Bonny and Angela followed the terrifying existence in front of them.

The thoughts of escape or revenge long since washed away by the grueling rituals and otherworldly entities they’d summoned for him to consume.

After waking up from their previous summoning rituals, they’d found themselves deposited on the floor of their spartan rooms.

Not even placed on the simple beds.

Some of their sisters had forgotten themselves after the intense experience of summoning something they’d not even dared to attempt under Jemma, and moved into the hallway.

Had Bonny’s warning been a moment later, they would have surely died as the monstrous creature stalking the dark hallways lunged at them, missing them by a hairsbreadth, proving itself more than a simple specter or illusion by the deep gauges it left behind in the hardened stone walls.

Cooperation had been hard even under a strict leader like Jemma, but self-preservation had convinced them to make a genuine attempt this time, sharing resources and trading items in quick dashes across the hall.

The lack of doors ensuring they’d be unable to lock another out, although Bonny was sure the thought of blocking the entrance with the amenities provided in the room had occurred to the others, as it had to her.

“In here.” The creature exuding vulnerability and powerlessness commanded, and they immediately followed his order.

They’d long since passed the point of believing the ruse he’d invented to play with their minds and lure them into making a mistake...

“You, take off the robe.” He ordered Bonny. She hesitated for a moment, but did as she was told. When she finally heaved the heavy bundle of cloth over her head, a shadow had just finished handing him a bowl along with several small vials.

He began mixing the contents before bringing the bowl to his face, taking a whiff and recoiling at the smell, but seemingly pleased.

A piece of volcanic glass appeared in his hand and as he extended his finger over the bowl in his lap, he closed his eyes in concentration for a moment before slicing open the tip of his finger.

There was no blood, only a thick inky substance with swirls of red, far too vibrant to be blood.

The substance fell into the bowl and the wound seal over with a dark carbon like appearance.

“Here.” He gestured to the floor in front of him and Bonny stepped forward.

He dipped his fingers in the mixture and started drawing symbols not unlike the ones she’d seen him carve in stone, along her skin.

The symbols reminding her of inscription sigils, yet she could not decipher their meaning.

This continued for almost ten minutes as she was told to turn and later kneel, her body eventually covered, small lines ending at her fingertips like circuitry.

“Stand up and bite down on this.” The man pulled out a strip of leather and she did as she was bade.

He placed his hand on her stomach at the center of the runic lines, and what followed was the most intense sensation of power she had ever felt. Its enticing draw only matched by the agony which accompanied it.

Her body spasmed and shook, every muscle flexing and every joint locking. She was unable to move or fall away from his touch to save herself from the pain.

Her skin burned as if being branded, the lines igniting like gunpowder; the fire hued by the intense energies cast off by it.

When it finally ended, Bonny collapsed into a heap, shaking and coughing. Upon regaining herself and raising her head, she found herself face to face with the man, examining her closely.

“Cast a simple spell.” He ordered.

Bonny felt the mark on her face ease and she could not resist the temptation, casting the most infections curse she could think of, something which would burrow to the bone of the target and take root.

She articulated the words loudly and clearly; she knew she’d need all the power and focus she could muster. Subtlety was not a concern.

The vile sickly green imperceptible energy flowed from her palm like poison sucked from a wound and sunk into the man in front of her.

She awaited his reaction, slowly regretting her impulsive action and its possible ramifications.

“What if he hasn’t summoned these creatures, but is simply the thing keeping them in check... Just like us.” Bonny considered, although her thoughts were interrupted as the man spoke.

“Hmm, it seems to be working as it should... Guess we’ll see.” He said, examining her.

“Get dressed.” He ordered, turning to Angela. “You’re next.” Waving her over.

***

While marking the witches with runes, I was once again reminded of my own body’s inferiority when it came to conducting energies.

The strain they suffered was less than a tenth of my own, the runes likely tripling that, yet barely doubling it for me.

Their natural pathways lowered the chances of backlash and blockages that could prove fatal, while I had to gradually and artificially carve out my own or etch them into my skin.

I could do nothing but sigh at the unfair nature of the universe. I had the natural ability to develop an unlimited power source, something every Mystic, Magi and Shaman could only dream of, yet it was bottlenecked by my weak constitution and incompatible vessel.

It was like a cruel joke, really.

“You.” I pointed at the lead witch. I believed her name was Bonny.

She froze like a deer in headlights at my attention, holding her breath.

“Why did you cast that spell?” I asked, curious.

“I-I meant no offense, I-I’m sorry if I-” she stammered, clearly terrified.

“No, I meant why that one specifically? A physical manifestation would have had less chance of being resisted, as its effects would carry more weight.” I clarified.

“Uhm, no one really does that... It’s requires too much power to cause physical changes compared to curses which affect the body in a more subtle way.” Bonny explained.

It made sense in this environment they’d have to overcome not just the body’s natural resistance but also the lack of energy in the air.

Making a ball of fire required you to ignite the air, making changes in a large scale, if you do not succeed the first time it’ll dissipate immediately and you’d need to start all over again, your deposit of energy lost, not to mention every second adds to the cost.

But breaking down a person’s resistance can be done gradually. A curse was also versatile and could be tailored to the target.

I mused over the difference in approach here compared to elsewhere.

I’d rarely spent any extended amount of time on a world even close to as low energy as earth had been, and so had little experience with these methodologies.

I pushed myself up from the chair, waving off the worried looks from the surrounding shadows.

“I’m fine. If I sit any longer in that damned chair, I’ll go on a killing spree.” I grumbled, oblivious to the worried looks of the witches, who quickly retreated to their rooms.

“God that’s better.” I groaned, standing on shaky legs.

I started walking, steadying my gait as I went. It wasn’t long before I could walk quite normally, although not effortlessly.

