Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 19:45:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Liam Barnes <pagangamer@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Awakening: Chapter 11
This is a work of fiction involving the relationship of two young men (late
teens to mid twenties), both physical and emotional. If you are made
uncomfortable by such subjects as gay sex, magic and the supernatural, then
please stop reading now. Likewise, if you are below the age of 18, please
stop here.
This story uses elements from White Wolf's World of Darkness' series of
games. Mage: The Ascension, Magadon Pharmaceutical, PsychDiv, Traditions,
Cult of Ecstasy, Euthanatos, the Technocracy, New World Order, Freak
Legions, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Black Spiral Dancers, Pentex, The
Traditions, The Technocracy, Wraith: The Oblivion Vampire: the Masquerade,
Kiasyd and similar elements are copyrighted by White Wolf Game Studio
2004. This work of fiction is not meant as a challenge to existing
copyrighted materials, and no profit is gained by its publication.
Kate Sanders, Aaron Barry, and Stefan are the intellectual property
of Don Bassingwaite and White Wolf Fiction. For a more in depth treatment
of these characters, and a great read, pick up a copy of SUCH PAIN from
Harper Collins.
All other characters and story elements belong to the author.
Constructive criticism is highly appreciated; flamers and hate mail
will be ignored. Write me at PaganGamer@yahoo.com with Awakening in the
subject heading.
Also published on Nifty by the author:
Shame of Caine -- Science Fiction/Fantasy
** I have also published this and the previous chapters in an MS Word
format on the Gay_Fantasy_Fiction group at Yahoo Groups. I have started
placing artwork depicting scenes and characters from the story there as
well. Give it a look, or upload your own Sci-Fi / Fantasy stories. It's
totally free. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gay_Fantasy_Fiction/ **
The Awakening
By Liam Barnes
11
Arranging the Pieces
May 23rd, 2002
10:12 p.m.
Mike's Home for Youths, Castro District, San Francisco
Marcus was sitting on the couch with Andrew curled up next to
him. He could feel nothing from their newly established bond; it was as
though a void existed inside him where Andrew used to be. He didn't know
what to do for him; in one day, the youth's life had been destroyed. He had
only just Awakened and the Technocracy was after him, his mother was dead,
and there was no telling what danger his father was about to face. Marcus
couldn't help but think that it was entirely his fault.
Stefan and Kate were discussing bringing in a mutual friend of
theirs named Aaron Barry when Marcus suddenly felt an odd rush of
Quintessence cycle through his Avatar. The sensation was very similar to
when he had felt Andrew Awaken. Looking around, he noticed that the blonde
youth had also started and was looking around the room. A sort of dull
curiosity filled the bond between the two as Andrew got up and headed
towards the window. Both of the other mages stopped their conversation and
glanced at the boy.
Cocking an eyebrow, Marcus hesitantly asked, "What's up?"
Andrew seemed to ignore the question and opened the curtains,
looking out across the darkened street. There was a sense of
disappointment, then of concentration. Marcus stood up, wanting to see what
the other was looking for when the blonde teen suddenly screamed and fell
away from the window. An intensely overwhelming sense of fear flooded their
spiritual bond.
Marcus rushed to catch him as Andrew tried to scramble away. "What
is it?" Behind them, the other two mages took defensive stances; Stefan
materializing a short dagger out of thin air and Kate holding aloft her
cell phone in front of her.
"It's there," he cried. "Something, I don't know what it is! It's
watching through the window!" He lurched in Marcus' grasp, flailing about
with arms and legs. "Let go of me! Need to get away from here!"
As this had been going on, Kate and Stefan had made their way
cautiously to the window. Taking opposite sides, they both opened the
curtains from their sides revealing a darkened street. Stefan tried to see
anything in the night, turned to Kate and shrugged his shoulders. Kate
glanced outside, bottom lip in her teeth, and then turned back to Marcus
and Andrew. She shook her head gently, and said, "There's nothing out
there, Andrew."
The youth looked as though he were convulsing as he
struggled. "You're. Not. Looking. Right!" He shouted.
"I don't understand," she started. But before she could say more,
the cell phone in her hand gave a weak popping sound and
shattered. Hissing, she shook her hand out.
Stefan moved to help her, but was quickly halted by a bolt of yellow
green electricity which jumped from the ruined phone and struck the ceiling
light. The lights exploded in a shower of sparks and the room plunged into
darkness. Marcus instinctively held Andrew closer, the youth's fear
starting to influence his own feelings.
