Puppeteer

Hello and welcome to chapter 9! Let's see if Niven survives and Sorr'an can escape slavery... Hope you enjoy! Special thanks to my great beta brilliantbean.

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The knife was pressed against my skin and I
felt a sharp pain before the pressure vanished. I heard a surprised yelp, a
warm liquid splashed on my face, flowed down my skin and dripped into my
slightly open mouth. A metallic-sweet taste invaded my taste buds – blood! I
heard a thump as if a something dropped to the ground, a gurgling sound
reaching my ears. Two hands grabbed my shoulders and I was gently shaken.

“Niven? Niven, are you okay?” Sorr’an’s
voice sounded close to my face. I tried to reply but I was still paralyzed. “Niven!”
The shaking became more insistent, then it stopped and I could hear the catboy
sniffing me. He gently lifted me up and lowered me to the ground, resting my
back against the trunk I have been sitting on. Footsteps departed and I sat there;
darkness around me and the crackle of the fire the only thing I could hear.

I don’t know how long I sat there but it
felt like an eternity before feeling crawled back in my limbs, a tingle in my
muscle that started to sting and burn. I slowly opened my eyes, my surroundings
a bleary darkness interspersed with bright spots. Blinking I tried to clear my
vision and squinted my eyes when I looked into the fire. A few moments later
contours sharpened and I looked around. I rested my gaze on a body whose limbs
stuck out of it in unnatural angles. There was a puddle of blood under its neck
and I shakily stood up, taking a tentative step towards the corpse. It was
Welf, his throat a bloody mass like it was pierced from the neck and ripped
open by fangs.

I kicked his side and stomach for good
measurement, the sickening sound of breaking bones giving me a weird
satisfaction. “Taking my eyes, taking my life, hmm?” I stomped on his chest,
ribs scrunching under the sole of my boots. “Whoring him out, breaking his
will?” A sudden rage filled my mind and I attacked the corpse. “Making him your
slave? Cutting off his tail? Torture him to death?!” I stopped violating Welf’s
body, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down.

I looked around. No Sorr’an in sight. I
started searching and it didn’t take me long because I could hear his stifled
groans. When I stepped onto a clearance I saw the catboy’s hunched silhouette
leaning against a tree. He panted heavily and his right hand moved frantically
up and down somewhere around his groin. He suddenly stiffened and let out a
gasp, resting his forehead against the trunk before he threw back his head and growling
out a frustrated. His left hand clawed into the bark of the trunk he stood at
and then his right hand sped up again.

‘Damn, the curse. He needs release and it
seems his own hand isn’t doing the trick.’

I called out softly. “Sorr’an?”

Stopping his motions Sorr’an looked in my
direction, turning his body away from me. “Go away!” he growled out.

“Sorr’an, I don’t know how to help you
but…”

“Go away! JUST GO AWAY!” he screamed.

I blinked and then returned to the
campfire. I stopped when I entered the site – something was off. The fire burnt
higher, green and violet flames licked at the wood without consuming it.
Suddenly a creature stepped out of it – black skin and diffused outlines – and
leaned over Welf before straightening up.

“Come out Puppeteer. I can see and smell
you.”

I cautiously stepped on the clearing. “What
are you?”

Turning towards me the creature’s body
flared up and suddenly a beautiful woman stood before me with porcelain skin,
heart-shaped face with full lips, dark hazel eyes, framed by straight, ebony
hair. A slender neck melted into narrow shoulders, a hand glided over firm,
small breasts, a flat stomach towards her crotch where she rubbed gently,
pushing her index finger into her. A small moan escaped her lips before she
replied with a honey-sweet voice: “I can be your wildest dream.” Tilting her
head she smirked. “Perhaps you want me more like this?” Again its form flared
up and there stood a young man, strong shoulders, medium long, wavy dark hair,
high cheekbones and a sultry smile on his lips. A quick check confirmed that he
was naked, too. “You seem to have many fantasies, and I can make them all come
true.” The voice was velvety but definitely manly and with a cock of his hips
he strolled towards me. “Now I know it, perhaps we start with someone like
that.” Another flare up and Sorr’an stood in front of me. Well, something that
looked like Sorr’an. It took another step to me but then suddenly hissed,
looking behind me, twisting its face in a way that deformed it into a demonic
grimace. I looked over my shoulder and saw the real Sorr’an, his talons
prolonged, stalking towards us. The demon retreated a few meters and spat:
“Keep him away from me!”

