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opalsdarkreadings · 3 years

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Pairing: Isaac x Black!reader

Warning: None

Notes: E/c- eye color. One down two more to go 😭

Your face morphs as an soft hiss, fills the otherwise soundless conversation between you two. The cotton rag nestling between your neck and shoulder, removed almost instantly at your whimpers of discomfort.

“You need to relax, the pain there will only worsen if you continue to tense your body.” The smoothest of Isaac’s voice felt like velvet sliding against your ears. So deep yet alluring and soft like a scholar would speak to it’s fellow scholars. Of course his tone with you was more of that of a mother scolding their good for nothing child. A gentle hum answers him back, as you shift your body into a more comfortable position in the bed. You try as much as you can to heed his warning and relax, but the heat spreading to your wound felt unbearable. Tiny needles felt as if it was being stabbed and slowly brought out the gash, and repeated one again for your own torture

A heavy sighs brings your out your own thoughts, Isaac’s back now facing you. Guilt struck you almost immediately.

“Isaac.”

He throws a hot glare to you, and you would be lying if you didn’t say that felt like a slap to the face.

“Isaac, I-I couldn’t just stand there and do nothin-.”

“AND what exactly could you possible have done in the first place. You have no skills in combat and you’re so empty headed to the point you can’t even function with a bow. So what damage could you have possible done? There were no remorse in his words. The angry bubbling in each sentence being spat your way, you could feel the almost heat like displeasure rolling off his body. Deep down , you know he was right, but didn’t make it any less unpleasant to hear it aloud.

You went to open your mouth wanting to defend the little honor that you had but was cut down as he spoke again.

“You acted foolishly, rushing head first at a solider, a fucking VAMPIRE solider at that!” His voice almost growling at the memory, as you wince from the sudden shout.

“If I hadn’t gotten up when I did, you would be dancing with that creature in hell. So I’ll ask you again.” Isaac turns to you, dark brown eyes fixating over your form. The soft moonlight twirling from the opened window framing over his features as his gaze pierced through your own. Goosebumps spread over your melanated skin, your own e/c falling to the ground as you were a lost for words.

The bandages that coil over your torso and around your face now visible to him. His face displayed no emotions yet his rage spiked inside of him. The bandages reminding him what he almost lost, something he just couldn’t fathom. The bandages were that of a taunt almost, a scarring reminder that even the tiniest of things could ripe you away from him.

A heavy sign fell from his lips, he raised a hand gently rubbing over the side of his head. Finding the wooden chair he dragged into the room he sat down.

“I already know that.”

Removing his palm from his face he glance back over to you, a brow quirked your way speaking.

“Excuse-...”

“ I ALREADY KNOW HOW WEAK I AM! BUT BEING WEAK ISN’T JUST GOINGTO STOP ME FROM CARING ISAAC. FOR CARING ABOUT YOU, YOUR NOT GONNA SCAR ME FROM LOVING YOU!”

You stop, hunching over to let out a ragged cough and grip over your damaged torso. Chest heaving up and down as you gulp down whatever sob that wanted to ripe through you.

“You’re a fool.”

Your heart shattered, your gaze unable to meet with his. Your other hand gripping the sheets that your knuckles ached, but nothing could compare to the way your heart just dropped like that.

“You’re a fool, but damnit if I am not the king of Jesters.” You blink trying to comprehend. Finally lifting your head, only to be met with a warm embrace. One hand caressing over the(large, small etc) head of curls over your head. His scent lingering over your nose as you stared wide eyed at the wall before you. Not an inch of you could move, nothing but the rapid beating of your own heart filled your ears. His body was hunched over, one knee resting over the bed beside your arm and the other keeping him up as his arms and rest of his body incase yours.

"Isaac..” You mumble gently reaching up to wrap your arms over his waist. Your mind was blank trying to come up with a possible cause for this. Still, you didn’t mind, just confused.

“I was taught....No it was beaten into me, that there was no love in this world. Love was just something to throw around for gain. It was lie that many find themselves hooked on, hoping, dreaming, searching for that sort of love others spoke so dearly about.” He paused, pulling back from your warmth to stare you in the eye, his expression filled that of sadness and loneliness. The same expression you caught him showing whenever he was spacing out, “There was love when I went out the way to help master, but there was none love when he beat me for nearly helping, there was love when I killed him with my bare hands. Yet there was none when I was starving as child on the street, jeered hated for something I couldn’t control. Then I learned something, love didn’t exist, love was just another form of control. Love makes people do foolish things, Love creates foolish people and love kills innocent things. Just like any other emotion.

He falls silent, turning his gaze from yours before he sighs and glance back to you. You frown, shaking your head.

“That’s not love, true love is never harming, but something nurturing. Love hurts it does and some use that as and excuse to do shitty things, yet you should never wrap you mind around someone’s else definition of it. Love is ever changing, there are always new forms of love but you must never let others change your version of it.” You finish, silence welcoming the both of you, as he now stood in front of you.

You’ll never understand what he means, or what skeletons he hides in his closet. His pain is his, and there won’t be many things that’ll help to wash it away. It hurts you couldn’t understand him but it didn’t waver your resolve, you wanted to see him smile that was your only wish.

Isaac mulls over your words, his gaze having left the window as he hums in thought

“Then may I suggest something?” Isaac asked, looking back to you. Once again his face blank as he spoke to you but nod.

“Then demonstrate your version of love to me. Show me what love should be so that I may understand. What you speak of is place of no hardships something I can’t have the pleasure of saying, yet you version intrigues me the most.” He takes a quick pause, smiling as he looks to you.

“For I think, I am one of loves hopeless victims.”

You perked up, before smiling warmly. The hurt and fear from before melting off as you nod, “I would love to teach you.”

#castlevania #black reader x castlevania #alucard tepee #issac x reader #issac castlevania #castlevania x reader

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newagesispage · 5 years

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FEBRUARY 2019

PAGE RIB

***** I am over the moon at the suggestion of a biopic of Dave Letterman starring Michael Shannon. Will somebody think about really putting this into production??? Please??

***** Criminal Minds will wrap it up after this next and 15th season. The season 14 finale on Feb.6 will have Rossi’s wedding. They will spend the last season chasing after ‘a worthy adversary’ rumored to be played by Harold Perrineau as they jump ahead in time.

***** I am so touched by shows like Grace and Frankie and Schitt’s Creek that look right past the usually discussed issues for interracial and same sex couples . Gee, just think, it’s like we are all the same.

***** If you haven’t seen Michael Bennet and his senate floor speech about Ted Cruz, government shutdowns and Trump, run to C-span and catch it. These things make me proud to be in a DEMOCRACY!

***** Can this be true?? The constitution of Texas states that one can’t hold public office unless they believe in a supreme being??

***** Julian Castro is running for President.

***** Kamala Harris is running for President.

***** Cory Booker is running for President.

***** HGTV is apparently working on a huge publicity stunt and ratings grabber. They have purchased the home whose exterior was used in the Brady Bunch. A show will reunite the cast, bring in some famous fane and remodel the inside to look like the Brady set. At the end they may give the house away.