Andrew ceased in his struggling. If anything he seemed to have grown
completely still in the Ecstatic's arms. Marcus turned to see what had
calmed the other. Stepping out of the shadows was a tall, dark shape, its
powerful body covered in matted black fur and baring the hulking face of a
massive wolf's. With an unfocused display of vulgar magick, the mage
unleashed a twisting vortex of Life magicks, ripping away at the creature's
pattern. The beast howled in pain as multiple lacerations appeared across
its body.
Marcus leapt up with a sudden jolt, pulling Andrew with him. The
beast lowered its head, giving the approximation of a sly grin to the
mage. The Ecstatic stared in awed fear as he watched the cuts begin to
heal. "Shit!"
He started to back up, but was stopped by Andrew. The blond youth
was looking intently at a small glowing crystal around the creature's
neck. Marcus glanced quickly at the object, feeling a growing sense of
familiarity with the soft blue glow. Instinct kicked in, bringing the mage
out from the lure of the crystal. Firmly taking a hold of Andrew, Marcus
turned to run. He stopped in mid-flight, coming face to face with the
barrel of a silencer. There was a muffled thump along with a flash of
light. Marcus fell to the floor, pulling the other mage down with him as
well. His own screams filled his ears like the roaring of an avalanche, but
the sound went on long after he had stopped. Daring to look, he saw Kate
pop off two more shots from a pistol, which was quickly followed by more
deafening howls. Pulling Andrew behind him, he managed to get behind the
technocrat.
Stefan waved a stone stick around as he began chanting. His voice
echoed around the room, reverberating until the very air seemed to
vibrate. Meanwhile, the beast began to thrash about, its huge jaws snapping
at empty air. Finally, it reared up onto its hind legs and gave a defiant
howl. Sickly green flames sprung to life in clawed hands of the
creature. Swinging its arms around, the balls of fire flew from its hands
towards the mages.
<STOP>
The fires dissipated before hitting the two standing mages. Stefan
and Kate looked around the room in bewilderment. Andrew suddenly rose up
from the floor. Though quick, his movements were smooth and precise, not
those of a gangly teenager. He could feel Nox inside him, guiding his every
move, opening his mind to the full glory of Creation.
He saw through the bestial guise of the creature, his sight somehow
piercing to its fouled soul. Under the countless layers of rot and
corruption, of hatreds and violence he saw a small, deformed man. The
pitiable figure cowed before the mage's sight, curling into a fetal
position as if to hide his face from the youth's intense gaze. Once more,
Nox spoke through him.
<KNOW ME FOR WHOM I AM, CHILD OF THE WYRM. YOU CANNOT HIDE YOURSELF
FROM ME IN DARKNESS; IT IS MY VERY BODY.>
The shadows around Andrew grew darker, wrapping around his body
like clothing. Marcus reached for the other mage as he began to step
towards the cowering beast, but it was if the youth had become the very
darkness which clung to him. Andrew held a hand out to the collapsed form.
Humming filled the room as the small crystal rose to meet Andrew's
shadowy reach. Just as he was about to grab it, the beast let out a cry
that laid somewhere between anger and fear. It jumped backwards from
Andrew, twisted in mid-air and crashed through the wooden parlor doors. The
creature came to rest in the foyer amid shards of glass and wood. There,
blocking its path was a young teen; James Cross.
The two stared for a brief moment. In that instant, the creature
seemed to forget its fox frenzy. A wreck of a smile twisted its maw as it
turned away from Cross and headed for the front doors. Just as it was going
to smash through the wooden doors, the beast disappeared across the
Gauntlet, and back into the spirit world. There it let out a triumphant
howl that shattered the windows throughout the youth home. He had
underestimated the boy this time, but now he knew he had the advantage in
the long run. Fleeing back to the Magadon building, Jouas schemed on how
to best utilize the quickening formori.
* * *
Marcus ran out of the parlor as the windows shattered with Stefan
and Kate only a step behind. They all were brought up short in front of the
dazed looking James. The ecstatic swore when he saw that the creature had
vanished.
Stefan walked over to the youth, made a quick check for any harm,
and scanned the room. "Are you hurt?"
James shook his head. "What was that?"
The three mages looked curiously over at him. His face was
featureless, and his voice displayed more curiosity than fear. Stefan cast
a glance over at Kate. The technocrat spoke up before the others could.
"Just a drunk," she said calmly. "He was in a wolf costume. Must
have been at a party and just wandered in."
Marcus gave a slightly dubious look her way, but realized that she
must have been using some magic to back up her story. "He must have gone
out a window," he added. Then, upon looking about the living room and
foyer, he said, "Damn, Stefan! Sorry about the windows."
James looked over at the Cultist. "It didn't go out the window. It
just disappeared. Over by the front doors."
"What?" Stefan asked in surprise.
The teen started walking towards the stairs. As he neared the base,
he remarked over his shoulders, "I said it just disappeared. Then the
windows all broke." He stopped briefly. "I'm tired. If it's okay, I think
I'm going to just go to bed." With that, he began to climb the stairs.
