A Taste of Mercy (A Recipe fo...

I was going to Hell, again. And I had just escaped from there not even a whole day ago too. Even worse, I hadn’t even done anything to deserve it. Other than survive a Demon Lord capturing me, torturing me and trying to dominate my will, and then I tried to burn him alive with Wild Magic. I also managed to kill his protégé and I may have killed his current blood slave. He had kidnapped my sister and wanted to add me to his collection for some reason so I'm going to be gunning for him in a big way, but I wasn’t going to Hell with Marcus. Another Demon Lord named Sebastian was taking me to his territory, all in an attempt to protect me and everyone around me because in my attempts to gain my freedom and survival, my magic had gone rogue.

                 I’m Callahan Orenda and back when my life made sense, things were a lot less like a soap opera. I worked as a fitness instructor doing nothing much that really mattered and in my free time I danced at a club called Faerie Tales, which was owned and operated by my friend Amanda and her husband Dominic. I had liked my nice, quiet, responsibility free life and the only things that used to give me trouble were all related to my family, and the Power Floods, but everyone gets bugged by those. My identical twin sister is named Cassandra and in our modern world of magic, she’s a very important person; she’s a Healer with no peer. The Council of Casters; a nameless, faceless body of crotchety old men and women, decided that having a Caster like Cassie be a spokesperson for the Ontario Caster 온라인카지노주소 would be a good way to convince the larger majority of Normal humans that we Casters are relatively harmless. Because about fifty years prior to my birth, the parallel worlds opened into each other and suddenly myths, legends and magic were real. Now we humans get to play nice with angels and demons, and all the creatures of Faery and in return humans developed latent magical skills.

                I, for example, used to be able to manipulate the four elements. I could pour Power into manifestations of the elements and use them to my purpose but while I was in Marcus’ possession, he forced my guardian Edward to torture me. Cassie and I are orphans and Edward was close with our father so when we were born and our father did a disappearing act, Edward was stuck raising us. But it turned out that our father hadn't just disappeared, he had been kidnapped by the Demon Lord Marcus for some villainous, unknown reason. And this year Marcus came for Cassie too, but instead had capture me by turning Edward into a blood slave. Being betrayed by my guardian wasn't bad enough though; because I wasn't the twin Marcus had originally wanted Edward used a pain crop to torture me for Cassie's location. The pain crop is a magical tool that damages both flesh and magic. Eventually I was able to escape, after almost dying and I was reunited with my twin Cassie.

                Before I could even recover from what had happened to me though, Marcus and Edward were able to follow me to Cassie. They were trying to capture her all along, but now Marcus wanted us both. During the exchange of bargaining positions, I was forced into a blood bond with Marcus and he tried to take my mind like he had with Edward. However, with the help of my friends Alex and Nikka, I resisted and then I retaliated. I struck out with everything I had in my magical arsenal but unfortunately I was still damaged by the torture and my magic went Wild. It would be bad enough on its own if I could only just call the elements but to make matters worse, I have a very unique second Gift. I can hook into anyone and borrow their gifts, as long as they are in reach. As a Sensate, I can see all magical energies around me, with a little Wild Magic added to that it wouldn't be so bad. However, adding Wild Magic to my ability to hook into others and suddenly my Magic was trying to hook into everyone around me and cause them to go Wild too. Even with my best efforts I failed to stop Marcus and Edward from taking Cassie and now I was a danger to those who were left that I cared about.

                “You expect me to just let you take Callahan with you to the Granite Realms?” Alex, the shape Changer leader of Ottawa scoffed. Although I wasn't sure what it was between him and me now, I knew that at best it was complicated.

                “I don’t expect you to do anything. But Kitten and I are going to my Keep. It’s the best thing for her right now.” Sebastian replied loftily. Goddess the Demon Lord sounded smug. “Her magic has gone completely Wild, we all felt it. Mortal magics are subdued in the Granite Realm. Thus by taking her there, we can help reduce the chances that her Wild Magic will affect those around her.”

                Alex snarled at the Demon Lord. “I don’t trust you to keep her safe. You’re more worried about what’s best for you. Marcus is your elder brother; maybe you’re even helping him.” These two men already hated each other, and this situation was just rife with a chance for things to turn nasty between them really quickly.

