Books
Prologue
"The in-between was colder than the realms themselves. It was a nearly unreachable void of nothing, suffocating darkness and deafening silence. For the human or the non-magical, it was unsafe. Nearly a vacuum of space. Without power and the ability to protect oneself, any unfortunate soul who managed to make it into the in-between would only continue to fall for eternity. Never finding ground, or light, just nothing.
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For her, it was safe, she had built a home in the nothing. A black canvas which sat between all worlds, giving her access to many. From them she could summon resources and power without being detected. Provided she remained distant, only watching rom a far through the shimmering scry she had created for that very purpose.
In her intangible sanctuary she had many apertures floating delicately through her corner of oblivion. Each resembling a window with a shimmering surface. Their edges encased in fiery red sigils meant to conceal her energy from them. Should they pass through a realm she would know, she would see. Though she could not act, never, they would know and despite her power, she feared being their captor once more. They outmatched her in strength and number.
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The realm of the demon witch remained a mystery even among the born witches of her realm. It had been so long since she graced that place, her one, she had all but forgotten the name. Then again, it was no longer home, she had become a pariah among her own. The rumors spread far among them the night she was taken. There was some truth to them, the sacrifice she made to escape was entirely true. Blood magic was greatly frowned upon, especially sacrifice.
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Those forked tongue cowards, to believe she would intentionally sire a child with a demon, that she would be his willing bride or the she sacrificed a child that was anything but evil, was insulting.
Once the rumors began she was forced to bare the title. The demon witch, as if she wanted to be raped and beaten by that monster, monster’s rather. It was impossible to know whose baby it had been. But she did the world a favor by ending its existence.
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The witch circled the large concave structure, shimming oil black as she moved. There was no physical floor beneath her, only a transparent shelf, defined by glyphs that kept her from accidentally walking off the edge. Maintaining her sanctuary was hourly work, not for the faint of heart. For her, it was worth it to maintain her peace, to stay off their radar.
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From beneath her dark cloak she produced a knife, fashioned from silver and one of the bones she had kept from that monstrosity after ohs sliced its throat. The in-between demanded blood, flesh, bone, the symbols of life it would never host.
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Though she abhorred their crimes, she took advantage of the mess they left. There were so many bodies, carnage beyond count, they would never notice if she took for herself before the clean up. The nothing demanded more, so when she could not sate it with a whole body, parts or entrails, her blood would have to do. At least for a few hours, two at the most. A whole body would buy her half a day.
The other hours were filled with whatever creature she could grab from the realms. Though the void accepted, it craved humanistic flesh or perhaps even demon.
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The witch placed the edge of her knife on the side of her forearm and drew it down five inches. Her flesh split open, red crimson disappearing into the oily substance. Everything trembled, the mirrors shuddered, glyphs vibrated, humming loudly like a bulb getting too much voltage on the edge of exploding, the nothing breathed. It was as if she lived with a dragon whose appetite was being satisfied. The witch felt her body warm, almost burn, sweat dripping from every part of her as the nothing rewarded her.
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Their non-contractual agreement had been completed. The witch sighed, wiping the damp from herself with the edge of her cloak. She wiped the blade on her pant leg before tucking it away and passing her palm over the gash in her arm. All around her the mirrors glared, her signs glowing hot with renewed power. For a few more hours she would be safe. But she knew they would strike again, soon. She needed to find a suitable sacrifice before then. Though she had never figured how to intercede to end their game, she tracked their progress.
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Still, she felt the change in the air, something was going to end it all. When or if the event occurred she wanted to assist, to be there when it happened so she could end them. But mainly him. The real evil behind everything.