I reached out for Sorr’an and stopped him
in his tracks. He stiffened but stood still. “What are you?”

“I’m a Morkran’ol.”

‘Oh, the demon Welf talked about.’ I
furrowed my brows. “What do you want here?”

Pointing at the corpse the Morkran’ol
replied: “I’m here to claim what’s mine. Hold back this… thing,” it nodded at
Sorr’an, “and I will leave immediately.”

“This thing?”

“Yes… I can’t see him clearly, he’s… Colorless.
Unshaped.” It sniffed. “There’s just a faint scent of my smell, but it’s
oppressed, mangled and perverted.”

I blinked. ‘Perverted? And that from a
demon whose power is perversity.’ Then I remembered Welf’s words. When you
wake up, you seek, no, you need release again and again. You will fall for the
one that gives it to you first, become their slave and obey their wishes even
if they destroy you. I took a step forward. “Is he infected with your
curse?” I demanded to know.

“I don’t know.”

“Tell me or we will destroy you!”

“I don’t know!” the demon answered, its
voice holding an edge of panic.

“Will he become a slave to the one that
gives him release?”

“I can’t say. He may. I really don’t know.”
Its face took a pleading mien. “Don’t destroy me. I you do, there will be others
coming after you, so please don’t.”

I scrutinized it. ‘Demons rarely tell the
truth but this one actually seems scared though you never can tell with a demon,
especially if it’s a seducer.’ I pondered our options. “Okay, fuck off. Never
come close to us again!” I threatened.

Nodding the Morkran’ol scampered to Welf’s
corpse, shouldered it and then stepped into the fire which blazed up and
enveloped them, then they vanished and the fire returned to a normal color at
normal height. I looked at Sorr’an who relaxed slightly but then shuddered and
turned to leave again.

“Don’t Sorr’an.”

“I need to… I can’t stay…”

“I know what you need to, but please… Don’t
go away, I don’t mind.” He looked doubting at me. “I mean… You can’t help it
and I don’t want you wander around in the darkness while you are… distracted.
It still is dangerous out here. Bandits and wild animals, you know?”

Sorr’an looked at me for a few moments and
walked to the border of the glade. He peeked over his shoulder and I thought I
saw him blush a little before he turned and reached into his pants. I sat down
with my back to him, trying to ignore the pants and moans. Mental images of
Sorr’an jerking off flashed through my mind completely unwanted. I willed them
away, concentrating on the fire when I heard a knocking sound turned around,
seeing Sorr’an pounding a fist against a trunk. Welf’s voice resounded in my
head. Becomes their slave… Sorr’an muttered something unintelligible.
Obeys every wish… The catboy growled. The longer the release is denied
the worse the pain and heat becomes. Sorr’an let out a desperate mewl. I
clenched my fists then got up, fumbling in my vest pocket and got out one of
the bottles I didn’t want to take from Arias. Stepping behind Sorr’an who
stiffened when he recognized my presence I gently said: “I hope the curse is
only giving you the heat. But there’s no use in letting you die because of it,
so…”

