BadThingsComesInThrees[continued from What Happens in Amber Stays in Amber] The ground screamed like skinned rabbits. The Dark Hour had corrupted the Common’s bridge only moments before, twisting its flagstones into a fleshy arch. Its moist surface twitched and spasmed under Gillian’s feet as she ventured across, trying to reach the Lab building. Pitiful, helpless eyes clenched and fluttered in agony with her every step. Solid ground offer solace up ahead, but keeping her balance on the greasy tissue slowed her progress considerably. North of her Fialla's Tears vomited out the contents of an abattoir - the moist air clotted with bitter taste of copper. ~Things~ of wire, skin, and bone danced and swam in the torrent below, bathing in the sanguinary shower. They were too lost in their bloodlust to notice a single lamb trip-trapping across their bridge. That they remained completely silent in their celebration only intensified their alien nature. An eye popped beneath her heel, causing her to slip, nearly topple. Mocking laughter suddenly erupted somewhere on the other side of the bridge - feminine, fanatical. And very close. <Cybele, time to wake up,> Gillian thought. <Let's fly.> She weaved the air around her as she intoned the words to Sylph's Blessing. Cybele stirred from her slumber, lending Gillian her power. A massive gust of wind erupted around the young woman, lifting her up on a cushion of air. With her mind enhanced by the Royal’s influence, controlling her flight felt exhilaratingly easy. She crossed the last several yards in short order; the spongy moss of flesh and eyes below her replaced by slick flagstones. She felt a strange chill on her skin, making the hairs stand up. Logrus use. . . and close by. Gillian didn't really want to stop flying in order to engage the user. <Cybele, can you help me with a shield against that?> she asked. <Just draw the Pattern in your mind, girl. Like I’ve taught you.> Cybele said firmly. <Use that image like a shield, wrapping it. . . Damnit!> At Cybele’s cry of alarm, Gillian immediately became aware of three more Logrus-users. . . much closer than the other; standing on top of the Lab building. Shadows curled around them, obscuring their features – but she could tell they were two men and one woman. The woman made a throwing motioned and Gillian’s Pattern senses flared with warning signals. The Pattern came up in her mind and then radiated out of her body in golden light. She could feel its protective shell forming around her, but knew it would not be fast enough. As if in slow motion, she could see a razor-sharp tarot card streaking toward her chest – its surface brimming with Logrus-taint. Just before it struck her, a dragon-shaped manifestation of the Logrus hurtled out of the darkness and snatched it from the air. They exploded shortly thereafter, canceling each other out. The woman shrieked in frustration. With her Pattern senses now on high-alert, Gillian could see Cynwyd moving toward her – his body wreathed in Logrus tendrils. He’d probably just saved her life. |
