation, consequentially the other two were taken by surprise when Viyara’s horns suddenly glowed with energy. “What are you doing?” Erya asked. I wanted to answer but the moment I opened my mouth Viyara’s spell surged and I had to concentrate.

It didn’t quite work out as planned, the moment Viyara finished the spell formation and pushed it back into her carbuncle and through the connection my energy had formed between us, she lost control. The spell didn’t trigger, explode or vanish but the very instant it touched my transcendent energy it became mine. Unfortunately that also meant that it ignited my own astral body and started pulling in energy from my core. Pain flared across my meridians instantly and I didn’t hesitate to disperse the spell into the air. A silvery blue haze rose around me and covered my body and Viyara’s head for a moment before the drafts of hot air blew it away.

I leaned again Viyara’s horns, groaning. The pain wasn’t as bad as I had feared, I had managed to get rid of the magic quickly enough but it was still plenty awful. At the moment I felt like a steel brush was slowly scrubbing my nerves clean but the feeling diminished by the second.

“Alright, bad idea,” I whispered through another wave of pain. “Let’s not try that again,” I added before I slumped on top of her head, breathing deeply.

“What the fuck have you done?!” Barzuk’s scream felt like an ice pick to my overly sensitive ears. “What’s wrong with you? You could have hurt her!”

“Sure, worry about the big, shiny dragon, who is fine! I’ll just wait until the world stops spinning and apologise, you ass.” I had my eyes closed and my focus turned inward to block out his continued string of questions and reproaches. The hand that brushed across my forehead took me by surprise accordingly. Erya was hovering in front of me, a look of serious concern on her face. “You alright?” She asked quietly. “I’ll be in a minute, thanks for asking.” I replied.

“Are you sure, sweetie? Maybe take a look at your body? Not that I mind, but…” That cleared away my grogginess in an instant and I stared at my arms and the parts of my torso I could see beneath the rags I was wearing. Silvery lines traced across my skin, down my arms and, I supposed, along my legs, faint against my alabaster skin but clearly visible. They didn’t hurt but followed my meridians perfectly, at least as far as I could tell. I gingerly reached for my core and surprisingly I felt it immediately. The connection was even stronger than before, at least I thought so. Carefully I sent a sliver of energy coursing through my body. It followed my will seamlessly but the channels of molten silver on my skin lit up with a bluish sheen wherever my energy flowed. My remaining aches disappeared in its wake. Ah well, as long as Ahri liked them I wouldn’t mind, honestly I thought it looked quite beautiful. I released the breath I had been holding in.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just exhausted. You don’t have to keep caressing my cheek.” I stroked Viyara’s scales. “You okay?” Her consciousness had been connected to mine the entire time but I hadn’t heard her, focused on myself as I had been.

“Sure, but I felt a shadow of your pain. I was seriously worried for a moment. Care to tell me what happened?” “Not particularly. I don’t really know myself and the few bits I can guess are better saved for when we are out of here. But I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t try that on your own, I don’t know if you can just shove spells into me but I’d like to keep it that way. Honestly though, nothing bad happened, if anything I feel even a little stronger than before. Could you talk to Barzuk, though? His constant complains aren’t helping.” She did as I had asked and after a moment I could again feel the echoes of Erya’s and the orc’s thoughts reaching me through her mind. He was still grumbling but at least he tried to tone it down a little and I had already gotten used to the constant background noise of an orc with a temper. To prevent further questions I started:

“I tried something, it didn’t work and I payed the price,” not quite true but also not strictly a lie. It had worked, somewhat. “Can we move on? Why would you want to contact that human?” I could feel Erya’s reluctance to let the matter drop just like that and Barzuk was probably choking on another tirade but they didn’t insist on an explanation, at least for now. With a mental sigh that sounded more like a giggle through Viyara’s thoughts and made me smile Barzuk answered:

“If we have a willing focus, Erya’s magic should be able to reach the ship. Maybe not in full force but enough to find out what they are planning and mess with them a little. Ain’t that right, fey?”

“In a way. If he willingly enters a deal with me, the distance won’t matter. Depending on the bargain I might be able to use him as a focus.”

“How does that work?” I had to ask. “Don’t you have to spell him from a distance either way?”

“No, a deal with a fey is a special form of soul magic that solely depends on intent and a willing anchor. It’s actually quite complex but basically, as long as I reach an agreement with someone and we both want it to happen, the magic will form a connection, no matter where we are. It’s closely tied to our nature and one of the reason we are bound by our promises.” That reminded me of the contract Mephisto had made me sign, but more sophisticated. A literal signature was replaced by intent and their very nature supported the magic. Maybe it could even break a mark?

“Could it then also form through a letter or, I don’t know, a communication crystal?”