I uncapped the bottle, smeared the cool
liquid on my right hand and gently reached around for Sorr’an’s dick. It was
scorching hot – damn, how long was he rubbing it? I applied the cold lube over
his rock-hard penis and Sorr’an relaxed a little, leaning back against me. I
explained: “This lubricant has a cooling and slightly healing effect in case…
smaller wounds appear… I think it will help your abused dick.” I massaged the lube
into the overheated skin and his dickhead and Sorr’an’s head lolled back,
resting against my shoulder. I soon supported his weight; my left hand came
down to reach into his pants and massaged his balls. The velvety feeling
against my fingertips surprised me – fur covered his sac instead of hair and it
felt so soft, so nice against my fingers. Sorr’an started to growl and buck up
into my hand and I decided to give him what he obviously needed. With a good
hold on his cock I let my thumb rub over the underside of his dickhead,
increasing the pressure and the catboy pushed his face in the nook of my neck.
His whole body stiffened, his tail wrapping around our waists and then he jerked
in my hold while semen shot out of his dick, splattering against the tree and
covering my hand. I gently massaged his balls and dick till it started to grow
soft, Sorr’an relaxed in my hold and I kissed his temple, carefully stuffing
his overused appendage back into his pants.

I supported the catboy while we returned to
the fire. “Sit down.” I said and Sorr’an complied. I felt unease rise in my
chest. “Stand up!” I ordered. He blinked but followed my orders. “Sit down!”
Sorr’an sat down, confusion written on his face. I panicked. “Stand up!” I commanded.

The catboy snorted and rolled his
shoulders. “I’m a little too tired for such games, you know.”

I sighed in relief. “Good. I thought… Not
important.” I sat beside him and asked: “Is it better now?”

Sorr’an nodded and suddenly hugged me tightly.
“Yeah, thank you.” He blushed. “I’m sorry you had to do this.”

I patted his back and waved his comment
aside. “No problem, it wasn’t a burden…” I went quiet and after a long moment
of awkward silence I cleared my throat. “You should go to bed, it was an
exhausting day.” I cursed silently – could I be anymore ambiguous? “I will keep
watch, so you can rest peacefully.”

“Watch? But we didn’t have a watch the last
days. The Lichtbeuger still works, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, just in case another demon
will come back.” It was a lie but I needed to calm down – giving release to
Sorr’an gave me quite a problem. Sorr’an watched me for a moment and then went
to sleep. Soon he snored quietly and I let my mind wander. The Morkran’ol
shifted into a woman and a man and that was no surprise. But transforming into
Sorr’an finally… And I kissed the catboy when he came – and if felt natural to
do so. I rubbed a hand over my face, feeling something crusty. Lowering it I
watched my palm and saw dark-red crumbs – Welf’s blood. I poured some water in
my hands and washed the remaining stains away, the cold liquid cooling me down.
I decided I pondered enough this night and went to sleep, too.

I woke up the next morning, a slightly
familiar weight on top of me. I opened my eyes and blinked groggily till I
could see bright green eyes staring into mine. “Good morning, Niven.” Sorr’an
said huskily. I remained still, captivated by these eyes, so warm and sensual.
The Katze lowered his head till his forehead rested against mine. He spoke
softly against my lips: “Can I ask for your help again?”

“My help?” I asked confusedly. Sorr’an
thrust his groin into my hips. “Oh… Still the curse I guess?” The catboy
remained silent and I reached for my vest, pulling out the bottle from
yesterday. Lubing my fingers I asked him to lift his hips and he did as told.
Reaching in his trousers I fisted his already leaking dick and started to
spread the lubricant over the velvety flesh. Sorr’an pushed into my hand, a low
purr rumbling in his chest. His lips were only an inch apart from mine and his
thigh rubbed against my morning hardness teasingly. I shivered and felt my
control slip away. I stopped and loosened my hold on the Katze’s dick. Sorr’an
growled disappointedly. “Hush… Turn around, I don’t want you to soil our
clothes when you come.” The Katze complied and wriggled a little till he found
a comfortable position. I resumed my ministration of his penis and he moaned in
response. Automatically my free hand caressed his stomach before slipping in
his trouser, fondling his testis. Oh, how great they felt in my palm, the
fluffy fur-covered sac so soft against my skin. I stifled a moan; his thigh
wasn’t pressing against my groin anymore but therefore his wonderful butt
rubbed against it and a cat ear tickled my nose. I doubled my efforts to bring
him to fruition. ‘I just can’t lose my control – I can’t!’ Sorr’an’s scent
invaded my nostrils and I threw back my head, increasing the pressure on his
dick as much as I deemed enjoyable. The Katze mewled softly then pushed up and
moaned, his cock pulsing strongly in my hand. His essence spurted out and I
even got some on my chin, then Sorr’an melted into a purring mass, snuggling
against me. “A shooter…” I murmured.