***** Michael Shannon and Audra McDonald will team up to revive Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune on Broadway.

***** Rashida Jones and Bill Murray will star in Sofia Coppola’s’ On the Rocks.’

***** Why isn’t extreme ironing a bigger sport by now??** And can we make Petanque a bigger thing while we’re at it?

***** Craig Ferguson is selling his LA compound.

***** China has landed on the far side of the moon!!!

***** NASA’s New Horizons has went further than anyone has gone before for our first image of Ultima Thule.

***** Kentucky has introduced a bill to ban abortion in the state.

***** Told to a reporter: “It’s your job to speak truthfully and precisely, not mine.” –Kellyanne Conway** The new book, Team of Vipers, suggests that The Conways are working in concert. It is thought that she is valuable to Trump because she has no qualms about saying anything.

***** Super bowl LIII will host Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi. They will have no pre- concert interview. It is said that many artists turned down the gig because of the controversy. Maroon 5 has gotten some shit for performing but they caution us to just watch.** Roger Waters has asked Maroon 5 to take a knee during the show.

***** Natasha Lyonne is getting raves for her new show, Russian Doll.

***** Tom Sizemore was arrested for drug possession.

***** 6 NFL coaches were fired in one week!!!

***** Pentagon chief of staff, rear admiral Kevin Sweeney is out.

***** Rod Rosenstein is on the way out.

***** Jaymo’s, a Peoria company is suing Wendy’s over the use of their S’Awesome sauce.

***** We should enact the stop the stupidity act.

***** Why does it seem every other show on the air is sort of an entire season of a Twilight Zone episode?

***** There are more people in the Kremlin than in Washington who know what Trump said to Putin. – Tom Nichols

***** Members of congress can retire at full pay after 1 term. Children of congress members don’t have to pay back student loans. Is that true?? Can this be right??

***** Dupont is laying off workers.

***** Check out love your brain.com.

***** The Golden Globes were held and were hosted by Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh. My best dressed was Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Moss. Danai Gurira, Julia Roberts, Carol Burnett, Emily Blunt, Lupita Nyong’o, Patricia Clarkson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jameela Jamil, Rosamund Pike, Jim Carrey, Alison Brie, Gemma Chan and Bradley Cooper. Worst dressed goes to Rachel Weisz, Julianne Moore, Layra Dern, Anne Hathaway, Maya Rudolph, Rami Mlek, Molly Sims and Heidi Klum. I was so happy for winners like The Americans (highlight of the evening!!!), Regina King, Lady Gaga, Mahershala Ali, Patricia Clarkson, Darren Criss, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek, Olivia Colman and Green Book. The Cecil B. DeMille award went to Jeff Bridges. The new Carol Burnett award started off with Carol herself. I was saddened that Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Kieran Culkin, Keri Russell and Sacha Baron Cohen went home empty handed. The Fiji water girl got most of the press and gave much free advertising to her product. Some of the stars did not like her getting in their shots to push a product without their knowledge, both a clever and sad state of affairs.

***** The Kominsky Method will be back for season 2.

***** The Sag awards had their big night and gave the lifetime achievement to Alan Alda. Winners included Emily Blunt, Darren Criss, Black Panther, Rami Malek and Glenn Close. I was especially thrilled with some love goingto Jason Bateman and Patricia Arquette. Best dressed were Amy Adams, Yara Shahidi, Brian Tyree Henry, Sydelle Noel, Eddie Griffin, Holly Taylor, Sofia Hubitz, Emma Stone, Emily Blunt, Darren Criss, Laverne Cox, Timothee Chalamet, Robin Wright, Lily Tomlin, Chadwick Boseman, Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell, and Catherine Zeta Jones. The WTF award goes to Alison Brie.

***** The Oscar race is on. Best picture could go to Blank Panther, Blackkklansman, Roma, The Favourite, Green Book, Vice, Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is born. Black Panther also got some love for music and costume design. Fingers crossed for Isle of Dogs in the animated category. Actor nods had a few surprises. Willem Dafoe and Rami Malek , Lady Gaga and Melissa McCarthy are up for leads and supporting mentions are for Mahershala Ali, Regina King, Adam Driver and Sam Elliott. I am so hopeful for Spike Lee and I want to hear that speech.

***** If you haven’t seen Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, you gotta check it out. He and Sarah Silverman should go on a tour of teaching acceptance for their fellow man.

***** So.. Fox news said that Ruth Bader Ginsberg was dead??

***** In sexual harassment news: Harvey Weinstein is hiring new lawyers.** Les Moonves is seeking arbitration with CBS.

***** Cher has sold her Beverly Hills cottage.

***** Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber’s daughter, Presley was arrested for DUI.

***** CBS news has named its first female President, Susan Zirinsky.

***** What is happening to the butterflies?

***** Illinois has refused a concert permit to R Kelly and Sony has dropped him. The pressure is finally starting to pay off??

***** Get ready for biopics about Harriet Tubman, Elton John and Ted Bundy.

***** NY mayor Bill De Blasio has given healthcare to every resident of NY city.

***** 25% of Russians do not have indoor toilets. Putin and his buddies have about $1trillion tucked away from London to Miami.

***** Days alert: I wonder if Leo’s real name ‘Matthew Cooper’ is a nod to out actor Chad Allen from Dr. Quinn??!! It is also fun to see Judith Chapman take on the role of Leo’s Mama, Diana. The pair played Mother and son previously on The Young and the Restless. Is she really Diana Colville from John’s past??** So Stefan has been played by Tyler Christopher who asked for some time off and a sub was put in place who will take over in March. Since Christopher left, he has since decided that he will leave permanently so things are up in the air. Will Stefan and Gabi hook up? Days has been renewed for season 55. HOORAY!!!! Ratings are up 4%. **Loved the line when Chloe told Rex he should wear a cup. **Leo and Xander’s playful “lust” was so sassy!!

***** Happy Valentine’s Day!

***** Steve Buscemi will play God on tv’s Miracle Workers.

***** So, the new Conan format has ups and downs. I miss the band and the desk but I am Loving the fade in and fade out at commercials. I have always hated the, “We’ll be right back “ nonsense. I was sad to lose a half hour at first but Conan and Andy do seem refreshed.

***** Still waiting for the release of Apple Seed which is written, directed and starring Michael Worth. It is one of the final films of Rance Howard who stars with his son, Clint, Adrienne Barbeau and the other Father and son team of Robby and Zephyr Benson.

***** The January Bob Segar concert in Illinois at the Peoria Civic Center is the top selling concert ever at this venue. Old rock acts take note.

***** Bob Costas is out at NBC after 40 years.

***** Trial and Error has been cancelled. BOO!!!

***** Steve Carell will star in Space Force which he is co-creating with The Office showrunner Greg Daniels.

***** Despite some people I admire that are giving Alexandria Ocasio Cortez a talking to like she’s a child, I say ‘Give ‘em Hell!’ She could well be President so fight girl!!

