<br/><br/>3 Days Earlier<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">The pitter patter echoed through the empty concrete jungle. Stopping Mephisto took in a deep breath, the city lights reflecting off his polished balled dome. Maybe if he was in his prime like he used to be he wouldn't be as winded right now. Yet the wrinkles on his face and his beer gut reflected that he was a few decades late for the party. </span><br/><br/><br/>BANG!<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">The shot echoed through the alleyway and Mephisto fell forward. That burning pain eased against his back and he heard a warm trickle. Slowly pushing himself up he could hear the footsteps of the man chasing him. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath pulling his will power together and releasing the mojo. A nearby light began to short, the light bulb shattered and an arc of electricity struck the man who fired upon him. </span><br/><br/><br/>CLITTER CLATTER<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">The and gun fell onto the pavement. The man did not scream but the smell of burning flesh was growing every moment. Mephisto now shambled forward hoping to get away. His weathered tan skin reflected in the window of the parked car beside him.  The warm pool trickled down his back sticking to the fabric of his shirt. Mephisto again focused his will to force the car door open but suddenly a strong grip grabbed his shoulder, pinched, and the next thing he knew he was flying away in the opposite direction. <br/>
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With a heavy thud he whimpered in pain. The polished shows of the stranger was now level with his gaze. "Tell me where  the other Legionnaire is," the voice was monotone and almost robotic. <br/>
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Before Mephisto could speak there was a terrible shriek and the sound of burning rubber. A bus seemingly appeared several feet away from the conflicted two and before they could fully acknowledge the situation it barreled into them. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">To this day the bus driver could not explain how his vehicle seemed to travel six blocks in an instant.</span><br/><br/><br/>-----<br/><br/><br/>Present Day<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">Frederick had his eye on Alice for the past three weeks. Something about her scratched that sense that lingered in the deepest part of his mind. Something ancient and powerful. That feeling is what forced him to get a an internship at that terrible call center. Yet there was no real vulgar emergence of reality bruising yet, he knew that she would need a nudge to force her to reveal her power.  That moment when he accompanied her at that Saturday shift showed him that she would never reach her potential at this dead end job. So he took matters into his own hands, as they finished the bottle of whiskey he subtly weaved a sleeping spell, as she went limp he opened a gateway to his Sanctum. <br/>
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Placing her in a seat he placed her arms around her and put a set of handcuffs over her wrists. Slowly he released the spell so she would wake up naturally.  Standing behind her he took in a deep breath and began to speak. </span><br/><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">"Look society has you thinking that magic isn't real. The only god's are the pretty people on the TV and the pills your doctor prescribes you for anxiety. You may not like what I have to tell you but ever since you were born you are the victim of the most toxic of lies. The truth is there are historians who know the real history of the world. That Sociologists think they understand what really makes a human tick but they are just as clueless as the rest of us. That there is a secret society of people who wish to stop people like me. People who can bruise reality and make the impossible possible. Now I get it, you're wondering why I drugged you and why you're handcuffed to that chair. I need to show something to you and it's really important that you sit still and do not panic. Now take a deep breath and open your mind, I'm going to show you what the world looks like passed the veil of ignorance."</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">With that he pulled a knife out of his pocket and threw it, as it passed the side of her head by an inch he stopped the knife mid flight several feet in front of her. </span><br/><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">"This is what we call reality bruising. I mean it's impossible to completely stop something mid flight, as you can see it can float in the air. This is what normal people would call magic but it's much simpler then that. So here's what you have to do if you want to survive." </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 12px">With that in mid air the knife turned around and subtly shifted alignment to become level with her forhead. </span><br/><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">"You have five minutes to close your eyes gather your thoughts and feel. Not like feel what is binding your wrists physically but push past that. Let your mind caress every gear and once you do release it. If you fail to accomplish I will let the knife fly loose." </span><br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="8" data-username="@Alchemy" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8/">@Alchemy</a>