Sorr’an tilted his head lightly. “Shooter?”
he asked in a low purr.

“Yeah… It just means that you shoot your
semen quite far…”

Sorr’an blinked. “Is this good?”

“It means nothing.” I replied. He didn’t
have to know that I kinda deemed it sexy. I wiped my hand against the leaves on
the ground. “Come on, get up. If we hurry we can get to the next city today.”

Sorr’an gently laid his hand on mine that
was still holding his spent dick and urged it to put it back in his pants. I
did so and retreated both hands when the Katze turned, smiled at me and nuzzled
my neck. “I can help you out with that, too.” He purred and gently rubbed his
palm against my highly aroused hardness.

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. “No,
we need to get moving or we won’t make it today. I want a bed tonight.”

I opened my eyes and saw a bright smirk on
Sorr’an’s lips. “I see; a bed. Well, then let’s get going so we have a bed
tonight.” He rolled from me and started to pack his things. I blinked and got
up, too, trying to will down my arousal. ‘That will be one hell of a journey
today.’

--------------Later this
day-----------------

I sighed in relief when the city gates came
in sight. I had tried to walk in front of Sorr’an the whole day so that I
didn’t have to look at him but he had insisted to walk beside me and my gaze
had drifted to the Katze again and again. When I lifted my hand to scratch my
nose or chin I had the musky scent of his dick, balls or semen in my nostrils. It
unnerved me how my body reacted to it and walking long with a raging hard-on just
wasn’t comfortable. I would have to do something about it or this journey would
become a long torture and I had a plan.

It was an hour after dawn and the gates
were already closed so I pounded against the metal door that was embedded into
the gates. After a moment a spyhole opened and a watchman’s face appeared.

“What do you want so late in the night?”

“We’re sorry but we were surprised by the nightfall.
Can we please come in?”

“No!” barked the man in a harsh tone of
voice. “After sunset only people with an official passport from the city elders
are allowed to pass.”

I rummaged in my vest pocket. “Perhaps this
is equally sufficient?” I handed the watch guard a copy of Arias’ signet that
carried his magical signature. Surely the guard wouldn’t be able to see it but
Arias was a very well-known man in Meygran and in Tamspod he was popular and
his official seal a sign that the person wearing it is trustworthy.

The watchman took the round, flat stone and
examined it, looked at me before returning it nodding. He opened the small door
and waved us inside. “The next time be here before nightfall, understood?”

“Yes, we’re sorry.” I quickly walked down
the road. I knew my way around in Dal Beron because I was in this city quite
often. There was an inn, the Steel Keg, I stayed regularly at when taking a
break for a night on my journeys and I led us there. It was a big, two-storied
house that stood alone in the middle of the Soaker’s Square; a name the Steel
Keg helped to shape. Entering the bustling taproom I could smell the typical
odor of An Old Man’s Feet – a special kind of tobacco they served here with
home-brewed beer called Cat Piss. Despite their names both tasted quite good
and I spent many evenings and hours enjoying both in not very healthy amounts
but tonight I needed something else. I stepped up to the counter, greeting the
barkeeper. “Hello Raffy. How are you doing these days?”

A middle-aged, tall man with black hair,
which showed hints of a silvery grey, and a soft face with light blue eyes
turned and grinned friendly. “Niven, long time no see.” He rounded the bar and
embraced me in a big hug. “Things are fine – even in the worst times people
drink and smoke, perhaps even more than in good times.” He pulled back a
little, his big hands resting on my shoulders. “You look good. Too bad Marna ain’t
here today.” I winced a little and Raffy laughed. “Don’t fear, I think she
would have emptied a pitcher of beer over your head but then hugged you. As she
always does when you return after a long time of absence, though this time the
part where you two went upstairs would have been canceled. She’s married now
and in good hope.”