***** Word is that Karen Pence is now teaching at the Immanuel School in Virginia. The school refuses admission to students who participate in or condone homosexual activity. The application for the school states that misconduct includes heterosexual activity outside of marriage, homosexual activity, polygamy, transgender identity and use of pornographic websites. The application goes on to state that ‘a wife must submit to her husband’ and a pledge must be signed to that effect.

***** There is controversy over the bill to give people a day off for Election Day. Many people will still have to work, the country never completely shuts down. How many fucking times do I have to say it: VOTE BY MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!

***** So, Scary clown told us Mexico would pay for ‘the wall’. During the campaign he gave actual ideas for that like Mexico giving us a one time payout or else he would not allow Mexican immigrants to western union money back to Mexico. Another idea was that there would be a great ta on that Western union money. It does not seem like they tried any of that and just decided we would pay for the stupid ‘wall.’ How about the money he makes off Trump merch which his website and hotels still sell to pay for it?? How about the $35 million that Trump sold in real estate in 2018? The ‘Wall’ go fund me did not reach its $1billion goal so the $20 million they did collect is being offered for refunds. Some of those people still want that money to go for its purpose so Trump is creating a non- profit. Can’t we use that money to help the border patrol agents and get the backlog in immigration court moving?? That we are still talking about this ridiculous wall and that it had a go fund me page is enough to boggle the normal brain.** I think Kimmel said it best when he suggested that Trump just tell the red hats that the wall has been built. They believe everything he says so why wouldn’t they believe that?? It would save the country a lot of headaches. ** What the Hell is with his new “wheels and walls” mantra??** Russia caused Brexit too? Putin is a menace.** Another sink hole appeared the White House. WTF?

***** The congressional budget office says the shut down cost the U.S. 11 billion

***** Trump is talking to Herman Cain about a job on the Federal Reserve Board.

***** The GOP is selling fake bricks that cost about 50 cents for $20 each to send to Senate Dems. Some have said that the Dems should sign them and sell them and give the money to government workers. ** Why are Russian jets fucking around on the North American coastline??

***** Roger Stone has been indicted on 5 counts of false statements, 1 count of obstruction and 1 count of witness tampering. The FBI officers who arrested him were part of the shut down and they still did their job!! He publically and privately claimed to have communicated with Russia. Predictions are that many more indictments are coming down the pike that involve many familiar faces.** Roger Stone has a Nixon tattoo on his back. I feel sorry for his cell mate.-Bill Maher

***** Bill Maher got some flak for comments after Stan Lee died. He wasn’t slamming Lee, but wondered about comic book fans putting away childish things. I suppose that could include weed but point taken.

***** Jared Kushner along with 30 other White House staff was denied top secret clearance but Trump advisor Carl Kline overruled that decision and gave it to them anyway. This has never been done before, this is a job for intelligent agencies.

***** Empire star Jussie Smollett was attacked in Chicago in what cops are saying was a possible hate crime. The attackers were yelling that this was MAGA country, poured bleach on him and put a rope around his neck. The actor was previously sent a letter full of homophobic and racist slurs which he FBI had been looking into.

***** Ellen page gave us some memorable, powerful words to chew on with her appearance on Stephen Colbert. I am sure she gave courage to many who suffer because of our hate filled administration.

***** Gwyneth Paltrow is being sued from a 2016 ski incident for 3 mil.

***** I gain more and more respect for Seth Meyers. I did not really understand the choice of him as host in the beginning. His notice of local stations, choice of guests and revolving drummers makes for a great show.

***** A Dutch company may have invented a small device that converts heat into cold and Forbes is saying, ‘it could save the planet.’

***** So looking forward to Ryan Murphy’s The Politician which will star Jessica Lange, Gwyneth Paltrow and January Jones.

***** I know that is has happened little by little and we go thru times in our history when things get worse and then things get better but… When did this country get so fucking corrupt?? I mean seriously.. Why is Brendan Dassey still in prison and why is there no real justice for Teresa Halbach? ** Why is Trump still in the White House?**Why are government workers being told to work for nothing?? Why is R Kelly still living it up?? Why are some states going backward in time when it comes to women’s health?? Why do many corporations care more about their own pockets than the children of their employees or the environment around them??** Why does our justice system so often punish big for small infractions and allow the powerful to do anything they want?? **Why is a wall a better idea than infrastructure or warm beds for the homeless or food for our children and why are so many children in cages??

***** How can it be that we are still in a world where people are not allowed to reach their full potential?? Why do so many selfish humans actually fight to live in a world where they actively hold others back? Shouldn’t we all be concerned about the greater good? We should all be allowed to see a Doctor when we are ill. We should all be able to excel in education if we choose .We should all be able to get a job to fit our skills and work ethic. Opportunities and the pursuit of happiness should be available to all. Why is this so fucking hard for so many to grasp in this world? Imagine!

***** Sundance premiered the new flick, Big time adolescence with Griffin Gluck and Pete Davidson. Pete has since made no bones about filming in Syracuse. He hated it.

***** Jeff Flake will join CBS news as a contributor.

***** Tom Brokaw is in a bit of trouble for saying Hispanics should work harder at assimilation.

***** The Tom Hanks/ Matthew Rhys film, A beautiful day in the neighborhood has pushed back its release date to Nov. 22.

***** People are illogical and self- centered. Love them anyway. -Hedy Lemarr

*****R.I.P. Bob Einstein, Millie Wiesehan, victims of the Torrance. Ca. bowling alley shooting, Captain Darryl Dragon, Jo Andres, Lamin Sanneh, Carol Channing, Sandra Harmon, Bradley Bolke, the victims of Mediterranean shipwreck, Lorna Doom, victims of the Florida bank shooting, Kaye Ballard, Willie York , Barbara Claman , victims of the mining dam collapse in Brazil and James Frawley.

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codezeta-liveblog-blog · 5 years

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Damages 2.4 - Prosecution of Questions

Sorry for the late comeback. Itried coming back the same day but fell asleep on my desk, had to follow up on some responsabilities and work, then I took a 3-day break after the weekend where I didn’t want to do anything but stuff for myself and my girlfriend. Always get that feeling of dread, like I’m never goingto have a life again for the next 6 months thanks to university coming back on the 18th, so I try and make the most of my time. Big hopes for a more relaxed and favorable semester for me, that allows me to spend time with this and with you! I’ll try and make up for it on my free time today at work (right now) and tomorrow to do heavy text editing and liveblog posting, but don’t hold your breaths!

Now, lets see what the talk with the lawyers will be like. How they got inside safely. What Rose is seeing. And if we will get to see more ghosts!!

