FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I know you are a bit put off by my appearance. You do not have people like me here. Where I am from, though, we are plenty. In this world, before we had technology, everything was run and ruled by magic. Mages, no matter how powerful, were considered the upper class and looked down on anyone who was Mundane. It was like that for centuries and farther back than records were held. Mundane, however, were not the dumb peasants the mages liked to think they were. Over the years they built the cities, forged the materials, and laid the groundwork for future generations.

Wars broke out between Mage and Mundane. Peace never lasted long and was always tentative, but once the industrial revolution hit, Mundane truly started to earn their place. They no longer relied on mages to light their homes, keep them comfortable, or power mass transit. The last century had seen a revolution.

Life had reached a point that even those gifted with magic admit there was little need. Many youths didn't even bother going through the training to perform magic. Why would they waste 5, 10, 20, or more years of their lives for something reduced to parlor tricks for anyone but the most powerful?

There were still a number that went to school and anyone with the gift was at least required to learn how to not cast spells. It could still be fun to learn, though, particularly if you were into enchanting. There were entire magazines centered around the latest craze and how to do it.

My mom hated it, but I always got a hold of one of those magazines every month. She always said I'd never be able to use magic but that didn't stop the dreaming. There were claims I'd been tested at a young age to see if I had the gift and had failed, but none of my peers had done the same. It was suspicious and I felt my mom just had a grudge against magic in general. She even worked at a magic free farm as the supervisor.

The most confusing thing was that she'd let slip my father had been a powerful mage. They'd parted ways before I was born for reasons she would never disclose with me no matter how much I pried. I'd made a game of trying to slip it into conversations randomly, and sparsely, to see if I could trip her up. I'd be damned if she didn't turn it around on me every time.

That never stopped me from wanting to at least meet with mages and hear their stories. None ever came around our town, which my mom was thankful for, and it made me sad. Just a spark, an ice cube, a small flame, anything to show me what they could do. I just wanted to see magic.

One day, a car drove through town with their windows down. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was fate, but the leaflet that flew out caught my attention. My eyes lit up when I realized what it was. There was going to be a party in the next town over! Mages from all over the state were coming for a night of fun, and likely debauchery. That was my chance and I couldn't be any more excited!

Festivities started in the early evening, but I wouldn't be able to get out of the house until my mom went to bed. She was an early riser for work so it wasn't unheard of for her to be in bed before nine. Right on cue at 8:45, “Goodnight, Ash."

“Night, Mom." It was time for action. My wardrobe was not exactly prepared for a party and certainly not for one of mages. On top of that it needed to survive a two hour bike ride to the next town over. The best I could come up with was a pair of pants that made my ass look fantastic. I considered a shirt that my mom disapproved of me wearing but had yet to make me get rid of. My magenta, form fitting, size too small, t-shirt. It came up just above my pants and showed some skin and the sleeves barely went past my shoulders. She didn't let me wear it often so the color hadn't faded yet and it was the best I could come up with. I topped it with the red eyeliner she “lost" a year prior and headed out back.

No one would bat an eye at me riding down the street. Our little section of the state was low on the crime scale and a teenager riding their bike around after dusk was no big deal. They may have had something to say about me riding out of town, particularly dressed as I was, but this late there weren't enough outside to notice. My excitement had me on a high as I pedalled down the road. My hair was shoulder length but I had it tied up for the ride. My mom hated how stubborn I was about styling it. I liked the platinum look, personally. That didn't matter, though, since my end goal was a couple hours away. Eventually the town came into view as I crested a hill and I finally slowed down. Partly because I was starting to shake from exertion but also because I wanted to be at least partially covert getting into this party.

No one was anywhere in the outskirts of the town. I wasn't surprised with the party going on. Anyone who wasn't at the party was probably asleep. It didn't take long to hear the noise and my heart leapt. I was going to meet some mages and see magic in person! I just needed to stash my bike and make my way into their midst to observe. It was such a simple plan, how could anything go wrong?

That was when things started to go wrong. As I approached, people's exotic hairdos and glowing makeup started to dissipate. It was so confusing to them as well as myself. I skirted around some of them and looked off into the party. People were noticing the spells fading and started to move away from those it was affecting. I tried to skirt around further until the music stopped. The wave had gotten to the DJ booth that I was just in range to see.

