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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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Drusilla recoiled suddenly, and looked at me more closely. Excitement crept<br />

in<strong>to</strong> her voice. "You're him, aren't you? You're him!"<br />

I blinked owlishly, "What <strong>do</strong> you mean?"<br />

"He said you'd come! He said you're the one who'll set him free! He spoke <strong>to</strong><br />

me in a dream and <strong>to</strong>ld me that you'd come with an ocean <strong>of</strong> water <strong>to</strong><br />

balance him, so he could burn across the planes! Free him! Please, save<br />

him!" Her voice <strong>be</strong>came frantic and pleading.<br />

I looked <strong>to</strong>wards Ignus, as he writhed in the flames, reveled them, "What's<br />

your connection <strong>to</strong> him?"<br />

Her voice practically throb<strong>be</strong>d with a deep ache, "I was Ignus' lover and he,<br />

my <strong>be</strong>loved. We both loved the flame, though he loved it more than I did<br />

me. And now he has <strong>be</strong>come the flame -- and <strong>be</strong><strong>cause</strong> I love him, I love the<br />

flame. But that's all <strong>do</strong>ne with now. Now I wait for him <strong>to</strong> <strong>do</strong>use himself. I<br />

sell what little I have just so I can <strong>be</strong> near him, so I can watch his <strong>be</strong>auty as<br />

he writhes in the heart <strong>of</strong> the fire."<br />

I backed away. The thought <strong>of</strong> helping that- that thing unlocked a terror<br />

within me that I didn't know I had, "You're <strong>to</strong>tally over the edge."<br />

"He said you would save him," she pleaded, "You can<strong>not</strong> escape that."<br />

I left her where she s<strong>to</strong>od and meandered <strong>to</strong> the other side <strong>of</strong> the bar. Two<br />

patrons s<strong>to</strong>od in the shade <strong>of</strong> a metal pillar, its surface coarse and scratched.<br />

Black streaks seared in<strong>to</strong> the dull bronze metal were themselves slashed<br />

with deep gouges, the wounds <strong>of</strong> many bar fights.<br />

"That <strong>do</strong>esn't make sense," the woman protested, "I mean, the portals. The<br />

fact that the gods themselves fight over it. It's placement in-"<br />

The man waved his hand dismissively, "You <strong>do</strong>n't need <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a Bleaker <strong>to</strong> see<br />

how meaningless that all is. There are patterns, but no real designs. Live<br />

here for a few years and you'd see the same." The woman sc<strong>of</strong>fed in<br />

response and looked up <strong>to</strong> me.<br />

She had a far-<strong>of</strong>f cast <strong>to</strong> her face. She was <strong>not</strong> exactly young, nor was she<br />

exactly old. Perhaps it was the expression <strong>of</strong> slight dis<strong>be</strong>lief sketched across<br />

her features, one that said she didn't <strong>be</strong>lieve her senses. When she focused<br />

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