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The waitress at The Lucky Hound walked away from the bustle of the
busy bar and started up the stairs leading to the resident rooms. The
smell of incense became stronger, taking her back ages ago to when
she was a child, playing in the forest and searching for the elves
and faeries. As she walked down the hall to the far end she could
hear the distinct sound of chanting in some strange language,yet so
familiar, like the sound of wind rushing through the tops of the tall
pine tree. She couldn't help herself, she had to see what was
happening on the other side of the door. She slowly opened the wooden
portal and peered inside, suddenly noticing that all the furniture
had been removed. In the center of the room was a robed figure
hovering a few inches above the floor. The wooden planks underneath
were covered with concentric circles inlayed with intricate writing,
hardly recognizable in the soft candlelight. To the left of the man
was a tall brass brazier burning a tall black flame tinged with an
inner blue light. The robed figure raised his arms and slowly turned
around. The young girl had just started to leave when a voice could
be heard speaking to her.
"You there, Corrine, where are you going?"
The girl spoke quickly "please sir, i meant nothing by it, I.....How
did you know my name?
"I know many things Corrine...come closer...I won't harm you". The
robed man lowered to the floor and gestured her inside.
The girl walked in quickly and made her way to the far side of the
room feeling very uncomfortable.
"Do you like magic Corrine"
"I....er..well....i do find it rather fascinating...actually, the was
this one time when a druid stopped here for.."
"I see." said the man, cutting her off mid sentence. "Do you know who
I am Corrine?"
"No sir, how could I" she said. The bar waitress moved closer to the
man, feeling more eager to talk to him. Something about him was
strange and inhuman, but comforting like the embrace of a parent.
"Would you like to learn the ancient ways?" the man said placing his
hand on Corrines shoulder and bringing her closer to the brazier.
"You could show me?" she said, looking inot the mans eyes with an
almost childhood excitement.
"Of course, you'll have plenty of time to learn all the magic you
want in the netherealm". Before the Girl could make sense of what
he'd said, Nexus Crow pushed the girl into the brazier which engulfed
her in a blaze of darkness.
Nexus Crow looked down into his scroll and crossed off the last
ingredient on the list as he strooled over to the now bright brazier
which was emitting a thick white smoke.
"It is now time to begin my call,
three mandrake root brewed in the night
and slips of yew ta'en from dawns light
mistletoe, cedar, oak and willow
rowan wood and demons' pillow
the hand of a drunkard passed from this life
The apprentice imprisoned by a double edged knife
Rise to me smoke and take heed to my call
bring to me those who are destined to fall!"
Nexus crow reached his hand out into the column of white smoke and
let it curl around his hand.
"Bring me the two assassins and do not fail me!"
The smoke fell to the floor and slowly became a large black beast
with glowing yellow eyes, like that of the harvest moon.
"And remember, should you fail to bring them to me, the mother will
take care of you....she looks down on failure"
The beast smiled at Nexus and The turned and jumped through the
window and into the dark alleyway.
Nexus waved his hands and the room returned to it's normal look. He
plopped down into a nice chair by the fire and peered deep inside it.
"I hope my efforts this time won't be in vain, otherwise i might have
to do something...drastic....
The fire burned, deep and brilliant. Somewhere, deep within the
forest, a howl could be heard, calling......calling out to the
darkness....a perhaps, those who inhabit it.
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