The three watched in stunned silence as the youth vanished
upstairs. Kate turned to Stefan and whispered harshly, "There is something
seriously wrong with him, Stefan. He resisted not only my conditioning, but
also recognized that thing for what it was and didn't even blink an
eye. That is not normal."
"Maybe seeing the thing just Awakened him," Marcus suggested.
"Even if that was the case, he wouldn't have been so blasé about
it," the technocrat responded. "I'm serious, you two. I have seen civilian
exposures to lycanthropes. His reaction was not normal." The last came out
in a strained whisper. "I know that you have always resisted the idea of
letting me take him to a Union facility, Stefan, but we may not have any
other options."
"Fuck, Kate!" Stefan threw his hands up in exasperation. "When?
After we figure out what that thing was, and why it was here? How about
after we deal with what is going on at Magadon? And let's not forget we
still need to help out Andrew's father."
The Euthanatos shook his head and looked around the room. Letting
out an angry growl, he kicked at some glass on the floor. "Fuck!"
In the parlor, Andrew gazed out the shattered window. Nox stood by
the street, her face raised to the near full moon. "What was that?"
<A CHILD OF LUNA WHO IS NO LONGER HERS.>
"That's not what I meant," he said quietly.
Nox turned her porcelain-like face towards him. <I KNOW.>
"It felt . . . familiar."
<IT DID.> A simple statement, not a question.
"Why?"
<IT WAS PART OF US. IT IS US.>
Andrew glanced down as he thought back to something that Marcus had
told him earlier in the Parlor. He looked up at his Avatar. "One of the
fragments."
In response, Nox gave him a slight smile.
"Where did he go? Do you know how to find it?"
Nox glanced down the street and raised her arm slowly until it
pointed somewhere towards the business district. <THERE .>
Andrew slowly turned and walked out of the room. He noticed the
others look at him as he passed them by, but he paid them no mind. He
gently opened the doors and walked out to the street. Though Nox was no
longer out there he faced the direction she had pointed to. The red glow of
the Magadon sign shone dully at the skyscraper's height. He was suddenly
aware of Marcus' concern for him, slowly blossoming in the depths of his
mind.
The Cultist placed his arms around Andrew and rested his chin on
the youth's shoulders. Calm settled over the blonde teen, as did a
spiritual heaviness. "That is where we must go," he stated softly.
"Eventually, but not tonight."
The wind picked up, carrying the salty scent of the ocean through
the city street. "No, not tonight, but soon."
* * *
James shut the door to his room. The thin curtains gently waved
from a breeze coming through the window's shattered pane. It was dark
except for the distorted light from the street which served to twist the
shadows further. He stripped his clothes off and fell into the twin-sized
bed.
The dark figure stroked his head as it crouched on the side of the
bed. "They will never underssstand you like I do. They could never love you
asss much asss I," it crooned quietly. "Sssleep now, ssssweet boy."
The youth laid there as the figure continued to gently run its
warped fingers through his hair. His thoughts drifted to the events of the
abandoned building an hour or so earlier. He smiled as the scene played
over and over in his mind. He could taste the sweat and blood, and smell
the sharp taste of rust and dirt; it was as if he were there again. Then,
the thought turned sour. He remembered the kid's face as he was about to
hit him with the chair leg.
"I should have just hit him," James said softly.
"Nexxxt time, my sssweet one. Ressst now." The figure continued to
speak soothingly to James as he drifted off to sleep.
The youth had a strong mind, and while he occasionally was prodded
towards the bane's goals, the corrupt spirit was having difficulty in
merging with his soul. When the Black Spiral Dancer suddenly appeared in
the foyer, the bane had rejoiced, thinking the creature there to help him
take the youth's spirit. Instead, the infernal beast had run off into the
Umbra. Yet, the thing had noticed the bane, and a momentary look of
acknowledgement reassured that it would see the corrupted werewolf once
more.
Meanwhile, the spirit would continue to ply the youth with the
words of affection and concern that he was so desperately in need of. If
things worked out, it would be one with the youth in a mere few days.
* * *
May 24th, 2002 12:30 a.m. Magadon Pharmaceuticals, Financial District, San
Francisco
Roland Jouas stood back in his office atop the Magadon
Pharmaceutical tower. The wind whipped papers around the room as it howled
through where the glass pane once was. He had shifted back to his dwarfish
human form with his clothes reforming back in their proper place. Tucking
the small crystal back into his shirt, he made his way to the floor's
elevator.
