Infinities' Edge

by Andrew Dobell

  ‘Then you understand. Nothing is ever really black and white, or obvious is it. I like you Amanda and I’m trying to be honest with you. It can be difficult to open up to Arcadians though sometimes, so many of them are very blinkered in their viewpoint and can’t open themselves up to other possibilities.’

  ‘I’ve heard so much about you Yasmin, from other Arcadians, and they always paint you in a very negative way so they do, and yet, I have only ever seen you be helpful to me, saving my life many times, and the two just don’t mesh. I’ve been the subject of rumours and hate ever since I came to America as a Magus, and I think I have some inkling about how it feels to be hated and to have that negative attention so I do.’

  ‘Such as Demitriov yesterday,’ Yasmin said.

  ‘Exactly like that. The ejit seemed to be speaking in riddles, saying that he knew me from decades ago so he did. Clearly, he’s confusing me with someone else, or maybe he’s just a crazy person who wants his share of the fame.’

  ‘Well, he certainly is a bit crazy. I’m sorry you had to deal with that,’ Yasmin said. ‘Those of us who shine a little brighter than the others in the crowd attract that much more attention, like moths to the flame.’

  ‘To be sure, and sometimes they get burnt.’

  ‘But of course. Like Icarus, they can’t all fly close to the sun and survive. So you weren’t too bothered by the attack last night?’

  ‘Aaah, it’s no bother, I’m getting used to it I think, and I can look after myself these days.’

  ‘Would you walk with me, Mandy?’ Yasmin asked.

  Amanda felt a little surprised by the request, thinking they would be staying here for the meeting, but she also felt glad to be moving away from the Jade Palace, a known meeting point for New York’s Magi and a place where she might be seen which would no doubt bring more unwanted attention to her.

  ‘Sure, sure,’ Amanda said, and quickly stood up from her chair and fell into step beside Yasmin as she strode down the street, her heels clicking on the concrete. Amanda glanced down, admiring the shape of Yasmin's legs and wondering what it would be like to have them wrapped around her.

  Yasmin naturally stood taller than Amanda did, but these heels really made her tower above Amanda by several inches. She almost wished she’d worn her own heels rather than the sneakers she currently had on.

  ‘Well done on putting a stop to Mr Blacks plans on the Atoll. You handled yourself well.’

  ‘Aaah now, it was no bother to be sure, but I’m sure you know yourself that I could not have done that without your help.’

  ‘Perhaps. Echo did seem to be turning the tide against you,’ Yasmin said.

  ‘Until you saved my life once again. I don’t think I have ever really thanked you for saving my life as often as you have. I certainly would not be alive right now if it wasn’t for you, to be sure,’ Amanda said with feeling.

  ‘Come now, you don’t know that. There might be another guardian angel out there, watching you for all you know.’

  Amanda laughed. ‘God love yeh for saying so, but I doubt it. And even if there were, you were the one that stepped up to the plate and put your life on the line.’

  ‘Forget about it,’ Yasmin said.

  But Amanda wanted to make sure that she thanked Yasmin properly, so she took her hand and brought her to a stop. Turning Yasmin to face her and pulling her to towards the buildings they walked next to, they stepped away from the other pedestrians towards an alleyway.

  ‘No, I mean it, thank you!’ Amanda said, looking into Yasmin’s eyes as she said it. Yasmin looked back at her, a slight smile played on her lips. She said nothing, and the pause in Yasmin’s reaction to this went on just long enough for her to wonder if something were wrong. Had she offended Yasmin by touching her or made some other faux pas, only to have these thoughts banished from her mind as Yasmin stepped into her, putting one hand on the side of her head and her other around her waist as Yasmin kissed her.

  Yasmin walked her backwards, off the street between the two buildings they were next to into the shade of the alleyway. Amanda went with it, her mind blank for a moment as she just let this statuesque beauty ravish her. She loved the taste of her, the feeling of her body pressed into hers and the feeling of being taken like that. It took her several seconds to get her head around the event, but as it went on Amanda just couldn’t resist any longer and kissed her back, taking hold of Yasmin, running her hands over Yasmin’s behind and pulling her in to make the kiss as deep as possible.