                “You don’t have to trust me Alex. You’re the one who let Marcus take her in the first place. Or have you forgotten that for all your power, Change Leader, you failed?” Sebastian taunted.

                “HEY!” Zeke bellowed. “I hate to interrupt you two from the fight that’s brewing but we have a seriously fucked up situation on our hands. My fiancée has been kidnapped by a Demon Lord. What are we going to do to get her back?” The vampire demanded.

                Sebastian turned a sympathetic look on Zeke. “We will get Cassie back. But first we need to go somewhere safe to make a stratagem, instead of standing here arguing about who’s taking care of Callahan.”

                I just watched the three of them prattle on, and then I turned and looked at the still silent Nikka. She stood slightly behind me, guarding my back and shrugged when she saw me looking, but remained quiet. I'd rescued her from Marcus' clutches at the same time I had saved myself and she was the only one here whom had never even known my twin Cassie. I looked back at the three men in front of me still fighting feeling so tired of this all; I didn’t care about anything but getting Cassie back. I hadn’t a clue how I was going to do that but I was still determined and I’d find a way. “If I have to go to Sebastian’s Keep to find a way to get Cassie back, then that’s what I’m doing. So shut up and let’s go.” I said voice oddly flat. Zeke smiled at me, Sebastian looked triumphant and Alex gave me a searching look. Considering how much I loathed putting myself in Sebastian’s care, my willingness to do so now must have been surprising.

                “First we must return to my home back in Ottawa.” Sebastian announced. We were still in Underhill, the Realm of the Fae and it’s supposed to be extremely difficult to cross over from one Other Realm to another. The Mortal Realm, that’s where the humans reside, is usually necessary as a kind of transfer point. I looked around mutely, the guards whom had been around had all regained their feet and returned to their posts without a single word and my friend Jensen was standing back, watching us. I think he was relieved that we’d all agreed to leave his Realm. He's an Elf Prince and hadn't even known me for longer than a single night before I had pretty much ruined his life too.

                “Sorry for the mess.” I called out to him. He blinked and gave a weak smile.

                “I’m the one who complained about Fae Court being boring. I’m glad I could help a friend in need, but Callahan, you attract danger like a flower does bees.” He complained and I tried a smile but my face felt stiff.

                “Well, we’re getting out of your hair. I’ll write you another letter once things get settled.” I promised blandly.

                “Cal,” Nikka said softly from behind me, “I don’t think your life is ever going to be settled.” I laughed without looking at her.

                “Well, I would suggest we proceed with haste now that we’ve come to an agreement.” Sebastian suggested suavely.

                I grunted in response and started walking towards where I could feel the crossover to the Mortal Realm. Alex walked close enough beside me that we kept bumping each other; it was awkwardly comforting because I didn’t feel ready for this. I couldn’t think past the hollow fear in my gut. My twin sister was in the hands of a sick, cruel Demon Lord whom had tortured me for days. As much as I love and respect Cassie, I don’t believe she’d survive his tender loving care for long. When it comes to pain or suffering, I tend to do a bit better than Cassie and I almost didn’t survive Marcus’ ministrations.

                “Callahan,” Alex stepped close next to me as I stopped walking, “you want me to go with you?” he asked so softly that I almost didn’t hear him. The fact that a dominant man like him was asking my permission would be astonishing, add to it the fact that we weren't exactly on clear terms with each other and him wanting to hang around at all was just miraculous.

                “Yes.” I replied with a quirk of my lips. I’ve never needed someone before and I was loath to admit I might now, but lying wouldn’t help. “But I can’t ask you to go with me; I don’t know how long I’ll be in trying to get Cass back and you are needed here to take care of the Change 온라인카지노주소.” That was just one of the many complications between Alex and I.

                Alex blinked his cool orange eyes at me. The brow that had shown up so suddenly in his eyes caught the light though there were only faint streaks of it now. I’d saved Alex’s life nearly at the cost of my own and that had caused an accidental Blood Bond between us for a while.  It had allowed Alex to help me fight Marcus when he tried to use a forced Blood Bond to steal my mind and free will. I’d though it had been completely broken but pieces remained.