A large man moved close while I was looking around and I bumped into his arm. He spun on me and grabbed me by the front of my shirt, “Null!"

I tried to shake from his grip but he just held on tighter, “Hey, man. Let me go! This isn't cool!"

His voice took on a growl as he pulled me closer to his face, “No, what isn't cool is a fucking Null crashing our party! Do you have any idea the damage you have done?! My hair alone took three hours to enchant!"

Now I was confused, “What are you talking about? The hell is a Null?"

With a harsh bark of a laugh, he spun around, me still in his grip, and dragged me out into the crowd. He shouted, easier now with no music, “Hey everyone! We have a Null here tonight! Why don't we show the little fucker why there aren't many of them?"

The blood drained from my face. That was a direct threat if I heard one and the raucous replies and cheers from the very drunk crowd did not help. I needed to get out of there and quick, lest I find out what they had in store for me.

The man was strong, though. His grip was unbreakable no matter how much I struggled. The moment I bit his hand, though, was a terrible mistake. I suddenly found myself hoisted over the man's head and thrown bodily into a clearing in the crowd. The impact hurt. I struggled to breathe after the rock I landed on knocked the wind out of me, too. The cheers escalated as a few shadows moved to circle me through my blurry vision. Bile rose in my throat from the stress and pain but I couldn't roll to my side. I couldn't move at all.

A shadow moved from the left and brought with it a burst of pain in my ribs. I felt more than heard the crack and I knew I was in for a world of hurt if I made it out of this. Another shadow approached from the right and unimaginable pain bloomed in my stomach. I felt my body jerk into a bend from having my stomach stomped. I coughed up some blood and was finally able to move a bit, curling to the side. The next blow was only a glancing hit since I was moving, my head bouncing forward into my chest.

There was a pause in the cheering though I dare not look to see why. I found out anyways as I was hauled to my feet by the back of my shirt. A second person locked me into a full nelson and leaned back, lifting my feet from the ground. It really was not useful being barely over 5 foot tall.

The scene of people cheering around me had bile rising again now that I had a clear view. Hundreds of people all crowded together, forming a mosh pit with me as the center of attention. Adrenaline flooded my system, numbing the pain. I was getting desperate, glancing around the crowd, hoping to see a face with some pity. Anything or anyone who may come for me. I was pleading and begging for help from any source. My body locked up when the man who had originally grabbed me picked up a brick. It may have been foam instead of concrete for how he toyed with it. He locked eyes with me and I struggled for my freedom. I couldn't go out to a lynch mob, captured and afraid like an animal.

I shouted to the air, “Someone, please come for me!" The last three words reverberated and echoed through the air but the crowd cheered louder. Some seemed to notice and looked around, worried, but they had drinks spilled on them by the drunken crowd for their troubles.

The crowd's cheering drowned out further protests as the man advanced on me. I redoubled my efforts for escape, throwing my body around to break loose. I could hear the man holding me calling for assistance. No aid came since his voice wouldn't carry over the crowd. The man with the brick, though, noticed and came faster. The brick missed its mark, grazing my cheek as the man stumbled back from my kick to his chest. The guy holding me finally lost his fight and fell backwards with me, releasing his hold to brace the impact. A lot of good that did, I still knocked the wind from him.

The guy with the brick didn't wait for me to get up. He sneered, furious, and swept down with the brick again. Time slowed down as I brought my arms up to protect my head. A purple mote of light began between my arms, growing as they closed. The moment they touched, I was buffeted by a blast of air and energy. Next I knew, the big guy was flying backwards, his brick shattered, as a swirling maelstrom of violet energy leapt up into the sky. The screeching of a thousand nails on chalkboard assaulted my ears as it opened into a portal above us. I had heard of portals before and how they were described, but this was something else. The terrain beyond was broken and rocky, fissures smoking in the distance and barren, black trees with purple streaks up their trunks scattered around. Some of the ground itself even seemed to shimmer like a black opal.

Something moved and I realized it was not the ground that shimmered. Scintilating streaks flexed and twisted as a great beast turned in place to look down through the portal. Large glowing, green eyes shone like demonic beacons on the darkness that was its pelt. Great spiraling ram's horns twisted on either side of the large head, inciting memories of demonic stories from my childhood. Whatever this was, it was not of our world and it was looking my way.