The doors to the sterile elevator opened, allowing him in. The trip
down to the Research and Development floor was thankfully short, as the
banal musak piped into the elevators was quickly fraying his nerves. By the
time the doors opened back up, he had shifted into a form halfway between
man and the man-wolf, causing him to look much like the classic picture of
the Neanderthal man. Calming somewhat as he walked down the empty hall, his
body slowly reverted down to his fully human body.
Inside the lab, a lone scientist sat at his computer, working on
some project or other. Roland recognized him as being a lowly tech, not yet
clued in on Magadon's true purpose. Putting on his most winning smile he
approached the man.
The tech looked up at Jouas and blanched, either due to who Roland
was or due to the fact that even his best smile was truly hideous. "Good
evening," he greeted. "How are things going in R and D?"
Hesitantly, the man found his voice and said, "Good, sir. Is
everything alright?"
"Oh, fine. I was just checking up on progress down here. Making
sure that all was proceeding well." He stared at the man, smile still in
place.
After a brief moment the other man began to fidget, not quite sure
what Jouas wanted. "I, um . . . is there perhaps a particular job I can
help you with?" Jouas could smell the man's fear as he began to perspire.
"Why, as a matter of fact, I do believe you could. I am looking for
the files for project S.C."
Several minutes of nervous riffling of paperwork passed before the
man came up with the project's files. He handed them off, and with what
Roland was sure was a smile of relief, the tech went back to his
work. Jouas went through the project book, ignoring the graphs and various
statistics (most of which he was sure were faked) he finally came to the
information which he wanted.
Inside a refrigerated storage unit, he located the samples of Tiny,
waiting for distribution to the masses. He held some of the small pills up
to his nose, taking several deep sniffs of the candy-like drugs. Satisfied,
he dropped all but one of the pills back into their bin, and walked back to
the small office outside the refrigerator.
The pill clattered to the floor as the werewolf shifted back into
his towering crinos form. "Hear me foul spirit. I free you of the prison
which you have been encased. Show yourself to me now, or may the Eater of
Souls devour you whole!"
A sickly green shadow oozed out of the blue pill. It slowly formed
into a spindly humanoid that stood only a few feet high. Cocking its
misshapen head at the werewolf, it asked in an oily voice, "What do you
want, bastard son of a bitch!"
Jouas bared his teeth at the vile spirit. Using a gift taught to
him by his totem, the werewolf spoke to the bane in a voice that commanded
obedience. "You will show proper respect to me, wyrmling. And you will obey
me for as long as I demand it. Is that clear?"
Properly coerced, the warped bane kneeled down. "What do you wish,
master?"
The werewolf pulled the crystal pendant off of the chain with a
snap. He thrust it in the face of the bane and said, "Over in the Castro
District, you will find a boy with part of this spirit. Go to that house
and find the one like you. It is riding another in the house. Bring that
one to me!"
The bane sniffed the stone and dematerialized in the spirit
world. Satisfied, Jouas thought to step sideways as well, but a loud
protest from his stomach gave him a better idea. Perhaps a little hunt
would prove more satisfying, his thoughts going back to the nervous tech.
* * *
May 24th, 2002 1:10 a.m. Mike's Home for Youths, Castro District, San
Francisco
Andrew stared at the shadows playing on the wall of his and Marcus'
room. The cultist was lying behind him, arms wrapped around his side. He
could tell that the dark haired mage was worrying about him, and from the
sounds of his breath, was still awake. Andrew also figured that Marcus also
knew that he was awake as well.
As if reading his thoughts, Marcus whispered, "How are you doing?"
"I'm fucking scared," he whispered back.
"It`ll be okay, Andrew. I won't let anything happen to you."
Andrew turned over to face Marcus. The Ecstatic noticed the mixture
of worry, and some deeper feeling of guilt coming from the bond. "I don't
want you to go with me when I go to Magadon." He placed his finger on the
other's lips before he could interrupt. "I don't want you to get hurt,
Marcus. I've already lost my mother, and my dad may be in trouble too. I
can't lose you as well." Tears welled up in the blonde teen's eyes as the
days events finally caught up to him.
Marcus reached over and wiped the tears off his cheek, and gave him
a roguish grin. "Nothing will happen to me, babe. I promise you, I will
always be with you. Besides, I have to go. There isn't any way in Hell I am
just going to let you walk into that place without backup. Please, don't
ask me to."
The teen curled up against the Cultist and began to shake. Marcus
pulled Andrew close, letting him cry out his hurt on his chest. He spoke
comforting words and promises that he prayed he could keep.
<This is the end of Chapter 11. In the next chapter, the wayward mages go
on the offensive. Young Mr. Cross receives an offer he can't refuse, and
Agent Preston gets company. The next chapter will be quicker in coming
than this one was, so don't you fret, I shall keep writing.
Liam>