01-04 - The freelust

(Published 15-Oct-2020 17:19:17)

From where he stood, St'phan could no longer see the half-dragon; the most jarring aspect had been the reflection. Part of his attention had been on a reflection in a window near where the half-dragon had stood. As the half-dragon was enveloped by the pale apparition, he saw the same scene unfurl in the reflection as well. And from the reflection in the glass, he was able to see behind the half-dragon - and into where the ghost had taken the half-dragon.

As his eyes followed the glass windows, he looked at his own reflection. Staring back at him from the window closest to him were eyes of wonder and anger. A nose identical to his own, lips pursed in an identical but opposite manner, and a smirk that always made him feel small.

Steeling himself to disregard the image, St'phan closed his eyes and began to draw his attention away from his reflection. He was startled when an enormous half-rhinoceros almost ran him over, and he stumbled away from the half-rhinoceros ... and toward the window. Fighting to keep his balance, St'phan caught himself by placing his hand on the window.

* My turn *

In horror, St'phan tried looking up and found himself somehow flattened ... two-dimensional. Unable to look away, St'phan found himself staring back into the eyes of the bearer of the sneer.

* I told you, it was my turn *

St'phanie stretched, taking in this strange, new city. She appreciated the fact that nobody had seemed to see St'phan.

* Oh, this will be fun! *

St'phanie watched the dis-engaged hurried mob walk by; she spied a particularly shiny sword ... and in one deft movement, performed the seemingly impossible. She jumped into the air, landed on her hands near the half-centaur with the sheath, pushed hard against the ground, slipped the half-centaur's sword out of its shaft, and sliced the its neck as she landed on the ground. The half-centaur's body mostly seemed surprised as it stopped walking - while the rest of the crowd walked around, uninterrupted.

St'phanie stood back and watched; the pale apparition rose again. Engulfing the half-centaur body, the ghost attempted to envelope the air where its head had been. Not finding purchase, it seemed satisfied with just the body. St'phanie walked over to the head of the half-centaur. As it slowly leaked blood onto ground, she picked up the head. Dead half-centaur, half-demonic eyes looked back at her.

* Not much meat on this thing *

Looking back at her reflection, St'phanie shook her head. Staring into his eyes, she recalled their agreement.

* Yeah, I know *

St'phanie treated the half-centaur head as best she could: she treated the slice wound with oils to reduce the death stench and diminish the decay, she muttered a quick incantation to ensure it wouldn't leak, and carefully placed into one of her pouches.

Taking a few deep breaths and staring longingly at the rippling musculature of several of the half-animals, she sighed - and walked to the window.

With anticipation, St'phan watched as she reached up - and held her hand inches away from the window.

* What would you do if I left you there? *

Pausing for 30 seconds, St'phanie watches as her reflection held her gaze. With each passing second, St'phan remained focused on her eyes. Fifteen seconds reached, then twenty, then twenty-five ... then thirty. And St'phanie held her hand on the warm glass.

Warmth filled her body as she returned to the reflection.

And St'phan stood.