> “You took your time,” I said. > > “We were prompt,” the older man said. Unlike my grandmother, he had the roughness of old age in his voice. Somehow more human than she’d been. “But if it helps, we can start the timer from the moment we made eye contact.” > > The brown-haired young man, good looking enough to be an actor, but for the tiniest scar on his lip, looked at his watch. “Twenty nine minutes and forty seconds left on the clock. For that period of time, you have the benefit of our advice and knowledge, and you can make requests, though we can’t promise we’ll grant them.” > > “If you want,” the woman lawyer said, “We can cut it short, and save the time for later this month. Once the month is over, we’ll be limited to short conversations for each month thereafter.” > > “Are you devils?” I asked. “Demons?” > > The older man chuckled. With the coarser voice, he did sound a little sinister in that moment. “Some would say that.” > > “What would the rest say?” I asked. I looked at Rose, praying for some backup, but she still seemed out of sorts. > > “The remainder would call us practitioners,” the woman lawyer told me. “Practitioners like you, even.” > > “Well, we’re a fair bit different from him,” the older man said. He arched one thick eyebrow. “Question is, does it matter?” > > I glanced at Rose, but she didn’t volunteer an argument. “I think it does. When I know what you’re doing, I can adapt. Why are you here?” > > “Your grandmother willed it,” the young man said. > > “Why?” I asked. > > The blonde woman responded, “Because matters were too complex for her to handle on her own, it was an economical route to take, she needed power that she wasn’t willing to spare, and we offered.”

Whats the debt though is the question.

> “Why?” I asked, again. > > “Because we’re in the business of dealing with diabolists,” the older man said. > > “Why?” I asked, once again. There wasn’t any sign that I was bothering them with this particular line of questioning. > > “Because we are and were diabolists, ourselves,” the young man said. “Once upon a time. We were offered a contract. Call it bankruptcy. It fits on more than one level. Which brings us to you.”

Did THEY bankrupt or are they helping people that have gone bankrupt?

> “How?” I asked. > > “We’re hoping to include the heir of the Thorburn estate in our number,” the old man told me. > > “You want me to work for you? Did my grandmother take the deal?” I asked. > > “Madam Thorburn didn’t, bless her,” the older man said. He smiled, as if he was acknowledging how odd it was for him to say that. “She took a harder road. She needed power, as we said. I can’t say what for, but I’m sure you could figure it out.” > > “I probably could,” I said. > > She’d needed the power to create my alter ego. To bend the rules enough to let me inherit the estate. > > The woman leaned forward. “More to the point, if she had taken the offer, you wouldn’t be here. At least, not in the same capacity.” > > My hand was hurting, the hatchet pulsing cold that was reaching through my clothing. > > The pain and discomfort might have made my tone a little more pointed than I’d meant it to be. “The world would be swallowed up in a sea of hellfire and brimstone?” > > “Nothing of the sort. Before our firm existed, it was an Otherworldly entity that reached out to our forebearers. The deal was simple. Our slates would be cleared, in every respect. We would assume a new role, new names, new responsibilities. Our old lives and every part of those lives would be left behind. Perhaps most importantly, most relevant to this discussion, our debts would be cleared.” > > “Karmic debt?” Rose asked, suddenly paying attention, jumping into the conversation. > > “Karmic debt,” the older man said. “Have you done your reading?” > > Rose said, “I started, but…” >

> I was already shaking my head.

Admit your shortcomings. They genuenily are here and were paid to be here to give answers. The best you can do is just accept all informations they want to give.

> The old man continued, “I’ll explain, then, so there are no mistaken assumptions. The world seeks balance in all respects. Whenever a practitioner works, they pay a price. Sometimes the price is overt. A soul for someone’s love. An eye for the service of a powerful spirit. The life of a companion to triumph over one’s enemies. Sometimes the price is less of a direct transaction. A favor to be paid later. Conversely, an oath given, with nothing expected.” > > “Which raises problems, hm?” the young man said. > > The old man met my eyes. “What happens when a debt isn’t paid? If you take, then die before you can give? Or the inverse?” > > “You pass it on to your kids?” > > “In some cases, yes. But those children might incur more of a debt. Over time, the debt accumulates. Perhaps two generations improve matters, working it off, and then the third undoes their hard work and adds more to the burden.” > > “The problem is never resolved?” I asked. “Until some lawyer-practitioners show up and offer a deal, something that wipes all debts clear?” > > “That is one option,” the woman said. “But I wouldn’t say the problem is never resolved. The universe rights itself.” > > “How?” I asked. Why was the axe acting up? It was almost as bad as it had been outside, now. > > The old man answered, “The cogs that operate in the background take to grinding you up instead. Funds, treasured belongings, friendships, love, they are all harder to find and easier to lose. Enemies, danger, chaos, and disruption find you more readily. In looser terms, all Others, spirits and practitioners get the sense, innate or otherwise, that they can and should work against your interests. Things start to fall apart, and the pieces fall down in the least convenient arragements for you.” > > “The universe,” the young man said, “conspires against you.” > > “Ah, hell,” I said. “That would explain a few things.” > > The old man continued with the explanation, “It would cause as many problems as it solve if the universe did it in an obvious manner. It would raise suspicion and disrupt the smooth operation of things if every coin you flipped turned up with the unwanted side, if every corner held an enemy.” > > The young man said, “It’s a stopgap measure. Sufficient for the non-practitioners who stumble on ways to give themselves bad karma.”

And this is just a natural element such as the spirits? An uncontrollable force driving events, 'the universe'. I dont quite buy it for some reason even though I just said we should believe them. As far as i had the understanding,when you deal stuff you deal it TO the being or beings that you deal with. This balance universe thing seems so flimsy and sudden, not my favorite spot to introduce this concept even if we are as early as the second arc, we had SOMETHING established before, and this is playing on the abstract natural law of things when what we had was a very solid interpersonal society of sorts in the way magic and pacts happened. Now its just THE UNIVERSE. Meh.

I dont think I understand what he meant with non practitioners. How can one that isnt awakened and doesnt know about Others do stuff like pacts and accumulate debts. If some of you could, I would love clarification. How can one balance their karma with Others if they don’t know of them? What am I missing here?