Time returned to normal as the great beast took a step in my direction. Everyone that had been around me hit the ground hard. Everyone else was hunched over from the pressure of the portal. The weight of the world beyond forcing everyone to a knee or the ground. The beast's eyes narrowed and a different kind of fear ramped through my body. The mages wanted to beat and abuse me but this beast may have other ulterior motives for me. It seemed to snarl and the pressure on everyone tripled as it started walking towards the portal. I didn't want to be a beast's play thing. I didn't want to become lunch or some kind of slave. I would rather have been dead! Everything was suddenly infinitely worse than getting assaulted!

All of the mages slowly buckled, crumpling to the ground around me. My stomach sank lower as I realized this beast was getting closer, and larger. I had thought it was about the size of a lion. Now it looked like it was larger than a horse and was still getting closer. I struggled, pain reminding me what I had just experienced, trying to get away. I wanted to look away, crawl on my belly if I had to and get away from this. Anything to avoid any fate that may befall me. Fear kept my eyes locked in place, though.

Finally it took a step through the opening and I realized just how big it was as details came more into view. Large reptilian claws adorned all four legs which were easily six feet long. I've never seen so much muscle definition on a creature before. Its head, now closer, looked more lupine than anything. Aside from the horns, the whole physique seemed very werewolf-esque. I wasn't about to ask if it had a tail, though.

I watched the beast as it gave a brief, disinterested glance at everyone around before honing in on me. It opened its maw to reveal a very non-lupine set of teeth. A tremor ran through my body thinking what they could do to me. A drop of black liquid fell from its mouth and it hit me on the forehead. I thought the kick to my ribs hurt until that drop hit my skin. It burned like someone had dropped welding slag on my skin. I locked up from the pain, unable to let out more than a strangled gasp. The creature locked me with its eyes. I couldn't blink or look away and I was trying. A throb of pressure started in my head in time with my heart beat. Every beat escalated the pressure and pain. The creature seemed to smile and everything around those eyes seemed to sag and liquify. It started to drop onto and into my mouth, across my face and neck, and soaked through my clothes. Everywhere the liquid from the creature touched me burned. I swear I heard a sizzle as every nerve lit on fire as lava soaked into my skin. It invaded my nose and mouth, dripping down into my throat. I tried to scream, cough, throw up, anything to get it out but the pressure was too great.

The pulse in my head ramped up as the last bits of the creature dripped down onto me. Harder and harder, more and more pressure. I thought my head should explode from the pressure. It was making the sensation of burning alive feel like a warm sunny day. My vision started to darken and haze as the remnants of the creature were absorbed into my body. There was a pop and everything went blurry

The pain was gone, the burning ceased, the pulsing quiet. I thought I'd died until I heard screaming. I opened my eyes again to a yellow landscape in time to see the portal above my head collapse and explode. The collapse sent a shockwave of purple lightning out, kicking up a dust cloud too dense to see through. I didn't know what had happened until the dust had cleared. A stiff breeze whisked away the cloud of smoke and dust to a hellish landscape. For hundreds of feet all around me was a barren, burnt landscape. Houses were gone, people were missing. There was no trace anything had been there aside from the surrounding buildings a few hundred feet away that were partially destroyed but still standing. Walls were broken down and burnt, smoldering ruins remaining as far as I could see.

I realized everything was quiet. The party was over, or more specifically gone, and I was in the middle of where it once stood. Though the crowd had become a lynch mob, they were at least a presence. Even the air had gone still. It was a shock inducing notion and I started to shake. I didn't know what happened or what was going to happen. I felt an itch on my arm and scratched at it to keep myself together. Then the itch got worse and felt wrong. I needed to look at it despite my anxiety begging me not to. My hand was covered in a sheen of black fur with purple swirls in it. The fur was also slowly growing up my arm. I tried not to panic. Panic would help nothing and I needed help. Someone should have been able to reverse whatever that was. I just had to make it home. I had to focus on that thought: I needed to make it home. There was nothing I could do there and lingering would be worse.