  ‘I want you, Yasmin, now,’ Amanda said.

  ‘Don’t speak, I know you do.’

  ‘I don’t think you do,’ Amanda said and pushed off from the wall, turning Yasmin around and pressing her back into the wall, pinning her there as she kissed her face and neck, smudging each other’s lipstick.

  ‘Believe me, I understand,’ Yasmin said, and worked her Magic. Amanda knew the effect, and let it happen, allowing Yasmin to Port them both. They appeared in a fairly nondescript hotel bedroom, stood with the bed behind Amanda. Yasmin pushed her back so that she fell onto the mattress looking up at Yasmin as she used her Magic once again. The Magic ripped Amanda’s clothes from her body, which was a curious sensation, leaving her naked on the bed. The clothes Yasmin wore seemed to disintegrate and fade to nothing at the same time, leaving her stood there in only a pair of heels and a smile.

  Yasmin wasted no time and quickly took control of the lovemaking, playing the part of a Dominatrix that suited her so well. They made love for several hours, their Magic keeping things going far longer than usual with Yasmin taking the lead and keeping control.

  Amanda loved it and felt incredibly satisfied by the experience. It was unlike any sex she had ever had before, feeling rougher and kinkier than usual.

  The memories of this encounter would linger for a long time to come, of that she felt sure.

  Amanda lay on the bed, naked and tired, but satisfied and kind of pleased with herself, her mind in a kind of blissful state of satisfaction.

  ‘So where did you last see the Lazarus Scroll?’ Yasmin said.

  ‘We lost it on the Island,’ Amanda said, answering without thinking. But as she lay there, she suddenly realised that she had just given Yasmin some valuable information. She lifted her head and looked across the room to where Yasmin sat in a chair at the bottom of the bed. The light coming from the window behind her cast her in shadow, but Amanda could still make out the smile that spread out over Yasmin’s face. A smile that Amanda didn’t like.

  With a whip-snap of Magic, Yasmin disappeared, Porting out of the room, leaving Amanda alone. She sat up on the bed and looked to where Yasmin had been sat a moment before.

  That felt strange. That question and Yasmin’s reaction, it didn’t feel right. It wasn’t vital information, but she had basically just admitted to Yasmin that she did not have the scroll. That it was out in the world somewhere.

  She started to get the rather distinct feeling that she had just been thoroughly manipulated and played by Yasmin who had only actually wanted that one piece of information. But even that seemed strange to her, that Yasmin would go to the lengths she had to get that information. Why did Yasmin meet with her, seduce and have several hours of sex with her when she could have just as easily ripped that information from her mind, unless of course the act itself meant something, or served some kind of purpose.

  Amanda started to feel a keen and distinct sinking sensation. She felt like she had just made a mistake that she would live to regret.

  - New York

  Rylie closed the door to her apartment and slowly caught her breath after the frantic dash across town, thinking that she would be found and caught at any second, but she had made it back, and she knew she had struck gold.

  She lifted the camera from her bag and turned it on. She took a breath and pressed the Play button causing an image to appear on the screen on the back of the camera.

  Cycling through the images, it looked like some kind of porn show,
but the images were there none the less. Photos of Yasmin and Amanda, a Nomad and an Arcadian having sex.

  Forest would be over the moon and as for poor little Amanda, well, she was fucked!

  Literally.

  Meeting

  New York

  Jan 17th

  Amanda stood in the alleyway behind the Jade Palace, looking up at the huge hulking form of Horlack, standing over twice her size and barely fitting down the alleyway at all due to his bulk.

  The Scion’s beast like face looked down at Amanda, and as he stepped up to her, he crouched down, bringing himself closer to her level.

  ‘Has she agreed yet?’ he asked, his voice a deep rumble.

  Amanda smiled up at the nightmarish visage before her. ‘Actually yes, she has,’ Amanda said.

  Getting back from her encounter with Yasmin this afternoon, Amanda had felt very much in a daze and felt sure she had just done something that she would live to regret, but, on her return to her house, there seemed to be no great drama and everything looked as it usually did.