> “But,” the old man said, “In cases where the debt continues to accumulate, or it reaches a size that one person can’t pay off, we sometimes see survivors carry on.” > > “Survivors?” Rose asked. > > “Some dynasties manage to thrive despite the ill fortunes that are visiting them. There are individuals who are reclusive enough or tenacious enough to carry on. The universe doesn’t like to act overtly, so it might give you the coin flip that serves you the least, until you start counting the number of times the coin turns up head versus the times it turns up tails. In any case, the practitioner can live if they’re attentive and clever, and the debt can keep growing. This is when we start running into problems.” > > “Problems being?” I asked. > > “Being the dice all turning up snake eyes, or enemies appearing behind every corner. Once or twice, generally, but that’s all things typically need. The universe is elastic. If you push, it bounces back. If you pull, it pulls against you. If you pull too hard, too long, and it snaps, with violent consequence.” > > He seemed content to stop there, letting that sink in. > > “Okay,” I said. “I might have a general sense of the problem. But what do we do about it?” > > “Well,” the woman said. She offered me a smile. “Option one is the simplest, easiest and most obvious.” > > “Joining you?” I asked. > > “That’s option two. Option one is that you die. Violently,” she said. The smile didn’t even flicker. “The elastic snaps, and you two find yourself in an ugly situation. If you’re lucky, you can find the time and opportunity to call us, and we’d arrange a prompt solution.” > > “I’m not lucky, though,” I said. “And Molly wasn’t lucky either… She…” > > I trailed off. They waited, apparently content to wait while the gears fit together in my head and started turning. > > I finished my sentence, along a different line. “…Eats a bit of the karmic backlash, pays a bit of the price for the universe not getting what it was supposed to, and the baton gets passed to me. If I die, the same thing happens. Each of us absorbs a bit of the brunt of it, until one of us finds our footing and carries on.” > > “Very likely to be a factor in her reasoning,” the young male lawyer said. “She was clever. But the danger in this plan is that the backlash you face could wipe out your family altogether. It would be more a backup or a side benefit than a true plan.” > > “And,” Rose said, “like you said before, there’s no way she would spend that much power to put me here for that.” > > “Right,” I said. > > “Karma has very little to do with good and evil,” the blonde woman said. “It has a great deal to do with right and wrong.” > > “Can you have a surplus?” I asked. > > “You can. It’s equally problematic, in many ways,” the woman said. “Such individuals have good fortune, find life conspires to do them well, all leading up to a moment where an opportunistic Other manages to work around this good fortune and brings about their downfall.” > > “Okay,” I said, thinking. “And… if it has to do with right and wrong… then can you get badmojo for, say, going after a local practitioner’s livelihood?” Who decides whats right and wrong? Is Others attacking humans the way it was before Solomon right? Is wanting to establish Lordship over a territory without other Lords knowing about it wrong? This raises so many more questions than it answers. If an Other like the one with the Briar Girl controls a human because they made a pact with for bad intentions, who gets the karma? How much does ignorance play in how she had it coming were she weak and him strong. UGH.

Hey, quick note here, I will try and save me some of the chore explained in the end of last chapter on my rant and NOT reselect the text at the end to take it out of the quotation text I usually seperate to only include the actual novel. Doing that to give this a better format is hurting some of my willingness to keep this up, and its heavily thanks to having to select each chunck, bolden the novel parts, quote it, but then it adds the liveblog notes as well, reselect the liveblog notes, unquote THAT, which unquotes the entire thing I just quoted, but for some reason now allows me to quote only the novel part, only now it has over three times as much paragraphs per normal paragraph lines, so I go back and fix that too. I will try and keep the liveblog text just as it is above. Tell me if it hurts the format too much as a trade off. But I think its fair to you, and to me.

> “How?” the young man asked.

> > I started to reach for the note, then realized I couldn’t without moving the hatchet. I did it awkwardly with my other hand, handing it to them. > > While he read, the woman asked, “Has he acted against you? Done unprovoked harm to you?” > > “Directly? No. Indirectly? He tricked me and left me for the monsters to eat. We’d only just met. Unless the whole history of my family counts as a provocation.” > > “You’d be secure. It would even benefit you. You should be able to find all of this information in the textbooks of the library.” > > “I looked,” I said. “We looked. There was nothing about what justifies an execution.” > > “Executions are a formalization of what we just talked about. You’ll find more on them in books relating to karmic debt and the manipulation thereof.” > > I groaned a bit. Looking in the wrong place. > > “Damn it,” I heard Rose muttering. > > “You offend the community, the community retaliates, and the balance is maintained. If the community acts against you and it’s unjust, then there is imbalance, and this weighs heavier than matters between individuals. Clever individuals with some knowledge on how to use and manipulate karma could theoretically survive and ride the backlash to a position at the top.” > > I rubbed my chin. “And if I contrived to get them to punish me for a crime I didn’t commit? Get an order of execution against myself?” > > “Blake!” Rose said. > > “Theoretically,” I said. > > “There are any number of factors to consider,” the older man said. “If they offer you a chance to speak for yourself and you don’t, they would face little backlash. Are they brash? Too stupid to do so?” > > I didn’t even have to think about it. The way they’d shut down my attempt to divide them was still fresh in my memory from last night. “No.” > > “There is also the matter of the debt weighing on you,” he said. “Nearly seven lifetimes worth of unpaid karmic balance. You could work hard your entire life and only make up one of those. Devote yourself wholly and singularly to that one task, and you could maybe make up a second lifetime’s worth. Reality is not of a mind to assist you in ascending to greatness. Far easier to help the execution along and take what it can from the aftermath.” > > “The universe sounds a bit like some kind of asshole loan shark,” I said. > > “Make of it what you will,” he said. > > The hatchet wasn’t as cold as it had been, but with the chill it emanated, my hand couldn’t warm up. Is it responding to stress? Blake's and/or Rose's?

> I was distracted by the pain, stumbling as I tried to find what I was trying to say, “And… I haven’t read anything explicit about the reason this is all secret. There are rules Others follow, with stiff penalties, and they generally keep to hunting what they’re allowed to hunt… but what’s to keep me from appearing on TV tomorrow and showing off my magic?” > > “Responsibility,” the old man said. “It started as an ethic; you don’t initiate someone into this world without teaching them the proper way things are done. That ethic became a rule, and the rule became a part of the fabric of things. If you introduce someone to all of this and they make a mistake, then some of that karma weighs on you.” > > I nodded slowly. > > “These are the sorts of things Rose should have taught you. Any more questions?” Too bad she couldnt

> “I’ve probably spent way too long asking about stuff I could read in books,” I said. “But this is useful grounding to have.” > > “And we probably wouldn’t have gotten around to those books for another few weeks,” Rose said. > > “Right. But I should to ask about other stuff. I’ll start with an obvious one. Can I trust you guys?” > > “No,” the woman lawyer said. “But you can trust that we won’t sabotage you. Our interest is in bringing more people under our wing. We can achieve that by offering you good service.” > > “And by helping maneuver me into a corner,” I said. “So I end up saying your names three times and using the escape clause?” > > “We could use those tactics,” she said. “For the time being, we won’t.” > > “That’s vague,” I said. > > “Then I’ll be specific. We’ll tell you before we maneuver you into a corner.” > > “Explicitly?” Rose asked. > > “Beg pardon?” the woman lawyer asked. > > “Tell us explicitly, please.” > > “If you wish. I or one of my partners will look one of you in the eyes and inform you exactly what we’re doing, when it comes up.” > > “Why do you want me?” > > “We don’t. Quite frankly, you’re useless to us at this point,” the young man said. “But things do change.” > > “And… the cost is a few thousand years of servitude? To clear my entire family’s debt?” > > “That is part of the cost,” he said. “Any true mark you made on the world is painted over. If you want to rise in the ranks and become partner, you’ll need to give up your name, possibly aspects of your identity. Easier than it sounds, after a few decades or centuries of long days, your past life well behind you.” > > “I see,” I said. > > “Any other questions?” the old man asked. > > Something was bothering me. I had doubts, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. > > Okay, I had a lot of doubts, but there was one that seemed fresher in my mind, elusive. > > “The money?” Rose asked. “Our allowance?” > > “If I may suggest we deduct the necessary expenses for the upkeep of the property?” the young lawyer asked. > > “No trick?” Rose asked. “If it’s not a trap, then yes.” > > “No,” he said. “No trick.” > > He pulled two envelopes from his suit pocket, checked them, and then tossed one onto the table. > > Okay, that was handled. Good. I picked up the envelope and pocketed it. > > “Um. Important point number two. Going outside,” Rose said. “How do we do it?” > > “Know how to defend yourself,” the old man said. “If you wish, we can arrange for an errand boy, to handle groceries and purchases. You’d be limited to the house all the same.” > > Rose glanced at me. She still looked out of sorts, but she was thinking now. Which was good, because I was preoccupied. > > I nodded absently. I couldn’t quite figure out what had bothered me. Something elusive one of them had just said. "Part of the price" would be the catch for me. The other being that we need to go back on options we have.

