Walked Through the Fire With a Ten-Headed Lion (Mage)

The tea was strong like whoa, but it was icy-cold so I just knocked it back. The guy stood there grinning at me, so I finally got a little ticked off about it and asked him what the heck his problem was.

"How are you feeling?"

"I dunno. Less thirsty. A little cooler. Why?"

"Oh... just wait. You'll see."

Then he just wandered off. I was starting to think that while Median and Fata and most of their crew were okay, this guy was kind of a jackass.

* * * * * * * *

"Fuck me."

Median glances at Phenex quizzically.

"What, right now?"

"No... shit. Something's happening. Where's Rosemary?"

"Went to get a drink at Lemonhead's... Phenex, what the fuck, man?"

He's on his feet and heading towards the lemonade vendor.

"Something's wrong. She's starting to spike, but it's all fucked up. Did you give her anything?"

Median steps back at the sudden fury in his voice.

"No... I wasn't even going to bring it up until tomorrow night when they light the Man up. Phenex, what's wrong with her?"

"I don't know. Get Inri."

He staggers off, trying not to grit his teeth. Rosemary's broadcasting static, but there's a steadily rising shriek of psychic feedback underneath.

* * * * * * * *

Sunset sure looks pretty tonight - it never looks that good in pictures. And the clouds look like big poufs of cotton candy like they used to have at the church fair.

I sure hope my dad doesn't find me.

Don't want to think about that. Think about something else. Go watch the stilt-walkers. That was fun.

"IAO! EVOHE!"

What?

Why are all these people staring at me? Guy comes up to me, dancing kind of jerky like a puppet. He's wearing black tights with glittery skeleton bones painted on it. The glitter shows up nice in the redgold sunset light.

"Glory to thee from gilded tomb!"

That was weird. Is it just me or are people generally acting really weird tonight?

Maybe it's me. Everything's starting to look kind of wobbly, like it's underwater. Hope I don't have heatstroke. Maybe I should go back to the van and have some water - I don't think that tea's sitting right with me.

Crackle from someone's huge sound system makes her jump, and the noise creates faultlines that radiate outwards from the point of origin. The landscape holds for a moment in a brittle mosaic of hairline fractures, and then

everything

shatters.

"Glory to thee from waiting womb!"

The lady (?) is bright green - ivy waving up her arms and legs and she's wearing a toga-looking thing, only I can't see her face properly. Her belly is glowing bright pink and fading dark to bright like a heartbeat.

"How do you do that?"

Funny looks again. That didn't sound right. Maybe I should sit down.