“A letter wouldn’t work but any form of direct contact should suffice. A communication crystal would do nicely, or a telepathic connection for example.”

“Which you can’t establish from here but Viyara might be able to, I see. Would it help us?”

“Immensely, depending on what he wants and what he’s willing to offer. I’ll have to uphold whatever I promise him, keep that in mind. But if we can reach an agreement, I should be able to work most of my magic through him. Not the enchantments and spells on the lair, mind you, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve that could turn out very useful.”

“Enough blabbering. I admit, the boy might be enthralled but the worst thing I see happening is that we can’t reach him in the first place or that they kill him off directly.” Barzuk interrupted. “We should give it a try, see what happens.” He wasn’t entirely wrong and Viyara and Erya had formidable minds in their own rights but I still felt uncomfortable at the idea of forming a mental connection with someone who might already be linked to the emperor. I didn’t know the rules of telepathy but I assumed that he could exploit an opportunity of that kind. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, though.

“I agree,” I said out loud, or rather projected. “It’s worth a shot. But if you feel anything strange in his mind, I implore you, leave immediately. Provided you two are even willing to try. We can figure out something else, maybe Barzuk’s lip reading might yet come in handy, and we’re not even in danger at the moment. If you don’t want to take the risk I’ll completely understand. So will the orc.” I added decisively. I didn’t think he’d seriously pressure them, especially not his Lady but better safe than sorry. He truly was a rough and prickly fellow, after all.

“We’ll try,” a wave of confidence flowed from Viyara. “My telepathy is strong, I’ll reach him and establish a connection with Erya. It might take a while, though. Why don’t you two,” a picture of a winged kitsune and a grumpy orc reached me, “have a look around in the meanwhile and see what we might be able to use.” Giggling she added: “Also, Cassandra, please just take one of the armours or a cloak, you have no idea what kind of thoughts I’m picking up from Erya.” To make matters worse she continued: “she has quite a vivid imagination.” Erya smiled nonchalantly while I blushed furiously. At least I managed to reply calmly, more or less. “I will, thank you. And good luck.”

I slid from my seat between Viyara’s horns and the fey took my place. I swore she pinched one of my tails when she passed me but before I could react, both of them closed their eyes and I was left alone with a green mountain of muscles that eyed me suspiciously.

“One armour or cloak she said. Don’t you dare lay your fingers on anything else, you hear me?”

“And how am I supposed to search for artefacts that might help us, you dullard?” I groused back while I landed. “Summon them? But don’t worry your pretty little head. You can pick something for me,” after a moment when I imagined all kinds of things he could fetch I added: “as long as I can wear it and as long as it won’t make me blush even more. I’ll just stay here and wait for you.” His eyes narrowed.

“Really now. And why would you do that?”

“Because I’m an evil witch that has waited for this precise moment to fulfil her dark purpose. Because I’m dead tired, hungry, thirsty, dirty, plagued with a headache and I just want a few minutes for myself without your constant nagging or reproachful silence, you bone head. Is that too much to ask?” And I wanted to see if I could charge Mephisto’s emblem with the excessive magic that still swirled around us. If I could I’d like to prevent trying to use transcendent energy to bring him back. The way I saw it, it’d either work and maybe give him a spark of his own, or it’d burn the thing to ashes. The more I had thought about it the worse the idea had appeared. Now was my chance to get around the problem.

He stiffened and the chords around his neck protrude while his jaw started grinding. After a moment he spat: “I know exactly what you mean. Unwanted company can be a burden.” He stomped off without another word and soon vanished behind a small hill of gems. Oh my, he at least had a flair for exists. My ears twitched while I focused on his steps until I couldn’t hear him anymore. Then I quickly soared back on top of the ruby and fumbled the emblem from my pocket.

I studied the figure and tree closely. They were already mending, the burned and blackened parts giving way to highly polished silver underneath. It’d take maybe two more weeks for it to regenerate on its own but I was going to speed that up, hopefully.

I activated my second sight and searched for the thickest cloud of energy I could find. As I had thought it was just above me, hovering over the ruby. Without further thought I reached up and put my hand straight in the centre, the medallion resting on my open palm. As I had hoped the swath of magic started to move, slowly circling around the silvery coin, which in turn started to glow faintly. The metal became hot, hot enough to hurt. I didn’t want to use my wings in case they interfered with whatever was going on and pretended I couldn’t feel my skin cooking. By now I had become quite adapt at ignoring the warning signals my body was sending out.

A small whirlwind of energy had formed around my hand and I could smell burned flesh before the magic suddenly vanished into the emblem. It became white hot all and I dropped it with a yelp. Flexing my fingers I waited until the charred lines on my skin vanished before I tentatively flew back down and picked up the medallion.