> “Yes,” she said. > > “Then we’ll take out the cost for the errand boy from next month’s allowance,” the young lawyer said. “If that’s all right?” > > “Yes,” Rose said. “If it isn’t a trap or a trick.” > > “We’ll see to it.” > > “And the question of marriage, in the instructions?” Rose asked. > > That got my full attention. I’d nearly forgotten. > > “What of it?” the lawyer asked. > > “Blake has to marry a man?” Rose asked. > > “Mr. Thorburn has to do no such thing,” the older man said. “It has been left up to our discretion, to evaluate Mr. Thorburn’s progress and evaluate him regularly, keeping the intentions of the departed Mrs. Thorburn in mind all the while.” > > “That seems too easy,” I said. > > “It isn’t easy at all,” he replied, “Rest assured. I do recommend you marry, and I’d even recommend you marry a man, because fulfilling an obligation is an advantage that can help you survive. Still, I can’t imagine it’s at the forefront of your mind right now?” > > I shook my head. > > “Then we can leave it for another meeting at another time. Speaking of…” > > “Fourteen minutes remain,” the younger lawyer said. > > “Two more questions,” I said. “Then I think we’re done, unless Rose has something to say. You said the cost of working for your firm… a few hundred to a few tens of thousands of years of service? A loss of identity, a loss of a name?” > > “If you rise through the ranks, you might even take the name of Mann, Lewis or Levinn,” the young man said. Distracting me. > > “And what happens to you?” Rose asked. > > I bit my tongue before I snapped at her. She was interrupting my line of questioning. > > “We’re done,” the young lawyer said. “Early. Not easy, I assure you, but it’s an option.” > > “Which is why you want to recruit,” she said. > > “A part of it,” he said. > > “But there’s something else, isn’t there?” I asked, before I could get interrupted again. “Hundreds or thousands of years of employment, a loss of identity, a loss of our name. But you didn’t say that’s everything.” > > “No. We didn’t,” the blonde lawyer said. > > “What’s the catch?” I asked. > > She frowned. “In the process of signing the contract, you agree to give them a foothold.” > > “Them?” Rose asked. > > “Them. You should know who I mean. You hand over things of value, and they take them. Footholds. To help them climb forth from where they’ve been banished or bound, or give them a foundation to better leverage their strength. A room, a house, a pen, a sword, a companion.” > > A pair of shears. Ah cool so its not so much as eternal punishment like it usually goes. Its giving dangerous Others more space to move around and influence things.

> “I could go into detail about the benefits, the why of it, but I would be frittering away your time. There is more on the subject in the library.” > > “I think I get it, even without the books,” Rose said. Quiet. “We make that deal, to save our hide, and they get stronger, making life harder on the rest of humanity.” > > “Theoretically,” I asked, “what would happen if I swore, right here and right now, that I was never going to take the deal?” > > “We would conduct business as the contract with Rose D. Thorburn mandates,” the older lawyer said, “But you would find that we, like the universe, had far less goodwill towards you.” > > I nodded. > > She shifted position. Her tone somewhat softer than it had been, she said, “I can’t speak for the others, but I would respect you for it, I would understand. In the end, however, business is business, and we have our obligations.” > > “Sure,” I said. > > “Is there more you would like to ask along those lines?” she asked. > > I shook my head. “No. But I’d like to ask if you could deliver this letter. Unless there’s a flaw in this plan I’m overlooking.” > > “There are complications,” the young lawyer said, “But there will be complications with any route you take.” I was overlooking how in the absolute fuck do they already know everything that is in the library. Because I can trust that in exchange for not being able to teach her children, Rose passed what she knew and what she catalogued to these lawyers so they could better direct her offspring. But HOOOWWW does he already know about what the plan Blake had in mind for Laird entailed.

> “If you were to take it yourself,” the woman lawyer said, “Or have a more direct hand in it, you reap a greater reward.” > > “Personally restoring balance to the grand scheme of things… I can’t help but feel like this is dangerous. Karmic retribution. Promoting eye-for-an eye thinking. How do you know if things are balanced?” > > “You pay attention,” the old man said. > > “Right,” I said. I frowned. To have the lawyers deliver the letter or go myself? > > “I think I might have to ask you to deliver the letter,” I said. I couldn’t ignore the hatchet, or my hand. “I’ve got something else to take care of.” > > “If I may suggest a compromise,” the young woman said. “I’ve been working for several days, and I’m due a break. I could spare an hour, if you can see to that something else and find time for the errand.” > > “The escort didn’t work out so hot for us the first time,” Rose murmured. I could see from movement of the lawyer’s eyes that she’d heard, but the woman gave no other sign. > > I shook my head a little. “It’s-” > > “The object under your coat demands your attention. May I?” > > I withdrew the hatchet, but I didn’t hand it over. > > “I’ll help,” she said. “No trickery or sabotage. I can guarantee you’ll be better off than if you saw to it yourself.” > > “You’ll see us safely the entire way there and back?” I asked. “And while we’re there?” > > “As safely as you allow,” the lawyer said. > > Rose chimed in. “You promise not to carry out any tricks or traps at least until the next time we meet?” > > “Yes,” she said. > > “This won’t count against our time?” I asked. > > “No cost, insofar as something can have no cost.” I suppose walking around for an hour could count as a break. Lets not pretend she doesnt want to get something from this. Probably more trust.

> The other lawyers were standing. The younger one looked at his watch. “Then we’re done, with just over ten minutes remaining on the clock. Thank you for the hospitality.” > > “You’re welcome,” I said, feeling wary. > > The older lawyer extended a hand. I hesitated, then shook it with my numb hand. He didn’t react. > > “You should only be seeing one of us at a time, now that introductions are done,” the older lawyer said, letting my hand go. “Barring exceptional circumstance, or a request to join the company.” > > I nodded. > > “We’ll see you later in the day, Ms. Lewis,” he said. > > “You will,” the blonde lawyer said. > > I’d expected the two men to disappear, but they left through the front door, collecting outdoor jackets along the way and pulling them on as they made their way down the front steps. > > Leaving me in the company of Ms. Lewis. > > “May I see it?” she asked. “The imbued object?” > > “I promised it I’d keep it warm,” I said. > > “Not exactly true, is that?” she asked me. > > I frowned. > > “I’m fairly well versed in seeing the nuances of karma at work. You’ve come very close to lying a few times in a short span of time, and you’ve each outright lied at least once in the half hour prior to our arrival.” > > “Oh hell,” I said. Yup. I cant quite pinpoint the exact phrases but I cant say I didnt notice they were slipping a bit or coming very close to with some sentences. Maybe even the crying sarcasm thing with the oatmeal