I blinked surprised. “Really?” I smiled.
“Well, I’m happy for her.”

Raffy nodded. “I know. Now, who’s your
companion here?” He looked at Sorr’an.

“He’s… a friend.” I answered.

“A friend, right…” The barkeeper lifted a
brow but didn’t say anything further. I was glad that he was a good friend and
knew when to be discreet – a quality good barmen always have.

Looking around confirmed my worry that we
drew quite some attraction with Raffy greeting me soundly and Sorr’an hooded in
his coat. “Hear Raffy, can you give us a room with two beds and bring him a
good serving of meat with a mug of beer?” I looked at the Katze. “You don’t
smoke, do you?” The catboy shook his head.

“You don’t want anything?” Raffy asked.

“No, I just put down my things; I have
something to take care of.”

Fumbling under his apron Raffy conjured up
a key and gave it to me. I motioned to Sorr’an to go upstairs and followed him.
When we entered the room the catboy and I set our backpacks down. “Okay listen,
you will get a meal soon and some beer to wash it down. I’m leaving but I won’t
be away very long.”

“Where are you going?”

“Nothing important, just something I have
to take care of. Enjoy the beer and tell Raffy if you want more. Perhaps we
take a day off after all what happened last night with Welf.” Sorr’an looked at
me a little lost when I turned to leave and I was tempted to ruffle his hair
but left the inn.

I went south and just before the working
class neighborhood degenerated I arrived at my destination. Red lanterns swung
above a sign, illuminating it. It read ‘Lady Mireille and her ladies’ and hung
above the entrance to a brothel I knew was clean, discreet and had moderate
prices. The whores were of adequate beauty and skill and that was more than
enough for me tonight. I entered the building, the scent of flower perfume
lingering in the air. I paid the bawd her share to enter the room where I could
choose from the women who were momentarily available. Just one look around and
I chose a small woman with red-dyed strands in her black hair. I followed her
to her room and when the door closed I placed a silver coin on the nightstand.

The whore made a surprised face before
grinning. “Well, that’s enough for a whole night sweetie. Or do you have
special preferences?” She furrowed her brows. “I don’t do everything, you
know…”

I interrupted her. “My preference tonight
is that you get undressed, lie down on the bed and keep quiet.”

The grin was back on her face. “Oh, are you
so hot for me?”

I stopped undressing and reached for the
silver coin. “You know, I can look for another girl, perhaps one that knows how
to shut up and do as I tell her.”

“No, no, no… Fine, I’ll be quiet if that’s
it what turns you on.” The woman disrobed and laid down on her back in her bed.

“You have some lube? I won’t waste time
with foreplay.”

She smiled at me what she obviously deemed
seductively, spread her legs invitingly and ran a finger over her vulva. “Don’t
you want to do it, hunk?”

“No. Hurry or I will start even with you
unprepared.”

The look on her face darkened but she
dipped her fingers in a bowl that stood on her nightstand and applied some
grease on her private parts. I lubed my fingers and stroked my dick to full
hardness then settled between her legs. Lining up I pushed forward not really
caring if she was comfortable or not. When I was fully sheathed I placed my
hands besides her head and braced my weight on them.

“No kissing.” The whore said.

I nodded. “Don’t fear…” I started to pound
into her, closing my eyes and concentrated only on the friction around my cock,
trying to ignore her intense perfume and small gasps and moans. I rushed to
orgasm, the peak hitting me fast but felt somewhat shallow when I emptied
myself into her and she scratched my back. Taking a moment to regain my breath
I pulled out of her, grabbing a sheet to clean myself then sat on the edge of
the bed. The arousal that I carried with me for the whole day and night was
quenched, replaced by a cold ball in my stomach.