After the beating and the burning assault from the monster, my nerves were frayed. I wasn't even sure I would be able to walk, let alone stand, but I was going to try. My first attempt failed miserably. A shift in my torso when I tried to right myself sent a hot lance through my chest. I tried again, rolling to my front using my legs and gritting through the pain. It didn't hurt as bad to push myself up from here and I was able to get onto my knees. Just a little further to go, one last push and I was on my feet. It was a struggle. I wobbled and threatened to fall back to the ground a few times, but I stood on my feet. I paused, focusing on breathing now that i'd made it up.

Then I heard the sirens. That was as bad of news as I could think of. Hundreds were dead, if not over a thousand, and I was at the epicenter. It was not my fault and I was not about to take the blame just because I was the only one standing. The first few steps towards the edge of the devastation were hard. I was still unsteady and I'd realized my clothes, shoes and all, were completely gone. Too many questions plagued me, but I needed to think about something to keep my mind off the pain of my night. Unfortunately, everything I thought of either sent me into a fit of tremors or brought on more questions. I didn't know what to do.

I made it to the edge of the burnt ground. Some buildings still stood out there, particularly the concrete and stone ones, and I used them as a guide. Nothing was familiar anymore. All landmarks had been either destroyed or burnt to a crisp. I looked back across where I'd walked and tried not to think of what had been there moments before. All that remained was the thick layer of ash that was shifting in the breeze. A shiver rocked me, ruining my balance, and forced me to continue forward. I had no idea if I was even going in the right direction. I hoped, but I wouldn't know until I got out of town. There were only a few roads between towns, so once I found the right one, it was just making the trek.

I must have been going the right way because I saw something that was a boon and a bane at the same time. I found my bike, or at least what was left of it. The brick wall I had rested it against now lay on top of it and the front wheel, which had been exposed, was now burnt and melted in places. There was no way I was salvaging the bike. The boon was the beacon that I had been going the right way, at least. I didn't know if I should stay on the current road or step off to a smaller road to avoid being seen, though.

It was still early hours and the sirens had stopped. I figured they had finally gotten to “ground zero" and were processing the scene. My stomach dropped out at a thought, though: I was walking barefoot. I probably left footprints behind trailing from the epicenter into this direction. I didn't want to get caught but I was making it easy to track me down. I was still struggling to just walk.

I saw lights ahead. The buildings that had survived the blast were all awake and the occupants were looking out in this direction. I wasn't going to make it out of town without being seen and even less likely making it out without being harassed. I turned to the building I was next to and hunkered down on the remains of the steps. Some people were outside but no one seemed to notice me. I noticed at that time that I was no longer flesh colored. My pain had covered the itch and the process that had left me now completely covered by the fur. My hand still looked human, aside from the velvet, and I used it to brush up my arm. It felt both weird and amazing at the same time. The fur was extremely soft and silky, like petting a soft bunny. The weird part was feeling the fur bend backwards from brushing it up. It was quite uncomfortable. I brushed it back down straight to alleviate the sensation.

What? Yes, I understand, this does not line up with what I look like. I will get to that in time. Anyways, where was I?

A car was coming up the street from the epicenter. I had only made it a half mile and looking back I could still see my footprints on the dust covered walk. Anyone who was looking for me would know exactly where to look. To make matters worse, it was an official Mage Guild investigator who happened to pull up right next to me. I didn't know if they could see me or not in the dark, but the door opened anyways.

I hoped they just thought I was a burnt husk or something. Maybe dead. I didn't want to be brought in for anything or tormented for what I went through. I closed my eyes and hoped they went away, “Ash?"

They knew my name. That was even weirder. I peeked at them again just in time to experience a flashlight in the dark. I yelped out and scrambled to cover my eyes. The light had burned as if I stepped from pitch black to mid day sun with wide open eyes. Their reaction didn't bode so well either. They cursed and I heard them draw a pistol. This was getting worse much faster.

“How do you know my name?" I kept my eyes closed and hand over my face. My eyes still burned from the exposure and I didn't know what to make of it.

“Shit, Ash? What the hell happened? To you? The town? Half of it is destroyed!" I didn't respond. I couldn't respond. I didn't even know what had actually happened. He took a couple steps towards me, “Come on. We need to get out of here. I officially reported the event but this is out of my jurisdiction."

I scrambled tighter into the corner I had huddled in, shivering like a beaten chihuahua. I didn't know who this was even if they knew my name. I wasn't about to trust anyone, “leave me alone!"

