Hymn of the Elder Gods

Threshold

"So," Arman drawled, his voice slipping low and smooth through the silence, "at what point are you going to explain what's happening?"

There was no graceful way to move about a city that was bathed in near perfect darkness, and so all three of them had linked hands, with Eve clenching Arman's palm despite multiple protests. She couldn't risk having her senses impaired when already feeling blindsided. A faint violet line snaked along the ground in front of her, guiding them in what Eve hoped was the right direction.

This was not the location she had written into her spell. Which meant that their passage had either been intercepted - or the person Eve was looking for had gotten into trouble of some kind. In no positive situation could Eve imagine that woman living in a place like this.

Arman yanked at her arm, harshly, demanding an answer with entirely unnecessary force. Eve winced, and yanked back twice as hard.

"I thought we were keeping things separate. Besides, can't you more or less guess at this point?"

"I have some theories, but mostly I'm wondering if I've just been having one long, exhaustion induced hallucination for the past few days."

She sighed, sensing the man wasn't about to let this go. "Fine, what do you want to know?"

Arman stumbled over something in the dark. Samir caught him before he could fall atop of her.

"Are you actually going to answer?"

"I'll do my best."

"Is the world ending?"

Samir snorted. "Stupid question."

"Obviously not," Eve pulled their little train in a new direction, where the ground began to slope slowly upwards, and where dotted light sprinkled the streets towards the horizon. "It's merging."

"Merging," Arman nodded, then froze, his reaction several seconds delayed. "With those things that we saw earlier?"

"Just because you couldn't see them, didn't mean they weren't always there. Haven't you wondered where all the legends come from?"

"What legends? Like Dracula or something?" She gave the redhead's hand a firm, meaningful squeeze. His voice went a little hoarse. "Seriously?"

"Does a blood sucking monster sound like something that belongs to the human realm?"

"I mean we have mosquitos," Samir said. Eve turned away, staring blindly forward.

"Shush now," she whispered, fighting the twitch of her lips. An obedient silence fell over them.

It lasted for all of two minutes.

"Sooo, are we going to see this person you don't like because of the merge?"

"Arman," Eve rumbled. "I'll glue your lips shut, and that's not a joke."

"It's a valid question. Seems rather important."

"I admit - I am curious as well," Samir added.

Eve inhaled, long and slow, hating the bitter way the words slunk up her chest and across her tongue. "Yes, In part. She's...always liked to stay in places where the barrier between our worlds has grown thin. It helps her. With her magic. She might know what's wrong with it. And...I'm too weak right now to do anything. About my body - I don't have anybody else to ask."

Samir's fingers brushed against the curve of her waist, then retreated. "We'll save your friend."

"Hedeon't won't kill her. She's much too useful a pawn. Against me."