I got up and started to dress. “I’m done.
You can go back and look out for other wooers.”

“You paid me enough for a long night,
handsome. You can nap and I will bring you some wine and fruit and when you
replenished we can go for another bout. The whole night if you want. People say
I have a talented mouth.” I heard rustles of the sheets. “I will try hard to
suck the last drop of semen out of you, I promise. I normally don’t have an attractive
customer as you are, hot stuff.”

Her voice echoed in my head and caused pain
I couldn’t explain. I wanted to scream at her to shut up but instead took my
vest and left the room and the brothel, making my way back to the Steel Keg.
The coldness spread through my bowels while I walked along the empty streets
and entered the taproom not really hearing the shouts of laughter and bickering
that sounded from the other guests. I went to the counter and got me mug of Cat
Piss, smiling crookedly at Raffy when he looked at me. Entering our room I
disrobed from my vest and sat on my bed. Sorr’an had looked at me when I came
into the chamber a plate with leftovers from the roast at his feet and a beaker
beside it. I took a long gulp of beer and closed my eyes, relishing in the
emptiness that was on my mind, embracing the bleakness that came with it.

I was startled when I heard a sniffing
sound close to me and opened my eyes to see Sorr’an snuffling a few inches away
from my loin. “Excuse me, what do you think you’re doing?”

Sorr’an made a face. “There’s a strong icky
scent lingering on you and it comes from your groin. It’s mixed with the smell
of…” He inhaled again then looked up with a taken aback mien. “Sex. It smells
like sex.”

I rubbed my palm over my face. No need to
deny it. “Yeah, I was at a brothel and tried to take some comfort in its
services.” Sorr’an looked confused. “I paid a woman to sleep with her. It’s her
perfume you smell. And the sex you smell is because… Well, because I had sex
with her.”

The Katze’s facial expression went blank
and held something I couldn’t quite identify. He looked down. “So you like
women better?” He said with a voice that held a tinge of… sadness?

“No, I don’t care much about gender.
Actually I like men a little better but it’s easier to find a whore than a rent
boy who is willing to serve men.” I shrugged. “I just needed someone to get the
arousal off of me, you know.”

Sorr’an looked up. “But why did you go to a
strange woman and gave her some of this money that you say is so precious?”

“I don’t think my hand would have
sufficed.” I grinned despite my mood. “And I’m not flexible enough to give
myself a blowjob.”

The catboy looked in my eyes for a long
moment. “But perhaps my hands would have been enough? Or my mouth?”

I stared at him in astonishment before
clearing my throat. “You would have done that?”

Shrugging Sorr’an answered: “I offered you
this morning.” He smiled. “To help you out.”

“Well, I didn’t want you to think you had
to repay me. You had no choice, I had to help you or else things would have
gotten worse.”

Now Sorr’an coughed slightly and blushed a
little. “Actually… This morning it wasn’t the curse I think. Perhaps a little
bit but mostly…” He bit his lower lip with a fang and peeked in my face. “Horniness?”

I blinked and then had to laugh, a relieved
expression flashed over the catboy’s face. “Oh, if that’s the case perhaps I
ask you the next time I have this problem again.”

The Katze grinned and nodded and his mien
went a little more serious. “I like you Niven. I can’t say why because you are
so tight-lipped and confusing – one moment it seems you like me, too, the next
you push me away. But you cared for me when I was poisoned, you bought me
clothing and food and help me find my clan and… You wrapped an arm around my
waist last night, when I laid close to you and tugged at me till I cuddled into
your side.”

“I didn’t!” I protested.

Sorr’an lifted a brow. “Oh yes, you did.
Why don’t you relax a little and let things go their way?” He lifted my shirt
and started to lap at my navel and trailed further down, scrunching his nose.

My eyes went wide as saucers. “What do you
think you’re doing, Sorr’an?”

