Black Magic

Going Under

Chapter 25: Going Under

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Tao sat up slowly, soft blankets falling from his shoulders as he shifted around. His head felt like it was full of cotton, and his stomach felt like it was full of...well nothing.

His belly chose that moment to give a pitiful gurgle and Tao winced.

It'd been a long time since he'd been this hungry for this long, and his body didn't like it one bit.

Yet despite the insistent pangs in his stomach, he felt rather warm and content, the way he did after sleeping in Kris's opulent bed for hours and hours.

His jaw popped as he yawned widely, and he groaned at the thought of having to crawl out of bed and begin his chores---

Wait a minute.

Tao froze, body stiffening as his memory kicked into overdrive and his eyes finally registered his unfamiliar surroundings.

Blue curtains, a small area rug, worn sheets, an array of soft pillows against the headboard, and an arm chair in the corner.

This was not Kris's room. This was not Tao's room. In fact, this was not a room that Tao recognized at all.

"I see you're finally awake."

Tao's head snapped toward the doorway, senses on high alert.

"I brought some food," the man said as he entered the room. "Fresh meat. I know you're starving."

Tao held himself in check, swallowed his hunger in lieu of studying this blue-clad stranger.

"What?" the man teased from behind the blue cloth that covered the lower half of his face. "Don't recognize me?"

But Tao did, his body relaxing in wave of relief. The Water Merchant.

A short sound of anticipation left Tao's lips as the man settled the tray of food in Tao's lap. The meat was raw, still fresh enough to be oozing blood, and Tao was too hungry to ask any questions.

The Water Merchant lounged back in the arm chair, studied him with glittering eyes. "Dig in."

Tao gave a quick word of thanks and then attacked the food without another thought. His teeth ripped through the flesh, blood running down his chin and wrists in thin rivulets.

He'd never tasted something so delicious in his entire life, and he ate, and ate, and ate, until his stomach felt distended and his body heavy.

At some point during Tao's mad feasting, the Water Merchant had gotten up and left the room. Now he returned with a cup in his hand, and Tao leaned forward like an eager animal as the man offered it to him.

Water.

Cool, wet, blessed water.

Tao drained the entire cup and then leaned back on his mountain of pillows, feeling as though he could finally think straight.

He stared up at the ceiling and just breathed for a couple of minutes, allowing his body to digest and rest. "Where am I?" he mumbled through his food induced lethargy.

Tao's stomach was full, but he could still sense another hunger crawling beneath his skin. A low hum of energy, an itch he knew he wouldn't be able to scratch.

The Water Merchant tilted his head, his slanted eyes betraying nothing. "We are currently in a hotel room in the Middle Ring of the City of Exolin." He glanced at his wrist, and Tao's eyes caught a flash of silver. "It's about 5:30 p.m on Friday, November 25th in the Year 1111A.C.. And if I'm not mistaken you've just experienced your first Change and are recently returned from the Year 611 A.C.."