The entire situation was enough to have you feel too agitated to settle down enough to attain an agreeable enough state in what you could meditate.
You'd blacked out recently more than once and you knew that it wasn't entirely from your injuries in some of the cases. The lingering feeling as if something wasn't entirely under your control about your own self, your own body gave you a sensation of anxiety that you couldn't quite shake, yet that was not the worst of it.
You had multiple concerns to deal with, such as the fact that you were travelling with three, or four depending on your perspective, increasingly tainted individuals. Anne, who's wings were the only outward sign of corruption at this time, who was growing increasingly unstable and prone to deceit. Joy, who was emotionally dead, who's tainted nature would no doubt manifest scales sooner or later.
Then there was Bill and Bob, one or two individuals depending upon how you desired to approach them. It was so heavily twisted, tainted, corrupted, that you knew that simply being seen with it in your presence was going to cause trouble.
That wasn't the worst of it either however.
The worst of it was that you were uncertain if you truly cared that you felt as if you were losing control.
Your eyes closed as you forced yourself to focus upon the stone that you would not allow to leave your grasp, to focus upon the unsettlingly familiar nature of it, of the power you could feel bleeding from it. Power was something you understood at least, power was something that you knew the eternal nature of could only change, instead of being truly destroyed. Words had power, actions had power and science and mysticism had battled for it, with science usurping the power mysticism had once had with reason and logic.
With that thought on your mind, you opened your eyes once more to see the world discoloured, blurring by as a familiar face stared back at you. "Heka," you mouthed, as you gazed upon that figures face, a face that you knew to be your own.
"Yes, sleep-walker, that is the name that we bore an association with during my time."
"Why. Why do I feel compelled to do this, to seek you out despite-"
"The stone, sleep-walker, it is imbued with the dying spark of magic, a spark that-"
"I want answers, not deflections and distractions."
"You do not command me," that other self spat, his laughter ringing in your ears.
"I do not, for commanding one as arrogant as proud as only I could be would be idiocy. You will only deflect, tell me soft lies and lead me down your path if I do not question you," you stated as you frowned. Whatever the reason behind the discomfort being in this other self's presence was, you knew that you needed to learn but one thing.
"Sleep-walker, centuries gone as I am, it is still foolish to raise my ire. Watch your words."
"Threats. Arrogance. False superiority. Prove me wrong, aspect, show me that my impression that you are no more than a self-centered bully to be wrong. Tell me why you really created this stone. Tell me what you did, that has me feeling so... Wrong."
"Fine," came that other selfs words as they released an almost theatrical sigh. You had called out one who's pride was in their image to prove that their image was one that was anything but what your impression told you. "The stone is a conduit, an aid, using it as a focal point, you can use it to commune with, or channel my consciousness. Simply put sleep-walker, in times of duress, endangerment or ignorance, you may relinquish control to me if you so require one of my limitless talents to steer the situation true."
You had the impression that this wasn't entirely the truth, that the way that this was being presented didn't tell the whole truth about the function of that stone. It could be used for communion, for channeling, allowing you to discuss things with another, to allow them to assume control of a body now their own was long gone. That much you believed, yet you were uncertain if it was just they, that you could call upon, or if there was something more to this tool than a mere benevolent offer of assistance.
"I see," you breathed as you watched the scenery zipping past with increasing frequency. You didn't like this other part of yourself, this former incarnation that had once bore your face, for you could feel that there was all too many of the qualities you knew were the worst in you, personified in him.
You had more important things to worry about than him at this time however, you had been tasked with something that had uncovered a major threat, that the best you could do was report. You had the worry of your increasingly unsound and irrational actions, coupled with those of your companions to deal with. You had paranoia gnawing away at you over how stable both you and Anne really were.
You knew that you had to keep everything in perspective, that you could only tackle what was realistically in reach at this time, that worrying about what could not be handled at this time was foolish. You could report your findings when you returned, that was reasonable enough. You could deal with Anne's unstable nature and identify your own when you had the time to do so, that was a future concern best dealt with at a time of peace.
Empires could come and go, the tides of time could erode the land but none of that mattered, for the aquisition of fudge was within your grasp.
Your eyes snapped open as you glanced towards the horizon, taking note that the dying light had given way to twilight.
"Stop here," you called to Anne, Joy and the abomination that sat up front with them. "I wish to..." you started, only to trail off as your attention was drawn to the light of a moderately sized coastal town not far down the path that you sat upon.
Lazy wisps of smoke wove from the chimneys, while lamps illuminated the main streets, yet even from here you could tell there were few out at this hour. A sense of unease gripped you, suspense filling you even from this distance as you knew that this coastal town was anything but a sleepy little halmet.