                “I can come for a week or so Callahan, all you have to do is ask.” The Change Leader retorted. I could feel a swell of tension enter the room; Sebastian didn’t like the idea of having Alex in his Keep at all. Part of it was that Sebastian was intrigued by me because I’d turned him down several times; apparently a first for the Demon Lord, but some of it was because Sebastian had known my father too. The increase in tension twisted a pain inside my gut and my breath left me in a rush as my Wild Magic tried to curl loose and play with the people around me. I managed to hold onto it but when I blinked the pain tears out of my eyes, I was on my knees with Nikka holding onto me. As soon as she realized I was fine, she let go and stood up without a word. For a brief second I thought I smelled a strange musk but the scent disappeared.

                I wanted to ask Alex to come with me and stay with me; I wanted the reassurance of him being there and at the same time was terrified at the prospect of saying those words. So for now I simply nodded and stayed silent. At last we all turned to the entrance to the human realm. Originally when I passed through, it had felt like a tingling rush as if my skin were being caressed by pop bubbles. But this time it felt as if I were trying to push my way through an elastic membrane. I had to literally force each step until I felt the pressure snap and I was on the other side. I felt a drop and touched my hand to my face only to reveal a gnarly nose bleed, which was a step up from weeping blood tears like I had done in Underhill. It was easier to handle the Wild Magic on this side; Underhill enhanced human Magics, so being back in the Human Realm gave me a little more breathing room.

                Outside it was night time and very much a Canadian winter, my breath fogged the air around me and my hospital slippers crunched in the snow. I knew I should feel cold but it just didn’t register past the shock I was probably in. When I raised my hand to wipe the blood off my face again, I realized I was shaking so I tucked my hand in the scrub pockets so no one could see how close to losing it I was. I needed to keep moving before I collapsed into a useless heap.

                “Alright boys, let’s get this show on the road. We have to cross the city and get into Sebastian’s home without the Council catching us. They were going to look for Cass and me there so we can be pretty sure they’ll have the place staked out.” I tried to sound authoritative but I think I just sounded tired.

                “That’s not going to be easy kitten.” Sebastian said softly. “They have a sensor watching the place, so unless you can think of a way to hide your Magical signature, the only way in is straight through them.”

                I laughed without humour. Part of my special gift used to include the ability to blend my own energy into that of someone around me so about ten minutes ago I could have just walked on past the damn Sensate. Now though, if I tried that I’d just drive whomever I was trying to blend with insane. “Nope, I’m fresh out of miracles.” I replied.

                A gentle hand rested on my shoulder and I blinked at it for ten whole seconds before I followed the hand to the arm and up to see Nikka looking at me. She'd been so quiet that I had forgotten that she was following me like a patient shadow. “I need to speak with you privately Cal.” her voice was soft. I frowned and blinked my eyes clear as I started to see the air shimmer behind her a little. Goddess I was starting to hallucinate in my exhaustion. Neither the Change Leader nor the Demon Lord objected to Nikka's words so I followed her couple of steps away. Since I know both Sebastian and Alex have great hearing I figured that this was just them humouring us, but Nikka gently cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

They can't hear us like this Cal. I know a way to get into the Granite Realms without needing to go through Sebastian's human home. It's a longer route, and has its own dangers. You'll have to trust me and do exactly what I say when I say to do it, but I can guarantee that your Counsel does not know about it. Do you wish me to take you there? I heard her voice reverberate in my mind. It was astonishing because the only other person I had ever had speak in my mind was Cassie through our bond as twins, but this was different than that in some key ways. I just wasn't entirely sure how yet.

How long will it take? I asked, trying to project the thought clearly. For Cass and me, talking mind to mind was second nature but Nikka's mind was more alien to me, cluing me in to the fact that my newest friend wasn't human at all. My mind did an intuitive leap, putting little hints together but I didn't voice my hypothesis yet. If Nikka wanted me to know for sure what she was, she'd tell me.

Time doesn't count the same where I'll take you. It'll feel like a lifetime but be mere heartbeats or vice versa, and I can only take three people with me. She replied

I don't have a lot of trust to be passing out so use what little I have left wisely. I warned. Nikka stepped back from me and nodded curtly and we turned to face two very sour looking men. I guess neither one appreciated being thwarted from listening in like that but I just couldn't give a damn about their egos right now.

“Nikka's got a way for some of us to get there but it may take a few days. And she can only take three of us. Alex, if you were serious about me being able to ask you then I want you there with me, and Sebastian you're going to have to show us how to get to your Keep once we have crossed over; it's not too likely this alternate route is going to drop us off at your front door.” the confidence in my voice surprised me, I was feeling more grounded and stable with a clear path ahead of me.

