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- source post no longer active, blog deactivated/empty, Originally posted by @satans-harvest

The young wiry orc turned slowly, trying to get his bearings or, hope against hope, spot something that looked like the flowering herb pictured in the other corner of his goggle display that Ravyn promised him The Ladies from Hades would pay sweet cash for. Because even a bunch of heavy metal fake Satanic witches had the sense to not slog through this wasteland looking for weeds no matter what magical properties they allegedly had.

And that’s when he saw it. Just standing there behind him looming large and… menacing? He took a step back and lifted his Predator II. The smartlink painted a red spot on his vision as he aimed at the creature. The software was a couple of years old and just sluggish enough to feel laggy. But whatever the thing that had been creeping up behind him was it seemed inclined to just wait there now as he aimed at it’s face. No head really, but honestly, he’d take a face without a head over a head with a face. That thing still haunted his nightmares after he’d caught a glimpse of it lurking about near the old hospital.

Teeth, claws, a good foot taller than him and much bulkier than his lanky form but yet there was something just off about the thing. He was no expert in awakened creatures and magic but he was guessing spirit. And it was just… standing there.

“Um… Hello?”

It didn’t answer, but it had been worth a try. He backed away slowly and the thing remained unmoving. If it hadn’t been standing in the space he’d just walked through he might even think he was being spooked by some forgotten (rightfully so) lawn decor or something. He took another step back and then spun on his heel to run rather than wait for the thing to decide to do something.

And he skidded to a halt rather than run headlong into it. It had been behind him again, closer than before. It was lifting one arm like it had begun to reach for him but now that he was looking at it it was motionless. He felt a trickle of sweat on his neck. Unfortunately, his gun wasn’t new enough to have the gun’s eye view installed. He snapped his left arm out and popped the hand blade built into his wrist out. It clicked into place parallel to his hand. He lifted the chrome polished blade up and used it’s mirror smooth finish to look behind him. Rotating his arm, he saw the space was now empty. But as he brought his attention back to the thing, it was closer and reaching out with both arms now.

He fixed his gaze on it and backed up. As he watched it, it remained perfectly still. He backed up a bit more and then, with a shaky breath, he closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them.

Cat-Who-Walks-By-Herself stared at the timer counting down as her stomach knotted and clenched. Even two and half days away the thought of sleep made her sick. Shaking off her dread, she moved to check her supply, four doses left in the box. Same as it had been the last time and the time before that. She walked and begin moving slowly around the old morgue’s confines, checking the pictographs and markings she’d placed, shifting her sight to examine the lines of magical power flowing through them, reconfirming that the lodge was seamless and intact yet again.

She felt it approaching well before the thing spoke to announce its presence.

“Mistress.”

She didn’t turn. It had no eyes to meet, not even a face. “Is it done?”

“I would not return if it were not. You know this.”

“And was it… painful?”

“Agonizing Mistress. As you commanded. He died screaming in helpless terror.”

She nodded. “He deserved it you know.”

“Of course Mistress. It was your will.”

She turned and faced the thing. “But I wished him dead for a reason. A good reason.”

“That you willed it was reason enough for me Mistress. His existence displeased you and thus I snuffed it out.”

She frowned.

“Does something vex thee Mistress?”

“No. It’s just… It’s been years… I’ve waited for this and now I’m… not sure how I feel.”

“You should feel victorious. You have struck down one who sought to harm you as a child. You managed to escape, to survive when others failed and died. Today, you have proven yourself the stronger.”

She nodded. “It was not by my own hand though.”

“My hands are your hands Mistress. It was your power that moved me to seek him out. I am but a manifestation of your will.”

“By will and blood bound.”

“Yes Mistress.”

She nodded and turned to look at the cold metal slab of the dissection table that sat in the room’s center. She had taken everything from them, their money, this decrepit and derelict hospital they’d hidden in, even their lives. She had fortified her lair with wards and laced the corridors and doors with traps. She’d summoned dozens of spirits to watch over it, bound by blood sacrifice to defend it against any intrusion. She had made this place into an impenetrable fortress.

“I’m a non-Christian living the South, I can’t even go to a god damn potluck without having to thank some space fairy for the broccoli casserole, and honey, it makes me a little uncomfortable.”

I’m WHEEZING.