> “It’s easy to slip, at first,” she said. “In this case, you’re bordering on a lie, but you’re still telling the truth. Rose here promised you’d keep it warm. Your promise was implicit, and because Rose is an extension of you…” > > “It’s borderline,” I said. > > “Being more honest means you stock up more goodwill with the universe and any others you meet. Borderline dishonesty is useful, lying by omission is better yet, and unvarnished honesty is better still. I can’t quite interpret it, but perhaps you were joking? Sarcasm?” > > I thought back. > > “Shit,” I said. “So… what? I lose my power?” > > “You lose some. And a mere ghost gains more influence over you, even through a circle, or when bound into an object. It’ll take at least a week to wear off. Luckily, there aren’t many things in this house to hear, hm?” > > “And me?” Rose asked. > > “It matters for you too,” Ms. Lewis said. “For the time being, you are connected to Blake. Tell me, Blake, did you feel weaker? More vulnerable?” > > “I felt tired,” I said. “I wondered for a moment if Rose had done something.” > > “A vestige is fragile. Defy the natural order, and the vestige suffers.” > > “And a damaged vestige drains energy,” I said, glancing at Rose. > > “Just so.” > > “I’d kind of expected a… clap of thunder?” I said. > > “Barring the exceptional moments of idiocy, such as the breaking of an oath, you typically only discover what you’ve done when you reach for power and find it gone.” > > “So stupid of us,” Rose said. > > Ms. Lewis smiled and shook her head. “I will keep the ghost contained. To do otherwise would put a client at risk. May I?” > > She extended a hand. > > I handed the hatchet over. She didn’t flinch as the handle touched her hand. > > “You’ve worked with tools before,” she said. > > “Hm?” > > “Your hands have that look about them, and you handed the hatchet to me handle first. It’s the sort of thing you learn on the job, or you’re taught it as a matter of course, becoming a gentleman.” > > “Blake, not a gentleman?” Rose asked. > > “That is the sort of sarcasm you can get away with,” Ms. Lewis said. “A gentleman would have offered guests something to drink. As would a lady, Ms. Thorburn. Shall we go see to your errands? I can attend to this tool in the meantime.” > > A little unsure, I still nodded. > > She’d left a winter coat folded over a chair in the front hallway. She draped it over her shoulders without putting her arms through the sleeves. > > I, for my part, did what I could to warm my hands by rubbing them against one another, before we stepped outside. > > “Ground rules,” Ms. Lewis said. “This isn’t business. Anything I say or do should be taken in the capacity of an acquaintance or teacher. I won’t give you answers I think you should pay for” > > “I understand,” I said. > > “Good response,” she said. “Not committing to anything. All that said, I’d like to help you if I see the chance.” > > “Somehow I anticipated you guys would be scarier,” I said. “Or, and I hope I’m not being offensive, more professional.” > > “We adapt to the client,” she said. She didn’t flinch at the cold as we made our way down the driveway. Something a little more Other about her, like the old man’s laugh. > > “You’re being awfully helpful, running this errand with me for no benefit. Or is there something I’m missing?” > > “Let’s just say it’s me establishing a relationship with a potential new client.” > > “We can say that,” Rose said, speaking from the mirror I wore in the open ‘v’ of my jacket collar, “But what is it really?” > > “It’s largely selfish,” Ms. Lewis said. She drew in a deep breath, then sighed. “As clients go, you’re quite endearing, compared to our usual.” Wildbow, stop making me thing the diabolist lawyer with intentions to enslave our main character for hundreds of years is being adorable and quite a dear.

> She withdrew a spool from an inside pocket of her jacket. Thin silver wire. “And this is not something I usually get to do, in the course of my duties. Nostalgic.” > > Ms. Lewis unwound the wire, then began winding it loosely around the foam handle as she walked. > > “Who are your regular clients?” Rose asked. > > “They vary, and they are confidential,” Ms. Lewis said. “Speaking in general terms, a rare few are like your grandmother. A great many aren’t.” > > “And what are they like?” I asked. > > “You’ve met the barber. They are the sorts who would use him and sleep that night.” > > “Ah,” I said. “You’re using your sight to see the connection between me and it?” > > “Yes. I would recommend using it more. Try it now?” Oh yeah! Something I think everyone appreciated in Worm and some find it missing in Ward is the ability to envision stuff in the context of both characters and storytelling MORE than a normal person. As in using bugs. And now as using Other-sight as I will call it until called otherwise.

> I switched to my sight. The connections weren’t very clear. > > “Look to your three o’clock without turning your head,” she said. > > I did. > > Something that might have been a raccoon scampered down from the top of the garage to the far side. It probably wasn’t a raccoon. > > “It’s gone,” I said. > > “It’s there, it’s just out of sight. Keep looking.” > > I did. I searched for the connection, but I couldn’t make out much. The world was buried under a haze, and the wind was blowing in too many directions at once. > > “Trace your eyes along the paths that things run in parallel, the straightest lines. Good place to start, and good places to avoid if you think someone’s searching for you.” > > I looked harder. The saturation and contrast seemed exaggerated, the world painted in a impasto style with coarse brush strokes, animated with life and constant motion. I followed the areas where the strokes and lines met, so I could see the flow of it, not stopping at a dead end but naturally sweeping my eyes along the straighter paths where the particles danced. > > I caught it a second or two faster than I might have if I wasn’t already focused on the area. It looked like the slop that you dug out of a gutter after a rain. Leaves, branches, twigs, and a bit or two of trash. There were only shadows where eyes were supposed to be, and a few pieces of stone, some teeth, and a bird’s beak where it was supposed to have teeth. > > It stopped in its tracks, seemingly startled, as if my vision had transfixed it. > > A moment later, it bolted, disappearing around the corner at edge of Hillsglade House. > > “You looked too hard,” she said. “You made a connection, and it noticed. A lesser elemental. Now keep looking. Softer. Relax, and try to see where the longest lines are. If you don’t focus too hard, it’s easier to see them.” > > I looked, relaxing my focus on the spirits. > > It very deliberately avoided the railing of the fence as it perched on the stone of the wall, glancing my way. It seemed bothered that I’d spotted it again. Leaves and twigs stood up like an irritated cat or a dog with the hackles up. > > My eye traveled over the splash of minor spirits that danced around it, seeking out the areas where they were traveling in the straightest lines. > > One, blocked by the house. I eyeballed it, figured out the direction, found it on the other side of the house, faint, disappearing into the woods and glades. > > The Briar Girl, I thought. The Others I’d seen before June showed up… I suspected they were hers. > > “She wants your attention, and very possibly wants your help.” > > “You know her?” I asked, looking at Ms. Lewis. > > “No. But I can tell. What does she want?” > > “The woods and marshes.” > > “She can’t have the woods and marshes, Mr. Thorburn. She’ll be upset when you tell her.” > > “Probably,” I said. > > She took a moment to wind the wire around, hooking it through one loop, then adjusting the tightness of each segment in turn. It was biting into the foam grip, but not so much it was ugly or unnatural. The end result was more like something between a Celtic knot and a chain-link fence. > > “You’ll have some confrontations soon. You’ll need to be stronger.” > > “I know,” I said. > > “Are you aware enough to know you’re in danger right now?” Haha fuck.