  The only item of interest was a message that Gentle Water had taken from Maya saying that she would agree to the meeting with Horlack. Amanda immediately felt better and quickly sent Horlack a Telepathic message through her Mental Link with him to meet her in the alleyway behind the Jade Palace.

  Porting over to the Alleyway, she didn’t have to wait long before he dropped down from the rooftops just in front of her.

  The smile that played over the face of Horlack as Amanda gave him the good news made him look even more terrifying than usual, but she knew he was at least pleased with the outcome.

  ‘When?’ he said simply.

  ‘Let me ask her,’ she said and used her Magic to open the Link to Maya. Seconds later, Maya accepted the link and they were suddenly telepathically connected.

  ‘Amanda, I take it you got my message?’

  ‘I did, thank you. I’m with Horlack now actually, and he’d like to know when to meet?’ she said.

  ‘Oh, well I suppose now would be okay, it’s already dark so, on the Jade Palace roof in a few moments?’ Maya suggested.

  ‘Bang on, I will let him know so I will, I’ll come with you.’

  ‘No, no. That’s not necessary, I’ll do this alone, thank you,’ Maya said.

  ‘Are you sure? It’s no bother, I could help, you know. Maybe…’

  ‘Seriously no, I will be fine, he wants to meet with me, not with me and you. I’m sure he’d just want for me to come alone, and anyway, I can handle myself you know.’

  ‘I know. Okay then.’

  ‘Look, I’m sorry for storming out of your place the other day but, it’s just that…’ Maya started to say.

  ‘Forget about it, it’s in the past so it is, we’ll talk later maybe? You can let me know how the meeting goes,’ Amanda suggested.

  ‘I’d like that, see you shortly.’

  With that, Amanda cut the link and focused back on the hulking demon before her. ‘She’ll meet you now, on the roof,’ Amanda said, pointing upwards.

  Horlack nodded to her. ‘Thank you, I will remember this, no matter the outcome,’ he said.

  Amanda smiled, and with a quick working of Magic, Ported out of the alleyway.

  Yoh walked up the stairs next to Maya feeling a little frustrated by this sudden turn of events. They had been having a very pleasant evening and suddenly Maya was heading to the roof of the building to go and meet with Horlack. Yoh didn’t know much about him or his connection to Maya, but he did know that this Demonic Scion had been the one to attack Amanda in the alleyway and force her Epiphany on her in what sounded like a terrifying encounter that had killed one of her friends at the time. The fact that according to Maya, Amanda had organised all this took this just one step beyond for him.

  ‘This is madness Maya-chan. Have you listened to yourself and what it is that you’re saying?’ Yoh protested.

  ‘I know how it sounds, but Horlack and I have something of a history.’

  ‘Really? And this history means you will happily put yourself in harm’s way and meet with the Scion that nearly killed Amanda?’

  Maya stopped on the stairs and looked at Yoh. ‘Yes, it does, and I know that sounds crazy, but it’s the right thing to do. I think he really does want to change things.’

  ‘And what makes you say that?’

  ‘You weren’t at the Nuclear Power Plant with Amanda and me where I last ran into him. He’s changed Yoh, I can feel it. Whatever he went through in the Abyss, it’s changed him, I know it.’

  Yoh sighed, looking down and away from Maya, before looking back up at her once again. ‘I’m not going to change your mind on this am I?’

  Maya pressed her lips together and slowly shook her head from side to side.

  ‘Then let’s get you up to the roof,’ he said.

  ‘You can’t come with me,’ Maya protested.

  ‘This is my building and I refuse to see you put in harm’s way, no matter what you think. I’m going with you Maya, and that’s that,’ he said as he unlocked the door to the rooftop. Without stopping to listen to her, he opened the door and walked out onto the rooftop and looked around. Nothing, the roof was empty, for the moment.

  ‘He’s not here,’ Yoh said.

  ‘Not yet at least. Look, I promise, I will be fine, I need to meet him alone.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Of course. I would not intentionally go and meet with a Scion like Horlack alone if I knew he wanted to kill me. I’m not suicidal. Go downstairs, I will be back in a bit, okay?’

