Page 37 of Fallen Angels

“The mark is made of very dark magic, which means you carry darkness with you all the time. Thus, you no longer require potions such asNightshadeor the like. You are now your own source of shadow fuel,” Pyre explains, then he turns to face Dragan. “I’m in the process of finding a solution to your problem of turning into stone when out of your realm.” Dragan scoffs as Pyre continues. “You cannot continue to safeguard yourself by relying on the energy flowing through Eilish.”

“Safeguard himself?” Eilish asks.

Pyre faces her and nods. “The only reason Dragan has not returned to his gargoyle shape while outside the shadow plane is owing to you. Your energy allows Dragan to suppress this curse Variant placed upon him.” Pyre turns back to Dragan. “Gargoyles are very particular beings; you must hence grant me time to find an antidote for your curse.”

Dragan just nods but glances at Eilish, with an expression I can’t quite figure out. Perhaps it’s a mix of awe, gratitude, and anger in equal parts.

“Cambion, while in the veil, you must wear a talisman so the ethers don’t deplete you of your strength,” Pyre continues. Then he holds out his hand and a golden cuff-like ornament appears in his palm. The gold cuff glints in the starlight and Cambion is instantly awed by its beauty.

“The Necklace of Adaptation,” Pyre announces. “It will allow you to maintain your aura and health in this atmosphere.”

“And me?” Eilish asks.

“You require nothing to exist here,” Pyre answers. “The shadows and the light within you protect you against the ethers of the veil.”

“How do you know all of this?” Eilish asks the necromancer. “You seem to have a world of knowledge hidden beneath that mask of yours.”

“Here in the veil, time does not exist the way it does in the realms, I, therefore, had eternities to study and learn, while your world's time would constrict you of these same valuable lessons.”

“Lessons from whom?” Eilish continues, eyeing Pyre.

“We are no longer in the world of the living, which means I exist with spirits from all times, all realms, and all species. I have and continue to learn from them. When applicable, I use that knowledge.”

“So, does the veil have a balance that needs to be maintained like the realms?” Eilish continues.

Pyre shakes his head. “No. This is a wellspring of raw energy—there is no balance here, no stasis. The veil just is. The only rule that governs it is one of guardianship.”

“Guardianship?” I repeat.

Pyre nods as he faces me. “The veil requires a guardian, someone to ensure the power inherent in all the realms is never abused. While balance is not applicable here in the veil, it is quite crucial elsewhere.”

“And you’re the guardian of the veil?” Eilish deduces.

Pyre nods, his expression somber. “I am the guardian.”

***

FLUMPH

The Veil

Ok, soze jist ta make sure I’m followin’ Masky’s point—that weird, glowin’ red thing that appeared on the vamp’s arm—thatbe solvin’ his little dilemma known as vamp’s can’t walk in the sun?

Yeah? Well, good fer him. But what that mark doin’ for the rest o’ us? Jack shit, that be what. An’ what good’s a necro-whatever if he ain’t all-powerful? Jack shit good, that be what. I don’t care if he got some cool tricks up his sleeves, I want me some real answers!

I notice that little slave o’ his be outta his pocket and walkin’ ‘round and chewin’ on one o’ them pieces o’ bread she brought out fer all of us. I already stoles like two of ‘em when no one was payin’ no attention. An’ I stole some cheese too. Right befores I cut the cheese!

There’s a little bit o’ humors for ya.

Anyhows, I flies right over to that brownie an’ I give ‘er my best tough look. “Looks here, I need ta know if your master up to no good.”

“No good?” she ask an’ her eyes goes all wide like.

“Yeah, what he been doin’ all this time if he ain’t been fightin’ Variant?” I ask her. My arms cross in front my belly as I squint my eyes at her real mean like. I seen Dragan an’ Cambion do that plenty of times at each other an’ it makes ‘em look meaner soze I figures I oughtta try.

“Master watch.”

“Master watch what?” I demand.

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