“What other route is this? I know of all the doorways to my world.” Sebastian sounded demanding and arrogant as always.

“It's not known. If you don't wish to accompany us through my route, go your own way and once we're through we can signal you.” Nikka sounded bland as she basically told him off.

Sebastian wrinkled his nose in distaste but then shrugged. “I'm going with you, my curiosity has been piqued.”

“Then I suggest we stop dicking around and go rescue my fiancée.” Zeke demanded. I'd almost forgotten he was even with us which was really sloppy of me.

“I cannot take a fourth with me through this route, and even if I could you would find it most likely fatal vampire. Take the path through your master's home and we will find you there.” Nikka instructed.

                I could see Zeke was going to put a fight. “Just do it Zeke, Cass needs you alive. More so now than you could ever believe; the baby she's carrying is definitely going to need both parents alive and well.” I hadn't meant to share my twin's secret but I still wasn't thinking properly and the words just came out. My companions all turned to stare at me in muted shock and disbelief while I mentally kicked myself in the ass. Although we can all enjoy various forms of sex with each other, the different planes of existence have never been able to interbreed, and yet my very Human sister somehow got knocked up by the no longer human Zeke. She'd let me know but had apparently not even told her fiancé as of yet, but the cat was definitely out of the bag now.

“What was that?” Zeke's voice was deceptively soft and I grimaced.

“You heard me. There's literally a little miracle of life growing in my twin and that little bundle of joy is going to need you. We'll meet you at Sebastian's Keep, now go.” I shoved him a little and pointed in the general direction. A silly, stunned little smile started on his face and I rolled my eyes. “Sebastian maybe you had better go with him. We can flag you when we need a guide in.” It was supposed to sound like a suggestion but my tone was too demanding.

The Demon Lord gave me a haughty look. “I don't think so kitten, this little revelation is just going to ensure that I stay at your side.”

It was frustrating dealing with egotistical, arrogant idiots and this particular one was known to frustrate me to no end. “Why especially now?” Normally I can control my impulses without too much effort but my irritation manifested thanks to my rogue gift and flames danced down my arms in vines as if they were fire. They then tried to bridge the distance between me and the surprised Demon Lord but before it could make contact I managed to haul it back and snuff it out. The effort left me drenched in sweat and panting and I could feel the chaos my magic has become heave and broil, twisting against the barriers I had set up to contain it. It finally settled back down and only Alex hadn't stepped away from me during that little display. He trusted me not to hurt him which was bad because I didn't trust myself.

“Forget it, I don't have time. Nikka we're going now, the longer we stand here the more likely that some other disaster will appear so lead on.” it was getting easier for me to tell the people around me what to do. She nodded to me and turned to the door way we'd just stepped through from Faerie, doing something to Change it. Nikka somehow altered it to make it lead to a different Realm entirely. Swallowing my fear of what was coming down, I set myself and strode through experiencing an immediate twisting and gut wrenching lurch that drove me to my knees and had me vomiting into what my brain was trying to tell me was scarlet grass. Only it wasn't proper scarlet because the colours kept shifting which was playing merry hell with my depth perception as well. I pitched forwards and to the side, face planting next to the filth I'd just expelled. Feeling something near me I reacted instinctively and lashed out, my hand striking a wet nose and fur covered muzzle that quickly retreated away. I forced my eyes open to see a startled looking tiger watching me with concern on his face. “Alex?” It had to be him because the tiger was his Change form, but it was hard to make sense of anything here. If I focused on Alex-as-tiger I found I could see without feeling sick; he wasn't shifting dimensions on me like the landscape was. The tiger padded carefully closer to me and licked his sandpaper tongue up the side of my head. His beast form was far larger than a real tiger was and stunningly beautiful to boot so I reached out a hand and buried it in his soft fur. It was all too easy for me to then wrap my arms around his massive neck and bury my face into the fur at his shoulder, reveling in the feel of it.

“How touching, kitten cuddling a cat.” Sebastian's scathing remark pulled me out of my comforting embrace and I got an eye full of the changes he'd also undergone on this side of the Realm. Gone was the gaudy man with impeccable fashion and in his place was a sleekly golden skinned slightly reptilian looking humanoid.  He was naked as a new born baby and almost grossly masculine. His bright blue eyes were in contrast to the gold but his curly reddish hair blended into it rather well and continued down his spine in a crest that ran to a newly acquired tail.