He smiled up to me. “You stink of this
woman and I can’t sleep with this stench in our room. I don’t mind the sex
smell, though.” The Katze resumed his lapping only stopping when he reached my
waist. Pushing my shirt further up he discovered the spot where the whore had
scraped me. Lavishing the scratch with his tongue he murmured: “This will make
it heal faster. I want to be the causer next time…”, while he caressed my
hipbone with gentle fingers.

Warmth spread in my groin and inside me. I
scrambled to my feet and took some steps away from the catboy who looked
puzzled at me. “I need… to think. Sorr’an it’s not your fault, but yeah…” He
sighed and got up, sat down on his bed eyeing me as I wandered through the
room. I couldn’t think with him in the same place. “I will take a walk.” I said
as I went to the door.

“Will you go to another woman?”

I looked over my shoulder and tried a
smile. “No, I won’t go to another woman. Or man. I just need some time.” He
nodded and I left the Steel Keg, roaming through the streets till I sat down in
small dirty joint ordering a beer and a shot. I sat in deep thoughts, sipping
at the beer that tasted like stale dishwater. Thought about Sorr’an and what he
had said, that he liked me, to let things go their way. I liked him, too. A lot
and I didn’t know a thing about him, aside that he liked fish, meat and
especially bacon, bright colors and cuddling in the night. I smiled lightly.
That he had a body that met my tastes perfectly would make it so much easier
to… fall for him. Fall for him... Like I fell for Leonhard. I gritted my teeth
and downed the shot then stood up, feelings fighting inside me. Leo…

I walked through deserted streets welcoming
the chilly wind that blew through the alleys. I was startled in my reverie when
a boy ran in my direction screaming. “Fire, there’s a fire!”

I grabbed his shoulder when he passed me,
twirling him around. “Where’s a fire, boy?”

“At the Steel Keg. The inn is burning!” the
boy yelled then jerked himself free and ran down the street, shouting ‘Fire,
fire.’

My heart stopped and I raced to the Steel
Keg at top speed. When I reached the Soaker’s Square a huge crowd stood around
the burning inn. Flames burst out of the windows, the roof was on fire and
smoke wafted out of the door. Everybody was staring and screaming but no-one
was helping or getting water. Why was no-one helping? I jostled a guy, shouting
in his face. “Why is no-one trying to extinguish the fire?”

The man looked coolly at me. “Can’t you see
it’s too late? Bad luck for Raffy, he has lost his inn. Oh and of course for
the people that were sleeping on the second story. The fire spread staggering
fast, nobody could escape this hell. Let’s just hope they died while sleeping,
numbed with the smoke so that they didn’t burn while being wide awake.”

My head snapped back like I was hit. ‘Burnt
alive? No-one escaped? That can not be!’ I held my head in my hands, shivering.
“How can you know that when nobody even tried to help?” I yelled in rage. The
man regarded me with a look of pity and then turned. They were all just
watching; gawkers that lusted for some attraction. Fury whirled in my mind,
anger about these indolent rubbernecks. Red dots and threads wavered before my
vision and suddenly I could see all their connection points, where I just had
to spin a magic thread in their systems to control them, all of them. I raised
my hands and concentrated. It was like my insides were turned outside, a
burning pain in my chest and limbs and it felt like all my energy was drained. Then
silver lines connected me with every single person on the Square. I focused on
making them move and my brain felt like an anthill was invading it but finally
they moved and I got a better grasp on my magic. Forming a bucket chain I
started to make them try to get the fire under control, willing them to move
faster.

Bucket over bucket was poured in the fire
when suddenly I felt something rip and one of my magic strings became black,
shaking me and pulling at my core, my life energy. I snapped it off, closing
the chain where a dead body fell to the ground like a puppet whose strings were
cut. Another cord went black and then another one but I didn’t care, the fire
had to be put out.

I heard the trampling of boots and shouts
but ignored them when suddenly a bright pain exploded in my head, making my
vision swim but I didn’t let the strings go. Another blow to the back of my
head blinded me and I fell forward, the world going black as I hit the
cobblestones.

TBC…

 

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