“Ash, seriously. Stop this. We need to get you out of here. You mom called me and told me you were missing right before I got the reports of an explosion. Last I checked you two were the only Null in the state. Get up or I'm dragging you."

Curiously I tried to peek out, hoping maybe it was a friendly face but the light was still on me. I flinched back, covering my eyes, “it burns!"

“What? Oh the light?"

It clicked off and I dared open my eyes again. There was a bit of a haze in my vision from the light, but I could see partially again. The man was closer to me and I could make out some details. The broad nose and cleft chin brought back memories. The best memory, though possibly the worst, was the accident that cost him his legs the week after a certain movie was released. He hated the nickname, but it still gave him a chuckle sometimes if I said it right.

“Lieutenant Stan?"

The groan told me enough, “yeah, kid. It's me. Can we go now? I'm tampering with evidence by not bringing you in for questioning."

I stiffened but nodded. That was exactly what I was afraid of. I grunted, bracing myself against the wall as I tried to stand. I must have been taking too long. Stan lifted me by the arm, but I couldn't stop the gasp of pain. The sharp lance through my chest reminded me quickly that I had a broken rib. He didn't let me go while walking down the steps and to his car. Every step dug the lance further into my chest and had me in tears by the time he opened the back door for me.

I think he had intended to drop me on the seat but I caught myself on the door rail. I made him wait as I took a few breaths. He looked around impatiently like something was coming for him while I slowly lowered myself down, “Don't rush me! I was just assaulted and at least one rib is broken."

He grunted before dropping into his own seat, “Sorry, kid. The Guild will be here any minute and we need to be gone."

I didn't reply, settling for whining softly while I tried to get comfortable on the seat. All of the jostling was making it difficult to breathe and his hard seats were not making it easier. I was happy to be leaving that place, though. That night had been more trouble and caused more pain than anything in my life. Mages could go fuck themselves, Lieutenant Stan excluded.

I wished I could just forget this night happened. Slip into oblivion and unconsciousness. Unfortunately the roads were not smooth and Stan was not driving carefully. My eyes would not stay open, though, until Stan pulled up to my house. At least he had been honest about taking me home instead of to the Guild. He was more gentle now as well, braking slowly and opening the door for me. I was thankful he didn't try to help me get up this time since the pain had reduced to a dull throb and I didn't want it getting any worse.

I was so happy to be walking up to my front door again. Stan walked beside my ambling and kept a hand on my back to keep me steady. I made it to the door and was about to open it when it flung open on its own. It moved with such force I felt the air in my fur. What was more shocking was my mom standing there staring at me. She looked shocked, relieved, and furious at the same time. I didn't know where it was going until she leapt through the doorway to wrap me in a hug. The hug squeezed down on my abused ribs and I seized up. I gave a last gurgling scream as blackness finally enveloped my consciousness.

I found myself standing in the plane I had seen through the portal. The landscape went on as far as I could see. A forest of black trees stood in the distance with red leaves that swayed in a breeze I could not feel. Now that I was closer, the ground looked more like a cool grey broken with a scattering of red veins. The crag nearby was actually a vent that went on farther than the light would reach.

I had the urge to explore this land and find its secrets. It was foreign, and everything in me screamed to be afraid, but I couldn't help but be fascinated with the scintillating veins and the otherworldly quality of the landscape. Nothing looked like home, but something deep within me felt at ease, even comfortable.

I was about to start my trek when a voice came from behind me, “You are stubborn and difficult."

The deep, gravelly voice had my hairs on edge as I wheeled on the source. It was the beast from the portal again, this time solid and standing over me. I stumbled back a few steps trying to put at least enough distance that it couldn't breathe on me. It was then I noticed I was no longer covered in fur and actually had on my clothes from the party. I didn't know if I was in a dream, or if the fur and trip home had been the dream. I explored my rib that should have been broken to check. No pain.

“I may not have dealt with your kind directly before, but you do not seem to grasp what is happening." It was right, I didn't. I wasn't about to reply as it started to circle me like a predator, though, “I have watched your kind, always ready with a bargain for power, always so weak."

It made a few laps around me, increasing the distance between us in the process, “You have no bargain, though. Even your summon said 'come for me' instead of 'come to me' without the species call."