> I raised an eyebrow. > > “How? Who?” Rose asked. > > “A car, behind us. Ignore it. We’ll take an alley the car can’t pass through, forcing them to circle around. We can stop partway, forcing them to turn around again or stop and wait for us to emerge. We’ll decide what we do then.” > > “This is more passive than I expected of you,” I said. > > “I have my hands full, for one thing,” Ms. Lewis said. “And there are other reasons. Consider this a lesson. The first step is getting a bead on them. As we turn to enter the alley, you’ll have a glimpse of them. Look for the connection and hold on to it. Fixate on it without identifying yourself.” > > “Sure,” I said. “You make it sound so easy.” > > “It’s moving. A straight line. It’s also isolated. There are few cars on the road. It’s too early in the morning, and the city sees little traffic. It’s easier to spot a car alone than a car in the crowd, with your sight just as much as with your eyes.” > > “Right.” > > “Holding on is going to be harder than finding it. Now.” > > We turned. The car passed behind me. I had only a glimpse of the electric blue sedan. Stuffed animals on the ledge by the rear-view window. > > Sure enough, I found the connection, thin. Holding on… I wasn’t even sure how. I focused my attention on it. > > “It’s turning, and turning again, going around the block,” she said. > > “We stop?” I asked. > > Ms. Lewis nodded. > > We stopped in the middle of the alleyway. > > I could see as the car slowed, then stopped. The connection became far less focused. Diffuse on one end, tighter on the other. > > “There are options, now” Ms. Lewis said. “The first step would be identifying them. I’m not going to give you the answer. Find it yourself.” I was beggining to doubt the stability in progression on Blake and Rose without supervision before. Wildbow probably noticed it too. It eould be unkind to his other characters to have his main one learn everything from books with little chance to act because of risks but win against his overwhelming foes. Blake needed a tutor and I'm that at least for this major lesson on a power everyone can use he is getting one.

> I had only the clues to go by, the color and make of the car, the fact that it had been a bit dingy. Not new by any stretch of the imagination, the stuffed animals… > > The wrong track. Not enough to put any name to it. > > The connection itself… I examined it in more detail, as the end closest to me got more and more broken up. If I had a better eye for this sort of thing, I might have been able to see where they were focusing their attention. > > That would be a useful tool. To know where your enemies senses were directed and to act elsewhere. > > I wondered if the Others I’d seen darting out of sight of people had been doing the same. > > The spirits that made up the connection took all sorts of shapes. I couldn’t focus enough to make them out. They seemed to dart out of my view when I tried to look at them, like the dust that settled on the surface of the eye. > > “I’m not sure I can,” I said. > > “You would have more focus if you hadn’t lied,” she said. “Be glad you were in the house and it wasn’t more severe. Try harder.” > > I tried. Interpreting what the spirits were supposed to be was hard. They often had arms and legs, sometimes in vague human shapes, sometimes not, and most were transparent. The shape, the colors, the aesthetics, they all pointed to the ideas and elements these things supported. > > I couldn’t decipher them before I felt something shift. The connection solidified on the one end. In a heartbeat, they had both focused on me. > > Yet they hadn’t moved. > > A second later, they were taking some sort of action, moving, and very deliberately, they scattered my perception of where they were. Disappearing somewhere. I could tell they had a bead on me, but I had no idea where they were. > > They had deftly flipped the tables on me. Yup. We knew this could happen.

> “Duchamps,” I said. > > Ms. Lewis nodded. Her attention was on the hatchet, as she scratched at the metal with what looked like a needle. “Details?” > > “Enchantresses,” I said. “A coven.” > > “One of them is calling family,” she said. “She hasn’t gotten through, probably because it’s so early in the day. But she’s using an implement to focus the connection. She will get through, given another minute or two, and you’ll have more enemies to deal with. Very possibly the entire coven.” > > “This is the point where the whole ‘escorting us safely there’ thing comes into play.” > > “It is,” she said. She kept scratching at the hatchet. When she saw me looking, she said, “Oh. This will be another minute.” > > “You’re not going to fight them? Or stop the call?” > > “No. I’m not permitted.” > > “I… what?” > > “I can only make explicit use of my power while I’m working. As I said before, I’m nothing more than a teacher and an acquaintance while I’m taking this break.” > > “You misled us,” Rose said. > > “I was very clear. Don’t start crying now. We’ve made it this far. Now face them head-on. Can you see it? One coming right now.” > > I looked, and I saw something. > > A bird made its way into the alley. Not a hawk or anything like that, but one of the tiny ones that tended to bob up and down in the air more than it actually glided or flew. A chickadee or sparrow or some such. > > It unfolded, feathers sweeping across a space five feet long, a momentary curtain. > > Putting me face to face with a woman so beautiful she looked artificial. Her ears had a slight point to them, and she had an eerie sort of confidence to her step. Snow settled on platinum-colored hair and bare shoulders, exposed by clothing that seemed more ornamental than anything else. Something between a revealing variant on a Japanese yukata and a high-fashion dress I might expect to see on a runway in France or Italy, inspired by a flower in bloom. Any time I thought it might belong to one culture, some aspect of it dismissed the notion. > > Her eyes were pale from corner to corner, the eyelashes long and dark in a way a makeup artist would struggle to achieve. When she smiled, she showed a bit of her teeth. > > She drew a sword slowly, with second after second of the clean sound of the weapon leaving the scabbard. I wasn’t sure what kind of sword it was. > > The damned weapon was easily twelve feet long. Her arms outstretched in front and behind her, she bent the metal until it bowed in a ‘u’. When it came free, it did so in a shower of sparks, the blade practically dancing as it recoiled, returning to its straight length. The sound of metal singing filled the air. > > She held it pointing straight up until it stilled, then lowered it so the point was aimed straight at my heart, her position very much like a fencer’s. If I looked past the movement of the wind that made the length of thin metal sway, the blade didn’t shake or waver in the slightest. > > Ms Lewis placed a hand on my shoulder, making me jump a little. When she spoke, it was a murmur in my ear. “Now, shoulders square, chin up. Take a deep breath. Get some oxygen to that brain of yours.” > > “What- why are you saying that?” I asked. > > “I’m going to walk you through this, and I’m going to hope that you follow my instructions to the letter. Now pay attention. The less guidance you demand from me, the faster I can hand this hatchet to you.”

I both feel the tension for another class of dealing with an Other of some sort with teacher Ms. Lewis and know that Blake will turn out okay as long as he listens because she promised as so. And what is with this much showoff for the sword haha I love it!! Since this chapter had a lot of exposition I'm going to go and read the next one to give you guys more commentary!

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