The light at the end of the tunnel was a welcome sight to behold as my breath was starting to come out in ragged huffs.

I resisted the urge to look behind me as I knew what I’d see... A trail of concerned drones following closely in case I’d fall.

I forged ahead, my legs feeling more solid beneath me through either stubborn indignation or acclimation to use once again.

Either way, it felt great to be able to move on my own again.

Halfway to the cabin, I paused and relished the night air brushing along my skin, taking a deep breath and enjoying the feeling of blood pulsing through my veins.

However, the peaceful evening quiet was interrupted.

“God dammit, I can’t take anymore of this!” I heard Sophia yell before storming out the cabin, slamming the door behind her.

She stopped and looked at me as if everything everywhere that had ever happened was somehow my fault.

“You.” She pointed accusingly. “You’re coming with me.” Sophia not so much asked as told me.

“Uhm, where to?” I asked uncertainly.

“Anywhere but this valley. I need a break from all this fussing or I’m gonna murder someone.” Sophia exclaimed with a cabin feverish tint to her eyes.

“And I’m coming with you because...?” I asked.

“Because you’re partly at fault for this, and you’re a lot less conspicuous than the fifty Custodes they’ll send after me.” She said, storming towards her car.

“Fair enough.” Was all I could get out before being dragged along, Agda looking on worriedly from the porch, unwilling to risk following.

I’d barely closed the car door before the tires spun in place and the car took off down the dirt road.

“Oh, Jesus.” I said, gripping onto anything I could for dear life.

“I’ll tell you, I get what the Heirs complain about now. I’d forgotten how bad it was.” Sophia ranted.

“So, uhm, any plans on picking up Natasha along the way?” I asked.

“She’ll catch up, only reason I’m even bringing you is because I’m not stupid, I know I’m a target, but if I have to spend another day cooped up in there I’m gonna go crazy, I barely even got to attend the Gala before those assholes ruined it for me... Do you realize that was the first time I actually got to leave the house for months?!” Sophia asked not waiting for an answer.

I felt not unlike a hostage or a kidnapping victim as the car raced out of my territory. Even my shadows had trouble catching up as I decided which were staying behind.

Sophia didn’t calm down until we hit the main road, even then she was teetering on the speed limit.

“I’m sorry, but it just became too much. I can’t even get any work done like this.” Sophia sighed.

“Don’t worry about it, I get it. Things might be a little hectic right now, but this place will manage a few days without you and Natasha. Maybe you could even do something productive along the way, depending on the direction you’re intent on heading.” I gently suggested.

“This was stupid...” Sophia said to herself, defeated.

“The execution could use a little work, yeah. But what you feel is valid. Charter a flight somewhere. We don’t even need to go back to the house. Tell Natasha to meet us there and we’ll just go. Anywhere you want.” I said, trying to comfort her as I saw some of that old anxiety bubble its way to the surface.

She pulled the car onto the side of the road and leaned her head against the steering wheel. Her breathing hitched slightly.

I rubbed my hand along her back before pulling her over to my seat.

Her voice came out as barely a whisper. The words I’m sorry repeated over and over again.

I wanted to cheer her up, seeing her like this broke my heart, and the only thing I could think of just blurted out of my mouth.

“I don’t know how to drive.” The sniffling in my lap stopped and Sophia looked up at me, confused.

“What?” she asked, as if having misheard me.

“I can’t drive a car...” I repeated, cringing, but knowing there was no way back now.

“But you have a driver’s license?” Sophia asked before remembering, “That we got you... Oh my god, you can’t drive a car.” She said to herself as it sunk in.

“Did you not have one before you left? Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask... You say you’ve been gone for over fifty years that you know of, likely almost twice that. But you don’t have any issues fitting into modern society?”

“The time doesn’t add up, does it?” I asked with a self-deprecating smile.

“It doesn’t, no.” Sophia reiterated.

“I don’t know why. I’ve heard of worlds disappearing and reappearing hundreds of years later. Empires cut off from the rest of their colony worlds, suddenly coming back as if no time had passed, yet the rest of reality moved on. But I have no way to confirm that...” I explained.

“But no, I’m not from the early nineteen hundreds. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” I said, smiling at her.

“Are you calling me old?” She asked with a frown.

“I prefer to think of you as exquisitely aged.” I retorted with all the charm I could muster, somehow succeeding in breaking her façade as she broke into a laugh.

“Thank you for doing this... We can go back now. I’ll be fine now.” Sophia said with a sigh, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“What are you talking about?” I said, holding her in place on my lap. “We’re running away together, all three of us.” I said just as the motorcycle stopped by the driver-side window.

A woman in a tight black racing suit swinging her leg off the bike, stretching the fabric in a way that caught the eye, or at least caught Sophia’s eye.

The figure took off her helmet, revealing a beautiful angular face with accentuated cheekbones and short black hair tussled and wild, but still somehow ending up as if styled by a professional.

I reached over a flicked the switch for the window, Natasha zipping the suit down a third of the way and leaned through the window in an enticing and attractive manner.

“You two wouldn’t happen to have room for one more?” Natasha asked playfully, her smile promising nothing but trouble.

***

“I’m not fond of this, but honestly I couldn’t imagine her in safer hands, but please do be careful.” Katya said into the phone at her ear before exchanging goodbyes and hanging up.

“Ma’am, word has already spread. I unplugged the phone line as you ordered, but it seems people are coming here in person.” Silas informed Katya worriedly.

“It’ll be fine. Most of that is proximity. As soon as they get on a plane and get some distance, the madness will subside.” Katya said, letting out a heavy breath as she leaned back in her chair and stretched.

“Our job will be to hold them off from doing anything stupid until then. And preparing for the inevitable political disaster that those three will no doubt be at the center of.” Katya added.