Light was cast from the many windows, yet what you took to be inns cast out no drunken revellers.
"Anne, you and... Bill and Bob keep an eye on the cart, I'll take Joy with me down to the town and see if we can find a place to report-"
"Fudge," Anne interrupted, that single word as she turned back spoken as her eyes lit up.
"I will not forget-"
"No, bring me back some too."
You laughed, despite how it hurt to do so you laughed. "Very well, I'll bring you back a box of fudge for yourself, if the coast's clear to do so, I'll get Joy to let you know it's safe to bring Bill and Bob in. Your wings would be easier to expalin after all, than a two headed taint bearer."
"We are perfectly capable of explaining ourselves," came the deeper voice as both heads frowned at you.
"I cannot explain this love I feel!" the higher pitched of the two squealed, before it fell awkwardly silent as all eyes fell upon it.
Silently, you dismounted from the cart, picking that awkward moment to leave upon as you gestured for Joy to follow you, while once again wondering why you had agreed to bring that thing with you. You were honestly uncertain by this point if your distate for it was borne of resentment for the fact that it was unashamed to show that it was not entirely there.
Unashamed, while you yourself had to hide how you were starting to feel a little crazy deep down.
With the cart fading into the distance and the darkness behind you, you turned your attention to Joy as you strode down the road before you. "Joy," you started as the woman turned her attention your way, her expectant expression visible even as the coming night swallowed the land about you. "Stay by my side, let me do the talking where possible. I'm certain that my injuries will be questioned, so, if you play the part of a shy lady... As much as I hate to say this, the attention will shift from you as they are likely to underestimate you."
"Understood," came her terse response, though you could clearly read her features as they were twisted with the effort of some deep internal struggle with this command. For a long moment she seemed conflicted by this, making you wonder exactly what it was that she found so difficult about it, when she paused to run her fingers through her hair, teasing the wild strands until they visibly appeared more managed. With wavy hair framing her face and innocent brown eyes gazing up at you, the petite woman before you appeared anything more than the monster you knew you had made of her.
"You look-" you started, only to pause in suprise as she moved to set herself under your arm, her own arms wrapped about yours as the petite woman gave a small huff. Adorable, was the first word that came to mind, though you left it unspoken as she gave a small tug upon your arm to hurry you onwards.
With that you made your way onward to the town proper, following the road through the dark as your thoughts returned to the task at hand.
It wasn't until you got close however, that the muted sounds of a town that should have been bustling with activity told you that your instincts had been correct, that there was something wrong. Low murmers came from the nearby tavern instead of bawdy singing, music, laughter and the clinking of glass on glass.
Glancing in as you passed the door by, you could see at least that the people inside were sullen, hunched over their drinks and murmering in low voices amongst themselves, adding a dour note to the towns atmosphere. The assorted fishermen, miners and sailors inside the tavern failed to notice you as you passed by, as enraptured as they were in whatever sour news had quietened the town.
"Perhaps the local constabulary has a phone," you mused aloud as you held Joy a little closer to you. You couldn't help but feel that your instinctive desire to protect the smaller woman was misplaced, as you knew as one of the Enlightened, she was every bit as dangerous as you.
If not more so.
Without a response from her, you continued to speak aloud, as if voicing your thoughts so she was at least aware of what you were planning. "So, we need to find a phone, get our identities confirmed, report the news, get some form of funding or credit so we can get the fudge and start on the way back..."
You were about to turn back and head to the tavern and ask for directions to the local police, when you spotted a slight man nervously hobbling down the street. "Excuse me, Sir?" you called out as you waved with your free arm to get his attention, figuring it was easier to deal with a single person than endure the attention of many. Especially in the state you were in at this time. "We were attacked on the road and were wondering if you could direct us to-"
Your question was never finished as the man turned to look at you, his expression haunted as he spoke in a hurried manner. "I don't have time to help you, I have to get home, pack and get out of here!"
"Why?" you responded, as the man turned to leave, pausing only to look over his shoulder at you as he spoke once more.
"They declared war upon us, said they'll burn the taint from our land, used it as an excuse, those damned French bastards."
You felt Joy tense against you as she held onto your arm a little tighter, the mention of burning the tainted no doubt unsettling even to her. "We need to... To get out of here. They will not accept me, Anne or the two headed one with a declaration such as this," Joy whispered.
This news had you reeling internally, though on the surface you remained calm.
You were a man of plans and action, the one who kept things together, who strove forward no matter the circumstances.
The question was, just what were you planning to do?
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Topic: They told me I could be anything... (Read 78864 times)