My hands started shaking at the implications, “Bargain? Summon?"

My mind was racing as it seemed to fade from view. I didn't even notice until I felt a breath on my neck, “you know not what you have done?" I dared not move though I shook like a leaf in the wind, “Someone of your power must be trained. Void power is coveted across the cosmos."

It walked back around to my front and actually laid down like a sphynx. That was less frightening but didn't change my unease. The imposing figure was still a head taller than myself and almost as wide as I was tall. This may be my only chance to ask the questions I needed to know, though.

I shook my head and looked up at its face, “I was told--told I had no magic. That I was Mundane. How can I--can I."

It raised a claw to stop me. Its mouth did not move as it spoke, thankfully, “Humans have no method to quantify power without using power. You nullify and absorb their magic from a considerable distance. They would be powerless. A truth, you have no magic, but you have considerable power."

Something clicked, “Nullify. They called me a Null. Is that what they meant? I was stealing their magic?"

“Truth."

I sat down on the ground in front of it, “I have never heard of Void magic. How do I have it but have never heard of it?"

“From birth, as is the Null. Neither person in your domicile possesses the Void."

“Well that rules out my mom, then. I guess I got the Null power from her then." I did not get a reply while I pondered for a bit, “Why are we here? I thought I was home."

“You are bandaged and drugged in your domicile."

“Oh." That answered that question though in a roundabout way, “So what is going to happen to me now? Last I remember I was injured and growing fur."

“That continues."

“How do I reverse the fur? I want to go back to being flesh colored."

It seemed to tilt its head at me, “When you fully accept the summon, you can change forms."

On top of not getting the manual for this, apparently I was locked in a room until I finished the puzzle, “Can I undo this summon? Can I go back to being ignorant?"

“No. Why would you?"

I sighed and went into a spiel about how I had always been fascinated by magic. How I'd dreamt about becoming a powerful mage and dazzling people with my abilities. Everything in my being wanted to be a mage. Then I met them and dealt with the consequences of my fascination, “After what I had to go through to gain this power I--I don't think I want it any more."

Its voice seemed to change pitch. Softer and quieter, “You would be the first who desired power and then denied it when there was a reason to have it. Others from races unknown to you would use that experience to summon hordes and rain destruction on their foes. You are an enigma." I sat quiet, playing with my fingers for a moment before they continued, “Consider my words. You are waking. You will see me here later."

I looked up and it seemed to be frowning. I felt like I had disappointed it with my attitude. I really didn't want power, not like this, and I knew nothing about my abilities to begin with. Mom and Stan should hear about what I learned, though.

It was right, I only took a moment to wake. I found myself laying on my bed, chest bandaged, and smelling of mint. Mom had used some of her pain oil on me, likely for the bruises, since magic didn't work on us. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing I'd never needed to go to a hospital. We would have knocked out every magical device in their facilities and made a lot of people's lives harder.

The sun was up and peeking in through the window. It didn't hurt like the flashlight had which I was grateful for. The rest had done wonders as well, returning my strength and balance. Getting up off the bed was easy as I was being gentle with my ribs. Nothing seemed to be any different from the night so I slipped on a pair of shorts. I didn't want to try putting on a shirt just yet.

Feeling ready to talk to my mom and Stan about what I'd learned, I opened my door only to be blasted by pain in my eyes again. I yelled out, cursing, as I stumbled and fell back to the floor. The hall light just outside my room had been on and singed my corneas. I connected the dots and it seemed it was not light, but man made light that did not agree with me anymore. I heard hurried footfalls coming up the steps towards my room.

The light switch in my room clicked on even though there was plenty of light in there, “Ash! We heard you yell! What is wrong? What happened?"

“The lights! Turn off the lights!" I heard them close my blinds but they left the electric lights on, “Not the blinds, the lights!"

I heard them pause, probably looking at each other before opening the blinds again and turning off the switch lights, “The lights aren't that bright, Ash. Why did you want us to turn those off?"

I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at them, “Something about the electric lights. Sunlight doesn't bother me but the moment I opened my door to the hall light I felt the burn. The same thing with Stan's flashlight last night." I rubbed at my eyes which were red from the exposure, “I hope sunglasses or something will help because it hurts so much."

