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

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compounded by a scholar who'd found she possessed a darker half - a side<br />

<strong>of</strong> her which <strong>to</strong>ok control, at times, and bade her <strong>do</strong> awful things. This<br />

potion was <strong>to</strong> have 'split' the darker half away from her, creating two<br />

separate <strong>be</strong>ings. Mercykillers, however, found and executed her for a string<br />

<strong>of</strong> depraved murders <strong>be</strong>fore she could use it. I'd charge you only two<br />

hundred copper commons for the Elixir."<br />

I knew the perfect use for it. "I'll take it."<br />

"Yes," Vrischika purred, "a wise choice." The copper I poured in<strong>to</strong> her hand<br />

seemed <strong>to</strong> dis<strong>appear</strong> the moment in <strong>to</strong>uched her palm; she handed me the<br />

item. "Please, enjoy your newest acquisition."<br />

~~~~~<br />

The bitter smell <strong>of</strong> herbs greeted me again when I entered the apothecary.<br />

The air was dusty, bitter, and aged. Behind the counter was Pestle Kilnn...<br />

his chaotic features made moist squelching noises as they shifted. He - or<br />

they - were as eerie <strong>to</strong> look upon as ever, as his flesh constantly changed<br />

and crawled across his face and body. "I welcome ye - snrf! - back, sir."<br />

"I've got this Elixir <strong>of</strong> Horrific Separation... <strong>do</strong> you think that'd help you?"<br />

Both his eyes suddenly snapped <strong>to</strong> the small bottle in my hands. He nodded,<br />

smacking his lips.<br />

"Here you are, then..."<br />

Pestle Kilnn <strong>to</strong>ok the bottle in both his hands and placed it <strong>be</strong>neath the<br />

counter. His left eye focused on me, while his right eye and hand<br />

concentrated on scribbling furiously on the counter<strong>to</strong>p. "We can use dis ta<br />

make somethin' dat'll fix us - hgrk! - right on up. Now if you'll gives us a<br />

moment, when we got it all worked - gak! - out, we'll makes ya some healin'<br />

stuffs fer a reward." He turned <strong>to</strong> head <strong>to</strong> the back <strong>of</strong> the shop...<br />

There are some things a sod shouldn't ever have <strong>to</strong> hear. The cursed <strong>be</strong>llow<br />

<strong>of</strong> a <strong>to</strong>rtured god. The rattling breath <strong>of</strong> the undead. Cats yowling in heat in<br />

a dark alleyway, their cries like the shrill, terrified screams <strong>of</strong> a baby <strong>be</strong>ing<br />

<strong>to</strong>rtured. The wet gags and gurgles that came from the back room were<br />

probably third <strong>do</strong>wn from the list. There was the warm slosh <strong>of</strong> guts, the<br />

sound <strong>of</strong> flesh tearing like paper. Part <strong>of</strong> me wanted <strong>to</strong> peek in and satisfy<br />

635

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