  ‘Alright, be careful,’ he said, and pulled her in for a hug, holding her tightly and almost not wanting to let go in case this meeting went horribly wrong.

  The loud heavy crunch that sounded to their left caused Yoh to jump in fright, and it even seemed to surprise Maya as well. Looking to his left, Yoh saw the huge form of Horlack rise up from the crouch he had been in from landing on the roof.

  ‘What are you doing up here?’ Horlack growled at Yoh.

  Yoh didn’t like the tone of Horlacks voice, it sounded angry and threatening.

  ‘This is my place, I have every right to be up here,’ Yoh said.

  ‘Get away from her,’ Horlack said.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I said get away from her,’ Horlack answered, his voice raising a touch.

  ‘Horlack, calm down…’

  ‘Don’t tell me to calm down! I can see what’s going on here,’ he bellowed.

  ‘Oh really, and what’s that then?’ Yoh goaded him.

  ‘Yoh, you’re not helping,’ Maya scolded him. ‘Horlack, just relax, he was only walking me up here,’ Maya said.

  ‘I’m sure he was. What do you take me for? A fool? This is disgusting,’ he barked and with a quick turn, jumped from the rooftop to another building.

  ‘Horlack!’ Maya called, but to no avail, and watched him disappear over the rooftops. ‘Damn it,’ she said to herself, and then looked up at Yoh. ‘And you weren’t much help, I told you to stay downstairs, now look what’s happened.’

  ‘What? I think you had a lucky escape there, that thing is clearly unhinged.’

  Maya growled at him before stalking off back through the doorway and off the roof. Yoh looked back up to where Horlack had disappeared into the night.

  He had hoped that Maya would see things from his perspective on this. That Scion is a cold hearted killer and not someone to be playing happy families with. He’d give her time, she’d come round before too long he thought, as he walked off the roof and closed the door behind him.

  ‘So that was a disaster,’ Maya said as she walked into Amanda’s hallway.

  Amanda had just opened the front door to let Maya in and they were her first words to her, which could only mean one thing.

  ‘So, things didn’t go quite as hoped?’

  ‘You could say that yes. Yoh insisted on coming up to the roof with me and, well, Horlack didn’t seem to like that.’


  ‘Jealous was he?’

  ‘I think that played a part yes. I’d just convinced Yoh to leave me up there alone so he gave me a hug before leaving, and predictably that’s when Horlack turned up,’ Maya sighed.

  ‘But of course, that’s sounds about right so it does. I should have been the one to come up there with you, not Yoh. He wouldn’t have been jealous then,’ Amanda suggested. Clearly, Horlack had seen the hug and thought there must be something between her and Yoh. To be fair to Horlack, Amanda had thought the same thing for a while as well as they seemed very close, so it wasn’t really a surprise to her that he’d think the same thing.

  ‘No, I don’t think so. It should have just been me, alone.’

  ‘Maybe. I do think it would have been fine with me there to keep things in check, though, make sure he didn’t act like the ejit he is.’

  Maya rolled her eyes.

  ‘What? I could have. I am the Chosen One you know.’

  ‘And that, right there, is the problem.’

  ‘You’re jealous?’

  ‘What? That’s ridiculous, how could I be jealous of my…’

  ‘Your what?’

  Maya sighed. ‘Nothing,’ she said.

  ‘No, come on, your what? Your inferior? Your boyfriends ex maybe? What? Ever since I got this tattoo and become this Chosen One, people have been acting really weirdly towards me, it’s getting very annoying, all these snide comments and shite.’

  ‘You need to calm down Amanda, we should talk about this I think,’ Maya suggested, keeping her voice calm.

  ‘I’m sick of talking and of people disrespecting me, I’ve had it with this crap.’

  Suddenly a Telepathic Link opened up in her mind with a feeling of urgency attached to it. Recognising Shaun as the sender, she opened the link.

  ‘What?’ she mentally barked through the link.

  ‘It’s the Edge, I think he’s in trouble,’ sent Shaun.