I didn't resist the urge to look down at myself to see what changes I had undergone, but unsurprisingly I had remained normal. A moment later and Nikka popped into the area with a twist in space, but despite my earlier deductions of her not being human she didn't appear any different either. She was just a little harder to look at directly, as if my attention was being pushed away. Nikka was now almost as hard to look at as the surroundings were but if I squinted or closed my eyes I found the sensation of sickness passed entirely. Too bad that was no way to travel through a dangerous, unknown Realm for however long it was going to take us. “Why do I feel so sick?” I asked Nikka, closing my eyes instead of trying to look at her. I felt Alex-as-tiger sit against my back so that I'd know I was safe; he could probably smell my anxiety and fear which was annoying but touching.

“I can't tell you Cal, there are certain rules in place. I'm already bending several to the breaking point just by bringing you here. But I can help ease the symptoms a little, just hold still.” Nikka instructed so I stayed put on the ground even as I heard some rustling. When I heard Sebastian hiss it was hard not to open my eyes or move around, and then the Demon Lord was saying something in a musical language that I felt I should understand but just didn't quite grasp. “Calm yourself Demon Lord, I am indebted to young Cal and I will not do anything to harm her for any reason. This is but a small repayment for my freedom, now quiet.”  Nikka ordered. I felt something akin to a feather brush my forehead, lips, and heart and it would have been pleasant except that a moment later my heart skipped almost a full minute of beating. I expelled all the air in my chest in a rush, nearly passing out as I gasped my next few breaths in while fighting my magic back down. It had gone haywire with whatever it was Nikka had done to me, but I finally scrambled it back under my control, stuffing the chaos down and opening my eyes.

There was a tangle of sword length thorns jutting up out of the ground around me in a defensive perimeter. At least I hadn't set anything on fire this time or killed anyone. An unfamiliar weight hung around my neck and I looked down to see a crystal feather hanging on a chain so I gave Nikka a questioning expression. “Keep it on, it'll offer some protection and allow you to function in this Realm. Now we must go, others may have felt the Opening and will come to investigate. I strongly suggest that we not be here when they arrive.” Nikka was terse and anxious for someone I was used to seeing so calm. It was still hard to look at her directly but I could better see the world around me. The clouds in the sky overhead looked like cartoon drawings, as if the air were flat space and merely a painted background without any real depth. There was a breeze carrying scents that I couldn't identify or easily describe but I had the weirdest sense that they were related to sandalwood and jasmine; as if exotic incense sticks were burning just out of sight. The air itself was sunset warm but there was no actual source of light beyond the dance of what had to be this Realm's version of Aurora Borealis; the shifting and shimmering colours were reflected in the opalescent grass. That would explain part of my earlier dizziness, hard to focus on depth when everything is slightly see through and keeps changing colours.

“I'd said I'd trust you, thus far I'm confused but otherwise fine. Can I ask why Alex is in beast form and Sebastian's all naked?” I gestured at the principals involved.

“That you can ask, the nature of this Realm reveals one's true self. To get to the area we need to, we'll pass through different regions; our next stop will be in an area where there are other travelers who are not human. Do them the courtesy of ignoring them and they should do the same to us, however if we are attacked I need you to run Cal. Run and hide, the charm I gave you will allow me to find you and in this place you are distinctly vulnerable. You have no Magic and despite your fighting prowess on Earth you'd be severely outclassed here.” I wanted to argue but kept myself silent; I'd already agreed to follow her orders and I was trying not to go back on that already.

“Then lead on, I'm even more anxious to find my twin than Zeke is. I will not leave her with him for any longer than absolutely necessary.” I declared instead of arguing. Nikka held out her hand to help me up and I only accepted the assistance because I was still off kilter from the kaleidoscope landscape. When Alex-as-tiger padded over next to me, I could easily walk with my hand buried in the fur at his shoulder. It was oddly comforting while Nikka lead and I stared intently at her feet because although I could look around without being violently ill, it was still bothering me. With Alex silently stalking beside me and Sebastian close behind, I was as suffocating protected as I could be. I managed not to be insufferable about it but mainly because I knew I needed them to keep me alive.