They seemed to be looking at me and I got self conscious. I started looking around and didn't notice anything different from last night. This made them self conscious for staring, “Sorry, Ash. The fur is just going to take some getting used to."

“Oh. Yeah I can understand that. I've had some more time to get used to it. Which reminds me, we need to get a hold of my sper-- I mean my father."

“Ash! I swear! I can excuse the cursing from the lights, but if you keep it up, I'm getting the soap!"

I winced and rubbed my face a bit, “Yes mom. Anyways, apparently he is the reason I was able to summon whatever is changing me. Something about void magic. It is gifted through birth and mom doesn't have it so I had to get it from somewhere."

Stan frowned before leaning in, “Wait. You are going to sit there and tell me you summoned a void demon. With no training. While being a null. And created an explosion that rocked the area and decimated everything in a mile radius of the blast?"

I cringed at that, the term 'demon' causing a deep rooted anger, “I… guess? I have no idea how, I just did."

“So all of those peop--."

“No! No! Absolutely no pinning this on me! The mages at that party were taking shots at me, beating me, and were intent on killing me. All I did was try to cover my head when someone swung a brick at me!"

My mom tried to chime in, “You killed--."

“NO! I didn't kill anyone! They were trying to kill me! Why are you guys doing this to me!?"

Stan spat back at me, “Thousands are dead because of you! Thousands, Ash! You don't get to play a pity card! This is all your fault!"

“No, this is your fault! You told me I had no power! Told me I was Mundane! How the fuck am I supposed to control something I know nothing about!?"

Mom looked shocked at the thought that thousands of lives extinguished was her fault, “How can you blame us for this!? We had no hand in this!"

Stan stepped in front of my mother as if I was the problem here, “We are not the ones who summoned a demon portal in the middle of a party! You are the only one to blame here!"

I recoiled. That term again and the flinch was harder, “If you want to blame someone, blame the sperm donor! He is the reason I can do this!" I raised my hands over my head and was not prepared for the black, opalescent tendrils to raise from the floor. Both Stan and my mother's faces went white while I looked at it, a little freaked out. I dropped my arms and the tendrils vanished.

My own mother was looking at me like I was holding a gun to her head. Fear etched her features while her eyes jerked in her head, searching me for something. I could see the worry lines on her eyes deepening as she clenched tighter to Stan's arm. I tried to reach out to her, just barely, from my spot on the floor that I had never moved from. She flinched, assuming I would cast a spell to attack her, and my heart fell. My own mother feared me worse than I feared the beast that had put me through an acid bath and meat grinder at the same time.

It got worse as Stan hurried her out of the room. I didn't know what to do until I heard them as they rushed down the stairs, “Martia, go to the neighbors. I'm going to call the guild. That is a demon. Your child died in the explosion." I jumped up and hurried down the stairs. I had just escaped that fate the night before. I was not about to go through that by the people who were supposed to be loved ones and protectors. I tried to make as little sound as possible as I moved. I got to the bottom of the stairs and looked around. My mom was hurrying out the door and Stan had his back turned, talking on the phone. He was loading the gun he kept on him at all times. I knew it was going to be aimed at me so I rushed out the door before it closed behind my mom.

Mom went right to the neighbors and I went straight across the yards of those who lived nearby. My target was the fields that were a couple streets over from where we lived. At least that was the plan. I heard the gunshot rather than felt it but the spray of red from my chest was easily noticeable. Time slowed down again. I didn't want to see the bullet hole in my chest just above my heart. The hole put there by the man who raised me like a son for the first ten years of my life. I started to fall, Imagining the place miles away he used to take me when I was young. The rope that would let you swing out over the lake. I could see it so clearly I was reaching out to it. I could almost taste the crystal clear waters.

There was a flash of black before I collapsed on dry leaves, just under a rope swing. Time seemed to be flowing normally again but it was getting harder to breathe. I rolled onto my back to ease the pressure. I could see the trees over me swaying in the breeze as birds sang in the morning air. I knew these trees. I hadn't been there in six years, but they were familiar. I also knew they were three hundred miles from where I had been. We would come up here for a week to camp and play twice a year. I was slammed with a sudden wave of exhaustion that I didn't try to fight, closing my eyes in the tranquility of childhood memories.