The hand fanned the blades to the side as it poured from the ground below. The crane like contraption that held them up was grabbed, and with all its strength, it pulled it from the ground. The stage we were on was ripped apart, all the planks broke away and shot in all directions. The floor below me was gone, I was free.
As the commotion continued, everyone scattered. The hand soon returned to the ground, and pooled into a swirling smoke like shadow. I knew I would be getting an ear full, I prepared myself. The shadow soon rose from the ground and took shape a human one, it was inches from a perfect hourglass, and short, shorter than I was at least. It was then wrapped in another cloak of darkness. As the cloak stuck to the silhouette, the darkness dissipated and I was left staring at a woman. Her expression, if it could be called that was one of irritation.
Her blood red eyes contrasted her pale skin that seemed almost dead, her anger was kindled. She then put on a passive aggressive smile and bit her lips with her sharp teeth. She used one hand to play with her jet black hair and the other to hold her staff. The branch like golden staff stretched her width and more as her hand rested on her hip. The glowing orb at its tip shifted away and back as she stood there. A minute had passed and she had said nothing, she gave me no choice.
"De-" Maybe I was wrong.
"No... It's been seven years... and this is why you call me. Unbelievable." She planted the base of the staff in the ground.
"I... I'm sorry, I just wanted to be alone...." I didn't break eye contact.
"Be alone yes, I get it... but seven years... I may be immortal... no, because I'm immortal with the same time perception of a mortal... How could you leave me for seven years! Seven! I have feelings you know, even if I can turn them off!" Her smile fell to a half angry half sad state.
"I couldn't bring myself to talk to you.."
"Oh... I see what this is... you still think it's my fault huh... you still blame me.... I should have just left the moment I saved your swaying ass." Her face was in a state of sadness, her eyes turned a foggy grey.
"I don't want to talk about that... the past is the past. I just want to thank you for saving me." I turned to walk away.
"So that's all I mean to you-- after all we've been through..." I could hear the pain in her voice.
"I know you won't stay, so I won't get my hopes up, that's all." I didn't look back.
"Maybe I will..."
As her words echoed below the broken wooden stage, I felt a thousand needles pierce my right hand. The symbol that was black washed away in a wave of blood, there was no wound to remind me of my deeds. I soon herd the flap of a birds wings. As I looked back I saw a black tit, she had turned into a bird so small she was almost invisible. She flew away passing through one of the holes in the stage.
I soon used my own cursed strength to leap from below the stage. I had jumped high enough to land on the ground beyond it. I looked around and saw no one and nothing. I listened carefully to ensure I wasn't still being pursued, I wasn't. I put my thoughts together and decided I needed to get my magnum back. I ran through the streets waiting for it to happen, for it to kick in. Then it did, I could feel the thread between us connect once more. The black string floated through the air and around corners, I was close.
I quickly followed it, running around corners and hoping through windows. It had been a distance away, but soon I had found it. The thread led to the town hall, it was slotted between the large open wooden doors. I slowly made my way closer and listened, I could hear heavy shaking breaths. I also heard the shaking of a gun, it was a familiar sound, I was fine.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the chief was all the way in the back. He was past the small court to the left and the holding cells to the right. There wasn't even a receptionist, the place had become a ghost town. I walked all the way to the back, and he watched me the entire way. He pointed my own gun at me as I walked the final few steps.
"Stop! Not another step you creature!" He tightened his grip.
"Don't do this, put it-"
"Shut up! You were supposed to be my ticket to the main land, now look at the mess you've made." He used one hand to wipe the sweat off his brows.
"Put it down, listen to me, this is for your own good."
"You think I'm stupid...? I tried to kill you, I'd kill me too, I don't blame you, but I'm not going down like this." He readied himself to pull the trigger.
"For the last time, put it away...." I reached out my hand slowly.
"No!" He pulled the trigger. I was too late.
He had expected a bullet to come out, and who wouldn't, but that's not how the gun worked. It was gift from death, it wouldn't exactly be... normal. Black flames soon poured from the barrel in an explosion that surrounded him as if reflected from the inside of a ball. It became a small ball of flames that surrounded him perfectly. The flames raged and swirled inside the ball as his muffled screams sounded. As the screams calmed I saw his face, or what was left of it plastered against the hardened fire. I could see the remainder of his flesh burn away to ash, and as his remains fell, the fire did as well.
As the fire settled I saw his charred skeleton on the ground amongst his own ashes, the gun was still in his burnt hand. I had managed to see the last of the flames enter the gun, it was over as soon as it begun. I reluctantly stooped down and pried it from his dead hands, the hand broke away in the process. I quickly undid his fingers and left the building. It hadn't really been my fault, but yet again my actions had caused death on a large scale, regardless if it was justifiable or not.
"one hundred and... one."
I didn't want to stay any longer so I dipped into my coat pocket and looked at the compass she had given me. The glowing bone shard in the black foggy glass ball pointed to the west. The glow had gotten brighter, I had gotten closer. I didn't look around and I didn't listen for anyone, I just quickly found one of the many Pegasus that were dotted around the town and approched.
"It's a magical creature... if you touch it... your curse will be shared... you'll curse it... are you serious...?" Her voice shot from above.
Looking up I saw her on a railing, she was sitting on it with her legs crossed, staff in hand. Her dress dashed in the wind.
"You stayed this time." I reached out to touched the thing.
"Wow... I was right... you hate me don't you?"
"Maybe..."
The Pegasus had turned to me and bowed its head, a sign of submission to a higher magical being, it had accepted its fate. As my hand rested on its head, its white fur started to turn jet black. As it reached its eyes they closed. It wasn't slow either, in only a few seconds it was all black. As its eyes opened it clenched its sharp teeth, fire gushed from its nostrils, its eyes were blood red and wide open. Even the hair on its back grew out as its body got bigger. It had become three times its original size.
"Annnnd... you cursed it..." She sounded disappointed.
I looked up and she was nowhere to be seen. As I looked back on the Pegasus, well it had become something else, something with six wings. It had bowed itself to allow me to get on, and I did. It also seemed to know where I wanted to go as it started to run west. Fire then sprung from its black hooves and from beneath its wings, we were soon flying. I said nothing as it barreled through the air at speeds that would kill a normal person, or at least throw them off, then they'd die.
I could also not help but to notice the little bird held up in the horse tail holding on for dear life. I can't say I felt bad for it. This wasn't my main concern though, as in a moments notice my journey had been chuffed to bits. The time I would take would be significantly less, not only that, I had a way to cross the black ocean. I wouldn't have to call in any favors or sneak on to any airships, that didn't mean I wouldn't come across any of them though, that was a given.